Memorial Day Honor

[Fixer]

My Grandfather Frank was a great man and WWII Veteran. He never once talked about his time as a gunner in the Airforce but did many more missions than he had to to be honorably discharged because of how dangerous his position as a gunner was.

He lost his Mother to cancer at 15 years and enlisted to help fight for our freedom at 17. Because he was 6'-1" they didn't ask any questions.

He came home and married my Grandmother who's still alive and kicking, raised six children and built the 4th largest construction company in Pennsylvania [at one time] He put food on many people's tables for decades. He died at 55 when i was 10 but left a lasting impression on me and many others.

They don't make many of them like him anymore.

[Frank Beck]

Here, Here.

Thanks to ALL who made sacrifices for our freedom. May we not show contempt for them by underestimating what they gave up.

[SD Swede]

Strange are paths taken where memories of funerals of fallen colleagues are forever imprinted on your brain.

One of the last things on my career's to do list was to have Edmund Burke's quote imprinted on the wall above where the new torch carriers walked out of our building:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Thank you to all who have served and thank you to all who stayed home and supported their efforts.

[Fixer]

Frank and Peter thanks for posting. I hope others do. Many have lost sight or simply don't realize howlucky we all are to live in this country.

It's sad, I've come to recognize that throughout my time spent in academia [it's probably worse now] there seemed to have been an underlying message [slow drip] that modern day Patriots are somehow knuckle draggers.

[Frank Beck]

If that's true then so be it; I'm a knuckle dragger.

[tomh]

If that's true then so be it; I'm a knuckle dragger.

plus 1 Frank!
Father served in WWII
Thanks to all that served and to the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country my deepest gratitude for what they gave.

[37yrold911]

Care to include these folks?

[Soterik]

Indeed, thanks to those who served. And also to those who were/are their family members, as they have sacrificed as well. I remember as a young man in Boy Scouts, escorting Gold Star mothers during the Memorial Day Parade.

I just got back from spending the better part of my day with my dad (he turns 93 next month and is a WW2 vet). I took him around to several cemetaries putting flowers out as remembrances for family members and friends. My dad has been putting flowers on one particular grave for 71 years. It belongs to one of his closest friends who fell on in the summer of 1943, not too far from my father. They were both medics in the 41st division in the Pacific Theater. They were part of the 116th Medics, but were both with the 162nd infantry, B Company. Dad started putting flowers on Sammy's grave in 1945 after he got out of the service and has been putting them there every year since. Dad likes to put out a pot of live flowers, so I'll be keeping them up over the summer. I've heard quite a few stories from dad over the years, and met many of his friends when I was younger. They all shared the same "good" stories, and I only rarely got a verbal glimpse of some of the horrors my father saw.

We had the chance today to stop at my uncles grave (dad's brother) and place some flowers and an American flag, and close by is buried a Medal of Honor recipient and his son was giving a speech to a small gathering of people, it was very moving.

Thanks again.

[62S-R-S]

Beautiful thread and comments...a heartwarming tribute to your Grandad Fixer.

A few pics (Dad's) between 1944-45.





Near the Ardennes..weather turned sub-zero in January.


Fresh brewed coffee....Spring of '45

[sebastianroher]

Beautiful thread and comments...a heartwarming tribute to your Grandad Fixer.

A few pics (Dad's) between 1944-45.





Near the Ardennes..weather turned sub-zero in January.


Fresh brewed coffee....Spring of '45

I love seeing these old photos, it really puts things into perspective.

May we never forget those that gave their all so we can enjoy our freedom!

RIP Brothers & Sisters!