I”m a veteran, but this weekend is Memorial Day weekend, not Veteran’s Day. We remember those lost in wars to protect our freedoms.
This weekend, let's remember those who have up until now who have paid the ultimate price in the service of their country, and honor all others when it is their due time to be honored.
Area Memorial Day ceremonies
Following is a list of Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday:
• 11 a.m. at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sierra Vista off of Charleston Road, hosted by American Legion Post 52.
• 11 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Bisbee, hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 836.
• 11:30 a.m. at the Old Post Cemetery on Fort Huachuca, hosted by the U.S. Army.
• Noon in front of American Legion Post 24 on Allen Street in Tombstone, hosted by the post.
• 6 p.m. at the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, hosted by the Sierra Vista United Veterans Council.
I lost school friends in Viet Nam; I was a military wife, mother, grandmother and widow for 40 years. At present, no one in my family is serving, but that’s only because the ages are not in compliance with induction laws.
I come from a long line of men who served their government or kings with honor and courage.
And I mourn all who gave their lives, no matter where, no matter what conflict, any where in the world, at any time. Giving one’s life to God in the service of one’s Country is the highest honor of all.
They all deserve our thanks and respect.
God bless my late father, may he rest in peace....veteran of the 99th Infantry Division, World War 2, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Army.., lost my friends Jimmy and Scott in Vietnam. My son (Army) did Iraq 4x and is now in Afghanistan as a contractor. I have an Uncle who was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star in Normandy (and was excommunicated from his pacifistic-Mennonite Church for joining the Army).
Retired Army. 21 years. Vietnam vet. Retired right after first gulf war (thankfully I went on terminal leave just before that stinking Klinton came on board).
John A Bulpitt
Private First Class
A BTRY, 8TH BN, 6TH ARTILLERY, 1 INF DIV
Army of the United States
15 May 1944 - 28 April 1966
Centredale, Rhode Island
Panel 07E Line 004
The man whose MIA bracelet I wore 40 years ago....and whose remains were finally identified more than 25 years later....
RICHARD ALLAN FITTS
SSGT - E6 - Army - Regular
Special Forces
His tour began on Sep 25, 1968
Casualty was on Jan 15, 1975
In LZ, LAOS
Hostile, died while missing, HELICOPTER - NONCREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 37W - Line 10
The greatest testament of sacrifice to those who have served is the number of people who lived in peace and did not have to serve and did not have to sacrifice.
BTTT
Ken Rutherford, schoolmate Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, KIA Korean War. RIP Ken.
Our family circle has been lucky over the years in service to this country.
We have had neighbors that have not been so lucky.
It is their sacrifice that has helped this nation to survive against all odds, patriots blood shed to feed the very fabric of freedom and liberty for us all.
God Bless the memory of my dear father who served in WW 2 as a Coast Guard and from his estate I was able to pay off what was left of the morgage of the house I now live in. Thank-you my dear father.
My mother had cousins killed during WW 2.
Thanks, I echo another freeper today that Memorial Day is for guys we lost in combat operations.
That said, I proudly served in a non combat role from 1967 to 1974 in the USNR and 2 years of that was active duty in Sasebo, Japan.
Proudly served, U. S. Army, A 1/9 Cav, RVN 70-71. Dad served in the Pacific during WWII.
God Bless America and all soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who died in service to our country.
