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Colleville Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, looking north towards the English Channel and the southern coast of England. 9,387 American fighting men—representing only about 1/3 of all Americans killed fighting in Normandy in the summer of 1944—are interred here at Colleville. Among them is Brigadier General Teddy Roosevelt, Jr., who was the only General officer to land on any of the Normandy beaches on D-Day (Utah Beach), and whose weak heart finally quit on July 12, five weeks after D-Day. His brother, Lt. Quentin Roosevelt, a pilot who was killed in France in WW1 in July, 1918, was reinterred to Colleville...

It’s a shame that Obama was at Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier this year,a ceremony he’s skipped in years past. His presence dishonored those who sleep in that hallowed ground. Most of our presidents have loved this country – But never before have we had an America-hater in the White House. Obama spent 19 years in the church of a man whose motto was “God damn America!”(not that he heard one of Jeremiah Wright’s sermons, mind you).Other presidents are famous for stirring words of resolve (“December 7, 1941, a day which...

What the hell is going on over Memorial Day weekend among America's youts, specifically, "Eric Holder's People"?!IM SICK OF IT! Here in Little Rock, (which was just named No. 7 most dangerous city), I was talking to my friend yesterday, who is an LRPD officer. He asked if my wife and I were going to Riverfest that evening. I told him my son, age 9 mos. was sick, and we weren't planning to. He told me, "Good. There is a Rap artist playing at 9PM and there are not enough cops on duty so be very careful, and carry your...

A man who was killed trying to protect his girlfriend and a 16-year-old girl were among six people killed and at least 21 others wounded in separate shootings over the Memorial Day holiday and into the night, officials said. Two of the non-fatal shootings took place at a South Side beach. The spate of violence came only a day after the redeployment of 500 police officers from two specialized units to high-crime districts. The first slaying happened about 7:49 p.m. on the 7600 block of South Eberhart Avenue in the city's Chatham neighborhood, police said.

This would be his 70th golf outing. Evidently, respect for the war dead only goes so far with Obama. After his perfunctory appearance at Arlington, he took off for some q time with his golf clubs. "The president did pay his respects in the morning, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, but later in the day traveled to Fort Belvoir to play golf." Not that anyone should be surprised, of course. We shouldn’t expect more from this president, after all, narcissists like Obama can’t possibly be expected to show empathy and he’s not...

Can you imagine David Cameron enjoying a round of golf on Remembrance Sunday? It would be inconceivable for the British Prime Minister to do so, and not just because of the usually dire weather at that time of the year. Above all, it would be viewed as an act of extremely bad taste on a day when the nation remembers and mourns her war dead. I can’t imagine the PM even considering it, and I’m sure his advisers would be horrified at the idea. And if the prime minister ever did play golf on such a sacrosanct day he would...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 30, 2011) — Speaking before representatives of nearly four dozen community organizations at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Col. Charles Williams said that although his home is in New Jersey, he’s glad to call Pulaski County home because of its support for the military. Williams, the Fort Leonard Wood garrison commander, said he tries to convey that message “every time I get the opportunity to speak.” Williams said the “toughest job” military personnel ever have to do is to present an American flag to the parents of spouse of a fallen servicemember, citing the recent death in Afghanistan of...

Alice Carver is almost six months shy of her 100th birthday, and she figures now is a good time to shed a few belongings. "I've got a million cupboards in this house," she said. "I am halfway into my 99th year, and I'm getting rid of all kinds of things." Carver leaned back against the chair in a comfortable kitchen that has warmed many souls since the house was built in the early 1800s. Outside the many windows, the grass was greening up in the May fog, and where the lawn sloped to the Lincolnville Beach shore, a clutch of...

I’ll attempt to keep my commentary to a minimum, since I don’t think I can add much to the images I’ll be posting today. The image above is of the Field of Flags, a memorial to the 266 New Yorkers who been killed in action during operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and associated theaters of the War on Terror. The fact that I couldn’t get the entire field into view illustrates the extent of the sacrifice made by men and women of our Armed Forces, but also the contribution New York as a state has made to their missions overseas....

This is Memorial Day and so I don’t want to nitpick, but how could the President possibly clear a speech for this day that reads:It’s one of my highest honors. It is my most solemn responsibility as president to serve as commander-in-chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known.”

The business of memorializing our war dead done, President Obama headed out to the Fort Belvoir golf course today, finding his way onto the links for the ninth weekend in a row. Obama earlier today laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and met with families of those killed in battle. But he emerged from the day’s solemnity to go golfing for the 12th time this year and the 70th time of his presidency. The decision to golf on Memorial Day invites comparison with President George W. Bush, who gave up the game early in his presidency...

