President Reagan's Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies Honoring an Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict on May 28, 1984.
By Gary P Jackson
Each Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives in order to protect all we hold so precious. Throughout the history of the United States brave men and women have fought to maintain our God given Liberty and Freedom. Far too many have died in the service to our cause, as they have not only protected our nation, but helped to free people world wide who also sought Liberty and Freedom.
I am always in awe of every man and woman who serves. In the world we live in today, it's inspiring to see these brave citizens who honor our nation with their sacrifices, so the rest of us can enjoy the life we do.
There are never enough words to express the gratitude we all owe these men and women, or the families of those who have sacrificed their lives for us all.
The above video of Ronald Reagan is particularly meaningful. He speaks about the soldiers of Vietnam, who served their nation honorably, but didn't get the appreciation they deserved when they returned home. This is, and will always be one of our nation's great injustices.
Though we can never bring those lives lost back, we can make sure we thank our members of the military at every opportunity. As a nation we are truly blessed to have such fine men and women among us.
May God bless all who serve and all who gave their last full measure of devotion.
A bit of video from Fox News of Sarah Palin at the Rolling Thunder rally in Washington, D.C. honoring P.O.W.s and those still Missing In Action.
I still can't figure out Fox's headline. "Stolen thunder"? Really Fox? Really?
Sarah Palin was invited to ride in the event as are many high profile leaders annually.
It never ceases to amaze me how the media, when there is no controversy, will go out of their way to create one. Anyone who questions Sarah Palin's motivation to honor the military is insane. She's the mother of an Iraq war vet, as well as a former Commander-in-Chief of two military forces. She speaks at events nationwide in support of our military men and women.
A solitary Marine holds vigil at full attention during the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally in tribute to fallen comrades.
By Gary P Jackson
I'm continually in awe of the man and women who serve in our military. The sacrifices they make so the rest of us can enjoy our Freedom and Liberty must never, ever be forgotten.
On Friday we published an article talking about patriot riders of Rolling Thunder praising Sarah and Todd Palin's acceptance to ride in their event Sunday to raise awareness of former P.O.W.s and those still missing in action.
Rolling Thunder is a wonderful organization full of real patriots, and Sarah Palin, the mother of an Iraq War veteran, as well as a former Commander-in-Chief of two military forces supports the military, and military charities regularly.
Sadly, Rolling Thunder's "legislative director," Ted Shpak, instead of checking with others, ran to the nearest MSNBC cameras and started trash talking.
Long story short, Shpak created a real mess. Even as we reported Nancy Regg had confirmed days ago that Sarah and Todd had been invited, the damage to the organization, and Sarah Palin's reputation was being done.
Now it seems Rolling Thunder's media director, Christine Colborne, has set the record straight. Yes, Sarah and Todd were invited to ride. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air was able contact Colborne and set the record straight:
After I read this story last night, I got in contact with Christine Colborne, who handles the media for Rolling Thunder. She explained that Shpak didn’t know that Palin had been indeed invited to ride at the event. The invitation came from a retired board member, Michael DiPaolo, who had connections in Alaska and got Palin to agree to attend.
Requests for high-profile personalities to attend the event are not new. Colborne mentioned that actor Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) attended at least one of the Rolling Thunder events, as have other celebrities, usually just to ride with a lower profile. Most times, though, those requests don’t even get responses, let alone acceptances. That’s a shame, because the Rolling Thunder event highlights the issues surrounding American POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War and later conflicts, as well as providing support to their families, who really need the emotional support they get from this group of volunteer veterans.
Colborne spoke with me on the phone in the middle of an all-night car ride to Washington DC, and explained that the last-minute RSVP didn’t get communicated through the echelons of Rolling Thunder. Everyone is either in transit or already in DC, and internal communication broke down as often happens before a major event. Shpak (and Colborne) were taken by surprise by Palin’s announcement. Shpak does have the authority to speak for the organization, Colborne says, but he had no idea that Palin was invited by DiPaolo, and Shpak worried that Palin’s arrival might be a “big distraction” from the issues on which Rolling Thunder wants people to focus. Obviously, Shpak — a Vietnam veteran himself — feels passionate about defending the organization, but went on NBC with faulty information. Shpak, Colborne, and almost everyone else at Rolling Thunder are volunteers, just ordinary people doing extraordinary work, and that means they get the occasional hiccup.
Ed is too kind. Having worked events that need coordination, and a bit of media savvy, one thing I learned the hard way is to never go shooting one's mouth off before one has all the facts.
Now I may be wrong, maybe Shpak made a good faith effort to contact someone.... anyone .... to see if the Palin's had been invited, and got no answer, or even a faulty answer. What I don't get though is why Shpak went directly to the most far left "news" organization on the planet to spout off. What purpose did it serve? Having a high profile leader attending your event is not a "big distraction." The reason people like Sarah Palin are invited to these events is to help spotlight them. BTW, these events are open to any and all, and no invitation is needed.
