Everyone feels their pain. Until it comes time to help. Then it is like the Rudyard Kipling poem https://www.poetry.com/poem/33632/tommy . Do you have any idea how many younger people I have asked what June 6 is, and they come back with “It’s in Pride Month” nonsense? They have deleted D-Day from the younger people’s memory. Do the schools take them to the Cenotaphs? No. My father made sure when the school stopped HE took me. I froze my hands a little and my dad used to say “How cold do you think we got?” (My father was a WW2 veteran by the way.)
My grandfather’s were WWII vets. Although drafted, they believed in the cause they were fighting for: Hitler and his ilk were wrong and needed to be stopped. They saw it as their duty to their country and to America’s allies. How sad it is to see that betrayed by the likes of Trump and his “new” brand of conservatives. Watching the GOP embrace ideals that Hitler himself used and promoted is a slap in the face to every American that sacrificed his life for this country.
Having served in the U.S. military under both oligarchies in places where dictators claiming to be fascist led a direct democracy, a representative democracy, a socialistic state, a communist state, a monarchy, an oligarchy, and an autocracy. Once a dictator comes to power it is the dictator’s will; if he wants he takes, which goes for his minions, the last was Milošević who sent his death squads out for those who opposed his will or to motivate his followers depending on his mood; basically at the whims of madmen. How many of the surviving veterans served so that their own country could turn into despotism just like we were sent overseas to fight against? How many of our brothers and sisters rest in the various cemeteries as tribute to the freedoms the totalitarians want to take away? Do we want a Big Brother society to be the future of our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren? The oath I took upon entering the military included “all enemies foreign and domestic”, that includes the rich and elected officials who want the U.S. Republic to fall!
Some of you know that I love history. One of my favorite documentaries is the Civil War by Ken Burns. On Memorial Day, I re-read this letter and watched parts of the series. This weekend, I share the Sullivan Ballou letter with all of you:
In 1861, a Union officer named Sullivan Ballou, assigned to the Grand Army of The Potomac wrote home to his wife in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
July 14, 1861,
Dear Sarah,
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow and lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel compelled to write a few lines that may fall upon your eyes when I am no more.
I have no misgivings about or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged. And my courage neither halts nor falters. I know now how American civilization now leans upon the triumph of our government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. I am willing, completely willing, to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government and to pay that debt.
Enough snark posted here today to gag a maggot! Everyone out there who wears/wore the uniform and took the President’s penny deserves our thanks… what we do/did was give a blank check to Uncle Sam to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, payable with life, if need be. Rudyard Kipling’s “Tommy” (Look it up and “In Flander’s Fields”) covers it most succinctly! Why do you people think the services (volunteers all) are having the devil’s own time meeting their quotas?? Who wants a WOKE-type covering their back? ‘Nuff said! And if you don’t like it — Du kannst lech mein Arsch!
God Bless Our Military and Veterans. You have and do sacrifice so much for us. We owe you a debt that we can never repay. I say again: God Bless Our Military and Veterans.
Monday, I and many of our concert band will be joining with the Charleston, SC concert band to put on a show of patriotic music to commemorate the veterans, past and present. I shall be thinking of this image while playing American the Beautiful, a favorite piece if the two bands.
My uncle volunteered for duty in WWII. He was 32. I was honored to read his diaries. The only time he swore (sh&t and da&m) was when writing about mosquitoes and his sinus infections. He wrote at least one sentence each day. He was stationed in New Guinea. Worked with airplanes. He was a hunter but when he came back to the states, he didn’t hunt anymore. He only “shot” pictures. He was tried of all the death he’d seen. He was a good man from small town, USA. A small business Republican until GW.
American civilians participated in the war by accepting shortages with grace. All are dead now. I cannot imagine what they would think of the republican party over the past years starting with Palin & Bachmann devolving to tea baggers to the “Freedom” Caucus to birthers to trump to magas and qanoners to Jan 6 to desantis and states along with the conservative members of SCOTUS taking away civil rights from most every non-white, non-male, non-heterosexual American citizen to punish anyone not belonging to their tribe. These “fine people” want patriarchy to rule again so they’re at the top of the ladder… the only way many them can reach such a position.
Al Fresco 11 months ago
I feel your pain, Vets. They gave their all for us honorably. Thank you for your service .
GOGOPOWERANGERS 11 months ago
Vetrans dont deserve anything considering
Us was never defending themselves during war they were the aggressor mostly
Tens of Thousands of civilians were killed/raped/ tortured over last 60 years especially in vietnam/korean war
How can you support a soldier who are willing to that far for their country?
azrael2000 11 months ago
Everyone feels their pain. Until it comes time to help. Then it is like the Rudyard Kipling poem https://www.poetry.com/poem/33632/tommy . Do you have any idea how many younger people I have asked what June 6 is, and they come back with “It’s in Pride Month” nonsense? They have deleted D-Day from the younger people’s memory. Do the schools take them to the Cenotaphs? No. My father made sure when the school stopped HE took me. I froze my hands a little and my dad used to say “How cold do you think we got?” (My father was a WW2 veteran by the way.)
baroden Premium Member 11 months ago
My grandfather’s were WWII vets. Although drafted, they believed in the cause they were fighting for: Hitler and his ilk were wrong and needed to be stopped. They saw it as their duty to their country and to America’s allies. How sad it is to see that betrayed by the likes of Trump and his “new” brand of conservatives. Watching the GOP embrace ideals that Hitler himself used and promoted is a slap in the face to every American that sacrificed his life for this country.