Osama’s dream was to shift history into the realm of myth. He passionately believed that the ordinary course of mundane history wasn’t what really mattered: there was a divine and a miraculous history just behind the veil. Osama aimed to pierce the veil, to bring hundreds of millions of Muslims into his reality, transfixed and transported by the vision of a climactic fight of good against evil, of God against America and its local allies. That dream died in Iraq. But on this Memorial Day it is not enough to remember, and give thanks, that Osama’s dream died before he...

The business of memorializing our war dead done, President Obama headed out to the Fort Belvoir golf course today, finding his way onto the links for the ninth weekend in a row. Obama earlier today laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and met with families of those killed in battle. But he emerged from the day’s solemnity to go golfing for the 12th time this year and the 70th time of his presidency. The decision to golf on Memorial Day invites comparison with President George W. Bush, who gave up the game early in his presidency...

President Barack Obama led the nation's Memorial Day observances Monday, laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns and declaring that Americans owe "a debt to our fallen heroes that we can never fully repay." "The blessings we enjoy as Americans came at a dear cost," Obama told a crowd at the cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater. "For those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart goes out to you." Military servicemen and women killed while serving their country "gave of themselves until they had nothing more to give," he said. Americans everywhere...

When I was a little girl, I thought Memorial Day was a day to honor ALL of our dead. This idea started, because it was the day my father generally chose to go to the cemetery to visit the grave of the beautiful woman who gave me my name. This is also where I began my interest in wandering through cemeteries. As Daddy paid his respects, I would wander around looking at the graves and wondering what kind of stories were now silenced. As I grew older, I found out the real reason for Memorial Day. Started as a way...

Memorial Day Observance - South Florida National Cemetery... Congressman Allen West in attendance, AnyStreet-ers, FRpeers, PGRs and many other patriots.. "We remember our heroes because they illuminate the eternal realm of the heroic, a realm that we must treasure and venerate if we are to survive as a culture. Not only is the hero a transcendent archetype, but he is only heroic because he has sacrificed something in defense of another archetype — truth, liberty, beauty, the good, etc. In the absence of this true formulation, neither the heroic nor his sacrifice make any sense at all. This is why...

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight; nothing he cares about more than his own personal safety; is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better persons than himself.” – John Stuart Mill ere are 26 million veterans in the United States. This weekend we honor them and our fallen heroes. No...

On May 30, 2011 we are called to remember the soldiers who have selflessly fought and died for the cause of freedom. It's also a day to honor brave men and women like Lance Cpl. Thomas Parker whose life was changed forever in the blink of an eye. In December, Tomy's unit was given the location of three IEDs by a local Mullah in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Even though four other Marines from their unit were maimed by IED blasts that week, they overcame the fear, and hiked to the area. After successfully detonating three IED's they came...

Arlington Cemetery: Hallowed Ground Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember those who have died in combat. And Arlington National Cemetery brings home the stark realities of war. LIFE.com has published a series of photos from the historic cemetery that capture both the grand scale and the intimacy of this most hallowed place.

PITTSBURGH — When Frank Buckles died in February at his West Virginia home, his passing closed a chapter in the country’s history. He was the last American veteran of World War I, and his death drew the attention not only of friends and family but of historians, editorial writers, politicians, and the President of the United States. “He was like a cat with nine lives,” photographer and filmmaker David DeJonge said of Mr. Buckles, who was 110. During his long, eventful life, Mr. Buckles was stricken by scarlet fever, which killed his older brother, recovered from the often-deadly Spanish flu,...

A great song by Sammy Hagar, with some inspiring images of our troops.

What We Might Remember This Memorial DayOur willingness to intervene overseas has made the world a better place. The world is a better place because Adolf Hitler did not preserve his conquest of the European continent, and because the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere of Hideki Tojo and his militarists imploded at Midway, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa. Italy and the Mediterranean were far better off without Benito Mussolini and his mad plans for a renewed but debased Roman Empire, which ended on his own Italian soil at exotic-named places like Anzio and Monte Cassino. The dream of Soviet rulers from Stalin...

List – Killed in Action, Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, Puerto Rico born or Puerto Rico HOR SGT Louie Ramos-Velázquez, USA, KIA May 26, 2011, Kandahar, Afghanistan SGT José M. Caraballo-Pietri, USA, KIA April 10, 2011, Badghis, Afghanistan SGT José M. Cintrón-Rosado, USA, KIA January 2, 2011, Taji, Iraq SPC José A. Delgado-Arroyo, USA, KIA January 2, 2011, Taji, Iraq PVT Francheska Velez, USA, KIA, November 5, 2009, Fort Hood, Texas SPC Israel Candelaria Mejías, USA, KIA April 5, 2009, Near Baghdad, Iraq SrA Jonathan Vega Yelner, USAF, KIA...

