A Soldier's Memorial Day Message: Show the Troops You Still Care

The point the author makes about not seeing the media out in Iraq or Afghanistan fighting is one that everyone needs to understand. Americans complain up and down about how we shouldn't be at war, and these pathetic war funeral protesters get all kinds of media coverage. People, however, tend to overlook the elephant in the room - it's not up to you. It's not up to civilians, politicians, writers, Hollywood, or journalists. It's up to those who are out there risking life and limb to give you that right to complain about soldiers and the military, to protest at their funerals, and to put that silly peace symbol on your bumper. And for that, they cannot be thanked enough. So stop complaining, people...it's not your place. And thank you, so much, for this article.

I saw "Taking Chance" yesterday and my family will now make it a Memorial Day tradition. Don't miss it.

I fly the flag in honor of my Uncle Danny (died in WW II airplane crash, Army Air Corps), my Uncle Bruno (WW II paratrooper), my cousin Danny (Vietnam War, Army), and my nephew Mike (Marine Corps, Afghanistan and Iraq). I have friends who have served for years in peacetime and in war in the Navy and Air Force.

I live in a neighborhood where everyone can afford a flag. I wish more people took the little bit of time and trouble and money it takes for a flagholder and a flag, and that they'd make better examples for their children. It's such a small thing, and it feels so good to do it... and, for our service members, I hope it feels good to see it.

We went to a family barbecue today -- not our family. The youngest boy led a toast with sparkling cider to the oldest man, his grandpa, who served in WW II. And then, spontaneously, we all sang "America, the Beautiful" to him. It meant a lot to everyone there, and the children will not forget it.

The fallen will always be remembered and honored and not only on this Memorial Day, but every day.

I am a marine vet who served faithfully in a conflict and a war. The country needs to remember and honor those who came before me and those who will come after me. For it is men like us that provide the very broad blanket of security we live under. This blanket comes at a price, for freedom is not free. It is paid for in blood by those of us who believe this country is worth fighting for. So wheather you believe in war or not, the next time you see a vet thank him for the very liberties you so freely enjoy. Former President Reagan once said "freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction, it must be fought for and protected" and on that note "Semper Fi - Do or die Marine Corps"

It is not a day to remember the Living Soldier, but only to Remember those who gave a Lifetime of Love for America and with it, their life on the field of battle. Why is it that so many can't seem to simply say "We Remember the Fallen..." Are they ashamed of them and their families. Is it a memory they do not wish to acknowledge? Remembering the living soldier on Memorial Day, especially as many businesses do by giving them a discount with their military ID, is like giving presents at a birthday party to someone other than the person whose birthday the party is for.

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have given their lives in service to our country. I would like to salute the families of these servicemen and women who have endured the pain of losing their sons and daughters, husbands and wives and fathers and mothers. In this time of war where men and women serve side by side, we remember that men and women both have been killed in service to our country. As a veteran of the Viet Nam Era and a father of an Iraqi War veteran, we both will always remember the meaning of Memorial Day. It was not meant as just a day off work or school, please remember those who served and died so that you and I can lay our heads down at night knowing we are safe.

God Bless Our men and Women in Uniform today and tomorrow and forever after.

Sgt Rodger De Ramus and son David from Tuscaloosa, AL

I am a Nam era Vet that returned home at the end of the war to people that did not like us for fighting a war they hated. That should never happen, however once in awhile I did get a thank you usually from an older person that gets it. One hand shake or thank you would make up for 100 screw yous - THANK A VETERAN, THERES NOTHING THEY WOULDNT DO FOR YOU !!

Semper Fidelis:
Always Faithful...To yourself , your god , & your country

The military has always been a family business. Me, Dad, Mom, Brother, Grandpa, three uncles, three cousins, my husband, his Dad and uncles and cousins. You can talk about the country you love or you can do something for it.

that those fighting and dying are in the background of america's awareness is told significantly by the actions of obama, the commander in chief, this week. he is vacationing in chicago...no problem. however, rather than take the trip to arlington to lay the wreath this weekend, he decided to send biden instead. obama will lay a wreath at a military cemetary 50 miles outside chicago. so what, you say, he laid a wreath. yes, he did. however, not at arlington. the couple of hours it would have taken to go to and from arlington to lay the wreath were apparently too much time out of his vacation to honor those he sent to war and didn't come back. he did, however, have time to spend a day in the gulf for a photo op and political speeches telling the nation that he's in control. no time for those he commands who have died but more than enough time for politics. something's wrong with this picture.