Memorial Day

[tavernier]

I have a few personal memories that I want to share on this weekend that I have never shared before, but having nearly reached the age of 70, I feel I am almost required:

...a boy who told me once that I was his first kiss... not long after was killed in Vietnam Nam.

...a funeral for another boy I knew, lost in Vietnam Nam.

...a boy who I dated, ashamed of the scars he carried from head to toe from combat in Vietnam Nam.

...a generation of my friends who died for the right reasons but for the wrong causes.

I love you all, including the men and women who returned.

Believe me, our generation fought against war and hoped and tried to make it the last. Didn't work out that way, sadly. But some of us still stand in the rain and and hold up old placards with peace signs... And still have HOPE.

Please have a safe Memorial Day, and pray for Peace.✌

[larkrake]

2. why are you being anal Colby, this was an emotional

post and you just crapped all over it

[tavernier]

5. My apologies.

I didn't mean to offend.

[Kang Colby]

9. You didn't offend.

I liked the post actually. I didn't mean to come across as rude.

[larkrake]

12. OK

[jaysunb]

4. I saw lots of fellow Viet vets at a ceremony today,

and I must say, we looked happy to see each other--even though most of us had never met. We looked healthy, for the most part--suffering from age appropriate infirmities. We looked to our elders from Korea and WWll to give praise and respect. We looked GOOD !!
And, also...we looked old.

Thanks for the post and good advice

[tavernier]

6. You always look GOOD to me!

You are the boys of my generation and my heroes.

Tom Brokaw talks about the "greatest generation" but that was a war that was executed for a purpose. Our generation was thrown into a war for no reason, and yet we were expected to fight and die. I think our generation were the true heroes, and got spit on for our efforts.

[Oldtimeralso]

7. Tavernier, You and I have a lot in common.

I am also looking at 70 too soon, Nam was our generation's war and our cause for protest.

I lost 7 classmates, one just 60 days after graduation.

Yes, I was in the park in 68, Kent State happened on the birthday of the girl I was dating.

My mom's best friend had her son come back but he never was able to function in society again. PTSD

My career took me to DC two or three times a year, sometimes the trips lasted two weeks. When I retired I had made 60 - 70 trips but I have never been able to go to the Wall.

We must remember the reason for Memorial Day is not cook-outs and road trips

[tavernier]

8. Thanks, my friend

I've been to the wall twice. I can't even write about it as the emotions are too intense. It is those days and those feelings, frozen in time. The statues are so shockingly and heartbreakingly real.

[rug]

10. Surely you know this.

[larkrake]

11. I lost half my highschool class to Nam

and my fiance. I do not understand to this day why they volunteered. We had no right to be there, it wasnt our fight and they were mis-treated when they came home. They were teenagers for Gods sake. The first Corporate war.

[rug]

13. Half a century later it's still felt.