Today in the U.S. we honor the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died in the military for our country. It is an important day of remembrance.
Some interesting quotes to ponder in light of this day:
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” — Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
“When duty calls, that is when character counts.” — William Safire
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”— Nathan Hale
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.” — Billy Graham
“Freely we serve, because we freely love, as in our will to love or not; in this we stand or fall.” — John Milton, Paradise Lost
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.” — George S. Patton
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” — Unknown
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” — St. Ambrose
“May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn’t free.” — Sgt. Major Bill Paxton
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
My Grandma Leora lost three sons during WWII. They are the reason I had to learn to write, so they would never be forgotten. “Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II.”
Thank you and your family for your sacrifice. Bless you for enshrining their story with your words. ❤️🇺🇸✝️
I appreciate this post. My father was wounded in Viet Nam. I have always been so proud of his service. Growing up a “military kid” was an honor to me.
Vickie, this is for your dad, and for you.
You’ll com upon it suddenly,
grass slopes beneath your feet,
a green black-walled declivity
where you have come to meet
those who went away before
they would have cared to go;
their names are now an open door
unto lost hearts, so know
that in every graven letter,
(you can touch them, strangely warm)
lies a hope for something better,
that they now are free from harm,
and look closely as you do…
reflected in each name is you.
Amen. Amen. Thank you Steve for this post and blessings and thanks to those who died for our freedoms and those reflecting here and sharing your stories
Thank you for writing this. I found the quotes to be very helpful, reminding us of the importance of the day.
Thank you for these thought-provoking quotes.
At your table, set an extra place,
for you today will be the host,
and you will hear your prayer of Grace
echoed by a youthful ghost
guided by the Lord on High
to come and join your celebration,
as once He sent His Son to die
to bring Hope to Creation.
So be, my friend, reminded,
that these deaths are not in vain
‘less we’re turned away and blinded,
mad children in the summer rain
who dance, cartwheel, and prattle on
through gratitude’s sad denouement.
Truth. We enjoy the rights.
They died to secure them.
Thank you for sharing words of wisdom from men the likes of which are fading from our American landscape. Yet, we take heart in longing for His return.
Thank you, Mr. Laube. We need to be reminded frequently that the freedom we enjoy came at a great, great price.
Blessings,
MaryAnn Diorio
Thank you Mr. Steve Laube, My grandad fought in WWII, my husband’s dad in Vietnam, and so many we know today stay in their place to protect and serve us, even though it is hard to do. We live in a town with a military base just a few miles away and are reminded every day and many of their families live on our street!! We always say ” Thank you” to them.
Thank you, Steve.
My husband served in the U.S. Navy, but thankfully never saw combat. We recently joined a veteran’s group here and attend their monthly meetings. There are still some WWII and Korean vets, but most are from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It’s humbling to sit in a large room with so many who paid the price so that we can enjoy the wonderful lives we have.
Thank you for this powerful post. I stand in awe of our military men and women’s courage, bravery, and discipline. Their sacrifice reminds me of John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Thanks Steve. Memorial Day makes me sad, but very proud of our country. I pray that it doesn’t take War III for our current and future generations to know, and feel the same
I am old. My Dad fought in WWII and died in 1979 at home. Came home a different person said Mom who died at 2010 end. I think I am brave. I have and am living with the fighting of the war. I didn’t know. If I knew I might have been even nicer and more caring. Maybe. When this day comes around I celebrate me and the others like me: those who lived with those who lived who died later but died from the war.
Thank you for remembering Memorial Day. May we never forget the meaning.
He walks his daughter down the aisle
but no-one knows he’s there.
They cannot see his Daddy-Smile,
this joyous Man of Air,
for he did not come home one year
from that foreign war;
the nation stopped to shed a tear,
asked what he had fought for,
and he replies, ‘For days like this,
for days that define life,
for that first sweet wedding kiss
that makes a girl a wife,
for innocence and all it means;
I died for life’s untarnished dreams.’
Thank you for the compelling quotes, may our mindset be one of courage. My husband was the Captain’s Yeoman of the ship, along with two other ships, who faced the Russians during the Cuban Crisis. One of my brothers was never the same after fighting in Vietnam. An uncle in fought in France. They all came home. My heart goes out to the families who gave up their children.
I join you in honoring the men and woman who gave their very lives for our freedom.
Thank you, Steve. My dad and husband both served , one in the Merchant Marines , the other in the army.
Although I know I read PL, I don’t remember seeing these lines. Beautiful. 💙
“Freely we serve, because we freely love, as in our will to love or not; in this we stand or fall.”
— John Milton, Paradise Lost
Steve, thank you for keeping the awareness of our history alive.
I appreciate these quotes! Thank you!
Thank you Steve for a heartfelt tribute to our heroes.