Now we have an entire issue surrounding an event that is all about honoring our nation's heroes.
The members who ride with Rolling Thunder are incredible. They do great work. That's why this entire event makes me sad.
I could go on and on about speculating if Shpak has a political agenda.I could speculate why Shpak went to MSNBC, a company whose CEO is in bed with the Obama regime, and runs hit pieces on Sarah Palin daily. I could also go on and on about the amount of positive attention having a world leader like Sarah Palin in attendance brings. What I really want to know though is who does Sarah Palin need to see to get her reputation back?
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
For me it’s always hard to put into words exactly how I feel on Memorial Day. How exactly does one say enough about those who give their last full measure of devotion in service of their country? Compared to that, how can any words ever be sufficient?
The United States military is the greatest force for good the world has ever known. Our brave men and women have fought and died to not only keep America free, but to ensure freedom and liberty around the world. Hundreds of millions have been liberated from tyranny and oppression because of our brave fighting forces.
In the course of keeping America safe, and Liberty’s Light shining bright, too many brave warriors have been lost. I am constantly in awe of these great men and women who put their lives on the line every day. Ours is a professional army. Every member is there because they choose this as their profession, their calling. They do this knowing they face grave danger. They are the bravest of the brave.
Ted Nugent writing in the Washington Times offers this salute to our fallen. He reminds us that every day should be Memorial Day:
Every day is Memorial Day
We owe America's warriors who gave their lives for freedom
I live to remember. I have not forgotten that America is still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, that our finest citizens have volunteered to put themselves in harm's way in the name of freedom. The media overall have done a grave disservice to our warriors and their families, who have been asked to sacrifice so much. The war is now barely covered by the media.
Maybe so-called journalists have forgotten. The media have moved on.
Not me. I have chosen to dig in and never forget. Not a day goes by that I am not reminded, often painfully, that America is at war. The cards, letters, pictures and e-mails I receive on a daily basis from America's finest and their families embolden me to be a better American, to be even more appreciative of the freedoms, liberties and opportunities provided me and you with the blood of warriors. These brave American warriors and the warriors who have gone before them humble me to my core. There are no words to express my appreciation for their bravery, commitment and sacrifice. The same goes for their families, who are left behind to soldier on while their loved ones go off to war. God bless them all.
We owe it to these brave Americans and their families to win this war with our honor intact, not to telegraph to the enemy when we are packing up and leaving the battlefield. I'm no military tactician, but announcing when we are leaving the battlefield is analogous to putting an ad in your local newspaper to let all local punks and thugs know when you are going on vacation so they can plunder your home.
I stand with most Americans demanding a victory strategy, not an exit strategy.
When we commit our troops to war, we must make a commitment to them and their families that we will achieve total victory through the application of total war.
Of the thousands of brave American warriors I have met since Sept. 11, 2001, not one has expressed a desire to leave the battlefield without victory. They all want to stay and finish the job. The commander in chief should remember how freedom has been achieved throughout history and let these trained warriors do their job. That's how I remember.
As parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we owe it to America's finest to educate the youth of the United States that many brave Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. Teach them that freedom isn't free. Teach them that the American military has freed more people from the shackles of tyranny and slavery than any other force in the history of the world. Teach them to remember this not just on Memorial Day, but every day.
America is at war. Thousands of Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and thousands more have been wounded. Pause to remember them this Memorial Day. Say a prayer for the warriors and their families. They are the world's true freedom fighters.
Never forget them. Make every day Memorial Day.
Sarah Palin offers her remembrance and thanks.
Memorial Day, to Remember Past and Present Sacrifice
"Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic."
This weekend, as we enjoy time with family and friends, we should stop and remember the meaning of this national holiday. Memorial Day is a uniquely American holiday that finds its origins in the aftermath of our Civil War, when our country searched for a proper way to commemorate the many who had fallen in the long struggle to end slavery and unify our nation.
Today, we remember all of those throughout our history and to this very day who gave their lives serving our country in uniform. Our prayers are especially with the surviving family members for whom everyday is memorial day, as they live on remembering their loved ones who died selflessly to protect the freedoms we hold dear.
And on Memorial Day, let us also remember all veterans, past and present, because everyone who wears the uniform and swears the oath is willing to make that ultimate sacrifice for America. So, in honoring them let’s keep in mind this version of a popular poem as we show respect for those willing to sacrifice all for our exceptional country:
"It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin will be draped by the flag."
- Sarah Palin
(Enjoy this version of the poem recited by Fred Thompson.)
No truer words were ever spoken. We are the land of the free, because we are the home of the brave. Remember this every time you see one of our brave men and women in uniform. Take time, go over and thank them. These are our finest.
And never, ever, forget those who have given their full measure of devotion so that all of us remain free.