Charleston was in ruins. The peninsula was nearly deserted, the fine houses empty, the streets littered with the debris of fighting and the ash of fires that had burned out weeks before. The Southern gentility was long gone, their cause lost. In the weeks after the Civil War ended, it was, some said, "a city of the dead." On a Monday morning that spring, nearly 10,000 former slaves marched onto the grounds of the old Washington Race Course, where wealthy Charleston planters and socialites had gathered in old times. During the final year of the war, the track had been...

Let us never forget those who gave their life for our freedoms. Remembering the brave men women who gave their “last full measure of devotion” for our freedoms, requires us to take a moment on this Memorial Day to focus on the individuals behind the numbers and remember they're not just names on a wall. One of those individuals who gave everything he had for us was Marine Captain John J. McKenna IV who was killed on August 16, 2006 during an operation in Fallujah Iraq. The story of John McKenna’s life and death is the story of a genuine...

Google, today, put up it's standard logo with no adornment. Just a small U.S. flag at the bottom of the page with a yellow ribbon. Compare this minimalist observance with the highly decorated GOOGLE logo commemorating all sorts of people and occasions -- usually avoiding anything that is considered patriotic.

Black Jack Logan and Memorial Day Monday, May 30, 2011 A.D. | Author Donald R. McClarey Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience — almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. Pope Benedict, April 16, 2008John A. Logan is the father of Memorial Day. Today he is largely forgotten except to Civil War buffs and that is a shame. He was a fascinating man and he is largely responsible for establishing...

Post ideas for the Tea Party Platform and youtubes to your family discussions about politics and religion.

They're stoked to get this kind of stuff! I urge anyone with a little free time and the inclination to package some stuff up and send it over. Drink mixes are big too (apparently the water they drink can taste pretty stale). In addition to a Kindle and all the goodies, I'm also sending a flash drive with some great movies. Pic: http://imgur.com/QHtiD

The Money Pic? Several more beautiful photos, so please go to the link!

Almost any politician in America follows tried and true patterns when dealing with the media. They alert the media of an upcoming event, the media shows up, photos are taken, cameras roll. Sometimes questions follow. And then the media goes home. But not Sarah Palin. Palin alerted the media of the first stop on her northeastern road trip: Rolling Thunder. But after some event organizers expressed displeasure at her attendance on Friday, her staff refused to comment about the appearance, and some reporters wondered if she’d even go. No time was given – the event lasted from 7am to 5pm....

    The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------Memorial Day 2011 ------------------------     HistoryMemorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet (see below) carried the dedication "To...

While I had attended a picnic that was also a surprise birthday for a father of a friend, I got to hear this song by Big & Rich, "8th Of November". It is based on a battle that took place in Vietnam, during the Vietnam War, on November 8th,1965. It was also called "Operation Hump." The Vietnam War, the one in which my present brother-in-law, Royce was in, when he served in the USA Air Force. The beauty and the simply story about this song is Memorial Day in music. Also to remember those who GAVE their all in all...

            Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of...

Amid the chaos, there was Sarah Palin. Only one advance staffer was on hand to wrangle the fans and reporters hoping to get close to the former vice presidential nominee, who arrived at Sunday’s Rolling Thunder rally on a motorcycle driven by her daughter Willow. At the first stop on Palin’s bus tour — which, so far, has a vague itinerary and no other formally announced stops — security and press relations were left to a small group of disgruntled bikers. When asked about the tour, Palin offered only, “This is our first stop; we’re very thankful to be here.”...

I cannot find ANY live feed for the Rolling Thunder rally. I thought C-Span was supposed to start coverage starting 12:45 - 2pm, but they aren't. Did they get "notice" not to? I'm really ticked off.

Not there but @CBSNews producer on ground tells me #RollingThunder crowd pretty anti-media, very protective of @SarahPalinUSA7 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

It’s Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start to summer. But it is also a time to remember our veterans – those who have fought for this country, some giving their lives. Because of their dedication, we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. My father-in-law passed away last month. He was a World War II veteran, receiving full military honors at his funeral. He was one of those dedicated soldiers, and will be remembered forever. Cemeteries, which house these soldiers, including those in Upper Milford Township, have fresh, new flags on the graves of their veterans. But, are you...

Visited Grandpa (WWI) and Grandma today at LI National .. tomorrow will visit Dad (WWII) and Mom at Calverton National. What is great is how there are US Flags planted on every site in every National Cemetery across this great land every year for Memorial Day God Bless those who served to help gain and preserve the freedoms of this great Nation .. and God Bless America

It is Memorial Day weekend already, marking the unofficial start of summer. The school year is ending, and families are getting ready to begin their annual summer vacations. In the fun of welcoming summer back into our lives, we have to be careful to not forget the “Memorial” part of this holiday. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began when ladies in the South started decorating the graves of dead soldiers prior to the end of the Civil War. The first official observance was on May 30th, 1868 when flowers were placed on soldiers graves at Arlington...