Fklimko 11 months ago
To all my Vietnam brothers who have passed, you are missed, rest in peace.
saylorgirl 11 months ago
Thank you to all veterans that sacrificed their lives for our nation.
VegaAlopex 11 months ago
Finally a cartoon with which I can agree. Now if they’d only left Memorial Day on the 30th of May…
scote1379 Premium Member 11 months ago
Remember , Honor , Support our Veterans !
Grandma Lea 11 months ago
Having served in the U.S. military under both oligarchies in places where dictators claiming to be fascist led a direct democracy, a representative democracy, a socialistic state, a communist state, a monarchy, an oligarchy, and an autocracy. Once a dictator comes to power it is the dictator’s will; if he wants he takes, which goes for his minions, the last was Milošević who sent his death squads out for those who opposed his will or to motivate his followers depending on his mood; basically at the whims of madmen. How many of the surviving veterans served so that their own country could turn into despotism just like we were sent overseas to fight against? How many of our brothers and sisters rest in the various cemeteries as tribute to the freedoms the totalitarians want to take away? Do we want a Big Brother society to be the future of our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren? The oath I took upon entering the military included “all enemies foreign and domestic”, that includes the rich and elected officials who want the U.S. Republic to fall!
rs0204 Premium Member 11 months ago
Some of you know that I love history. One of my favorite documentaries is the Civil War by Ken Burns. On Memorial Day, I re-read this letter and watched parts of the series. This weekend, I share the Sullivan Ballou letter with all of you:
In 1861, a Union officer named Sullivan Ballou, assigned to the Grand Army of The Potomac wrote home to his wife in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
July 14, 1861,
Dear Sarah,
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow and lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel compelled to write a few lines that may fall upon your eyes when I am no more.
I have no misgivings about or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged. And my courage neither halts nor falters. I know now how American civilization now leans upon the triumph of our government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. I am willing, completely willing, to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government and to pay that debt.
Conservative Man 11 months ago
Are you insane it’s Joe and the commie dems that are destroying america
fjblume2000 11 months ago
Enough snark posted here today to gag a maggot! Everyone out there who wears/wore the uniform and took the President’s penny deserves our thanks… what we do/did was give a blank check to Uncle Sam to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, payable with life, if need be. Rudyard Kipling’s “Tommy” (Look it up and “In Flander’s Fields”) covers it most succinctly! Why do you people think the services (volunteers all) are having the devil’s own time meeting their quotas?? Who wants a WOKE-type covering their back? ‘Nuff said! And if you don’t like it — Du kannst lech mein Arsch!
RonnieAThompson Premium Member 11 months ago
God Bless Our Military and Veterans. You have and do sacrifice so much for us. We owe you a debt that we can never repay. I say again: God Bless Our Military and Veterans.
ncorgbl 11 months ago
NEVER FORGET.
preacherman 11 months ago
Monday, I and many of our concert band will be joining with the Charleston, SC concert band to put on a show of patriotic music to commemorate the veterans, past and present. I shall be thinking of this image while playing American the Beautiful, a favorite piece if the two bands.
librarylady59 11 months ago
My uncle volunteered for duty in WWII. He was 32. I was honored to read his diaries. The only time he swore (sh&t and da&m) was when writing about mosquitoes and his sinus infections. He wrote at least one sentence each day. He was stationed in New Guinea. Worked with airplanes. He was a hunter but when he came back to the states, he didn’t hunt anymore. He only “shot” pictures. He was tried of all the death he’d seen. He was a good man from small town, USA. A small business Republican until GW.
American civilians participated in the war by accepting shortages with grace. All are dead now. I cannot imagine what they would think of the republican party over the past years starting with Palin & Bachmann devolving to tea baggers to the “Freedom” Caucus to birthers to trump to magas and qanoners to Jan 6 to desantis and states along with the conservative members of SCOTUS taking away civil rights from most every non-white, non-male, non-heterosexual American citizen to punish anyone not belonging to their tribe. These “fine people” want patriarchy to rule again so they’re at the top of the ladder… the only way many them can reach such a position.
pamela welch Premium Member 11 months ago
Beautiful artwork, Al.
Lola85 Premium Member 11 months ago
Some people really do need to be reminded of what this day is really about.
Rich Douglas 11 months ago
Remember NOT to thank us for our service this weekend. It’s not for us. It’s for the fallen and the democratic government they died protecting.