Memorial day is coming

by **rick152** Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:42 am

Memorial Day, is a day that should be in our hearts and minds on a
daily basis. For more that 236 years men and women have givin everything
they could. Sometimes it appears we the still here, tend to take these
hero's for granted. This post is in tribute to one and all of these fine
people who, with their courage have allowed me to be able to say as I will,
in full knowledge that if they were here today they would again
sacrifice all for you and I. Please join me in a salute to ALL of our troops alive and dead.

Memorial day is coming Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGZA9noRa1CuzXe5ViSptcnkPg0x6p9tJb-Sozc7KZnsXNvEQD

Memorial day is coming Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGZA9noRa1CuzXe5ViSptcnkPg0x6p9tJb-Sozc7KZnsXNvEQD

by **Terbo56** Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:44 am

SALUTE!!!:cheers:

by **rick152** Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:09 pm

Memorial day is coming Pillars-at-the-national-world-war-ii-memorial-12767

Pillars at National World War II Memorial

by **Ponee** Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:18 pm

by SEBtopdog Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:42 pm

Isn't that just the most heartwrenching poster? Thanks for sharing it, Rick152.

It would be wonderful as we near Memorial Day to have our members share memories of family members (or themselves) who served our nation so bravely.

by **Ponee** Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:44 pm

SEBtopdog wrote:Isn't that just the most heartwrenching poster? Thanks for sharing it, Rick152.

It would be wonderful as we near Memorial Day to have our members share memories of family members (or themselves) who served our nation so bravely.

Wonderful idea Sebtop!

by **rick152** Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:10 pm

The Civil War memorial in Washington

Memorial day is coming 17040939

by **PALMER01** Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:39 pm

When I see things like that "Lest We Forget" poster, it tears me apart inside. I have seen many things in my life reflecting on our heroes, but the one spot that got me the most was the Vietnam Memorial. So many names on those surfaces. These kinds of things are just incredibly inspirational. The flag will always fly on the front of my house honoring them, in my own small way.

by **Terbo56** Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:42 pm

Palmer01- That's really decent- That's all you need-:cheers: Very Happy

by SEBtopdog Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:21 pm

My flag flies every day, too, palmer01. We have one flying proudly on a flagpole outside our office as well. So many lives sacrificed in every war either protecting our homeland or the freedom of friends around the world. No matter what ANYONE says, the USA is an exceptional country! And long may Old Glory fly to remind us all.

by SEBtopdog Fri May 18, 2012 6:48 pm

A Memorial Day story for those who love dogs, as one young soldier did.

For those who love dogs...

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.

I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.

See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."

____________ _________ _________ _________

To Whomever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.

Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."

He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive.

I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with ... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,

Paul Mallory

____________ _________ _________ _______

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags have been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.

"So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.

"Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"

Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

If you can read this without getting a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye, you just ain't right.

A veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including their life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."

G. K. Chesterton

by therealbutterfly Fri May 18, 2012 7:08 pm

That post always tears me up SEB.... I cry every time I read it....

by fang2 Fri May 18, 2012 7:35 pm

I'm crying bittersweet tears. Thank god for the soldier that made provisions for Tanks life and made notes for the new family that would give Tank all the love in his forever new life, even though Tank will never forget the life he left behind. God bless both their hearts !!! May his original owner rest in peace knowing Tank has a forever home!

by SEBtopdog Fri May 18, 2012 7:38 pm

fang2 wrote:I'm crying bittersweet tears. Thank god for the soldier that made provisions for Tanks life and made notes for the new family that would give Tank all the love in his forever new life, even though Tank will never forget the life he left behind. God bless both their hearts !!! May his original owner rest in peace knowing Tank has a forever home!

Beautifully said, fang2.

by therealbutterfly Fri May 18, 2012 8:08 pm

I LOOOOOVE the dog and soldier reunions! They crack me up!!!!

by **rick152** Fri May 25, 2012 7:11 pm

WW1 from the western front

by **Horizon** Fri May 25, 2012 10:19 pm

Sebbie ...that is such a touching story...made me cry...Thank you for sharing!

Thanks to all the Military...Men & Women that has served or that is there now.

Memorial day is coming Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgbk4zEfz-GY4awbXcOjP0QwZri6A3fV-HwcwNQnikzDyPv6YhXazonSFr

Memorial day is coming Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgbk4zEfz-GY4awbXcOjP0QwZri6A3fV-HwcwNQnikzDyPv6YhXazonSFr

by **abby ann** Fri May 25, 2012 10:28 pm

MY DADDY WAS A MARINE!!!!!!

by Cardiac99 Sat May 26, 2012 4:15 pm

Sebbie, as a dog lover, dog owner, and a veteran, you just made a grown man cry. That was an excellent post.

by SEBtopdog Sat May 26, 2012 5:37 pm

Thanks Cardiac99 and horizon for saying that. I know it's hard for these young people in the military to leave their young spouses and children. But so often, our guys' and gals' closest family are their beloved pets. Stories about those who never return just break my heart, but the videos of the homecoming reunions are so wonderful, aren't they?

And abby ann? To your Daddy, semper fi and thank you for your service, sir.

by **Ponee** Sun May 29, 2016 2:33 pm

:tup:

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