Many don't realize that John Wayne struggled a bit to get to his famed career as a western legend. In 1926, John Wayne started his journey in the film industry by being an extra, a propman and a stuntman. His first starring role would be in a Fox Film western called "The Big Trail" (1930). He was let go from Fox after starring in three leads.

If you don’t know a hero in a close and personal way, and Memorial Day is an abstract observation of those who sacrificed, I would like to introduce you to one that reminds me every day of what this day is for. Jacob Tate is my personal hero; a fun loving, church going high school kid turned U.S. Marine, my son’s best friend, and a newlywed Dad with a gorgeous little boy. Tate had the pleasure of watching the little guy, his first, grow inside his young wife. He got to see an ultrasound picture or two, but he never...

   ***** ~ Memorial Day Weekend Patriotic Music ~ *****~ Support The Artists ~   Support the artists you hear throughout the Canteen! Click on the links below! Keep the music going! ArtistDirect l  Internet Radio l  AOL Music l  Sonique (Lycos) l  Real Radio Live365 l  971TheRiver  l  GotRadio  l  Wherehouse  l  Target  l Shoutcast AFRTS l  VH1 l XM Radio l  BET l  audiophile l  Virgin Radio l  Soma (Alternative) Acaza l AudioRealm l VH1 l  Yahoo! Launch Music l  Radio Disney l  Live-Radio Net ITunes l Amazon l Salsa Radio l MTV l CMT l Ticketmaster...

I would like to say something about the men and women who serve in the US Military. On this Memorial Day (as always) I'd like to say how much I respect and admire the thousands of Americans who served in the past and who serve now in the defense of this country and American interests. What I know personally about the sacrifices and hardships of military service, I know from what my father told me. He is gone now, but I will never forget his quiet and sure conviction of having served honorably…and the dignity with which he and his...

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs cannot stop a pastor from invoking the name of "Jesus Christ" in his Memorial Day prayer at Houston National Cemetery, a federal judge said Thursday. Scott Rainey, lead pastor at the Living Word Church of the Nazarene, on Thursday filed a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order against the VA and its director of the Houston National Cemetery from censoring his prayer reference to Jesus. The suit argued that the government is unconstitutionally censoring his speech and engaging in religious viewpoint discrimination. The judge hearing the case agreed with Rainey, granting his motion for...

Sarah Palin will hit the road this Memorial Day weekend on a tour of the Northeast -- and possibly New Hampshire -- aboard a red, white and blue bus emblazoned with the words: "One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty & Justice For All." The former Alaska govenor will began her journey Sunday from Washington, D.C., after she and husband Todd join a quarter-million motorcyclers in the Rolling Thunder event to support the troops. She'll leave the veterans and make her first stop at the National Archives, where she'll stop by to view the U.S. Constitution. Details on where she'll...

      QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETERY — When I was a kid, we called May 30 "Decoration Day." It was an occasion for Boy Scouts to be up before dawn and report, in uniform, to the American Legion hall. There, Cub Scouts would be paired with older Boy Scouts, organized into detachments of a dozen or so and issued bags of small American flags. The groups then "deployed" in station wagons and pickup trucks to local cemeteries and churchyards, where we placed Old Glory on every veteran's grave. Later in the morning, there was a parade down Main Street, led by...

SPRINGFIELD – The placing of American flags at veterans graves for Memorial Day, long a tradition in Springfield, is short on volunteers. Charly N. Woehlke, deputy director of the Springfield Department of Veterans Services, said Wednesday that more volunteers are needed to place thousands of flags this week in advance of the holiday. The Gates of Heaven cemetery on Tinkham Road was not flagged as of Wednesday morning, triggering a call for assistance to the Veterans Office, and the St. Michael’s cemetery on State Street was about half-flagged, Woehlke said. There are approximately 22,000 veterans graves in Springfield, all being...

Hello Yupette, Thank you for your blog. You should know that many Arlingtonians have expressed unhappiness about the noise and bad behavior from 'Rolling Thunder' We recently suggested that 'Rolling Thunder' move to a resort area like Virginia Beach and that 'Rolling Thunder' be replaced by bicycle and pedestrian events. We were ignored. Thanks for trying to improve our quality of life, not cater to every special interest that wants to do its thing in Arlington. Susan

Now that President Obama is back from Chicago, fresh from declaring June, 2010, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender month, I’d like to memorialize Memorial Day. It’s not dead (yet), but like other American traditions (marriage, a strong military), it’s dying, and a genuine symptom is the absence of the flag. In the last month, we’ve seen Old Glory banned from apartments, offend Mexicans in our schools, and disgust teachers who believe it should be censored. We had a president hold a press conference - the first of its kind? - without a flag (or a clue.) This is what happens...