Welcome!


This is a membership forum. Guests can view 5 pages for free. To participate, please join.

[ Pitmaster Club Information | Join Now | Login | Contact Us ]

Only 4 free page views remaining.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A Memorable Memorial Day

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    A Memorable Memorial Day

    Remember last Memorial Day? Neither do we. Let's make this Memorial Day one to remember with friends, family, good food and drink, and Black Swan Gourmet BBQ Sauce. Let's raise a glass to all the brave men and woman who have served and sacrificed for our country! https://amzn.to/3fbk0fN
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Max Good; May 14, 2021, 08:55 AM.

    #2
    This should help.

    Fully Vaccinated People Can Stop Wearing Masks Indoors And Outdoors, CDC Says

    Biden says, "Today is a great day for America and our long battle with coronavirus. ... It's been made possible by the extraordinary success we've had in vaccinating so many Americans so quickly."

    Comment


      #3
      A clarifying point is Memorial Day is for honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Veterans Day is for honoring all who have served. Some may think this is splitting hairs, but to me Memorial Day holds as much significance as Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is one thing to serve your country and its citizens, it is another to die for us.
      Last edited by CaptainMike; May 13, 2021, 10:33 PM.

      Comment


      • Mr. Bones
        Mr. Bones commented
        Editing a comment
        Capn is absolutely correct...

        Carry On, Yall...

      #4
      Source unknown:

      My friend Kevin and I are volunteers at a National cemetery in Oklahoma and put in a few days a month in a "slightly larger" uniform. Today had been a long, long day and I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's and have a cold one. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 16:55. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high.
      I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about 4 or 5 bunches as best I could tell.
      I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: "She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!" But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.
      Kevin would lock the "In" gate and if I could hurry the old lady along, we might make it to Smokey's in time. I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.
      I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman's squint. "Ma'am, may I assist you in any way?"
      She took long enough to answer. "Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days."
      "My pleasure, ma'am." (Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.)
      She looked again. "Marine, where were you stationed?"
      "Vietnam, ma'am. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'"
      She looked at me closer. "Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can."
      I lied a little bigger: "No hurry, ma'am."
      She smiled and winked at me. "Son, I'm 85 years old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time."
      "Yes, ma 'am. At your service."
      She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flower bunches out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.
      She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.
      She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944.
      She paused for a second and more tears flowed. "Two more, son, and we'll be done."
      I almost didn't say anything, but, "Yes, ma'am. Take your time."
      She looked confused. "Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way."
      I pointed with my chin. "That way, ma'am."
      "Oh!" she chuckled quietly. "Son, me and old age ain't too friendly."
      She headed down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I couldn't make out and more tears flowed. "OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home."
      "Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?"
      She paused. "Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all Marines."
      She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully. I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car. "Get to the 'Out' gate quick. I have something I've got to do."
      Kevin started to say something but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us down the service road fast. We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.
      "Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead." I humped it across the drive to the other post. When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice:
      "Tehen Hut! Present arms!" I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud. She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice far beyond the realm of most. I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
      Instead of "The End," just think of "Taps." As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer:
      "Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us. Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy. In God We Trust"

      Comment


      • Stuey1515
        Stuey1515 commented
        Editing a comment
        I have no words............................................. ..........................

      • RolfTaylor
        RolfTaylor commented
        Editing a comment
        Thanks for the reminder - May we all have a thoughtful Memorial Day as we consume BBQ. This is food for thought.

      • ofelles
        ofelles commented
        Editing a comment
        Nice!!!

      #5
      A good reminder to all that freedom isn't free. Thanks for posting..

      Comment


      • CaptainMike
        CaptainMike commented
        Editing a comment
        Nor safe.

      #6
      A friend sent this today. A picture in one word. This one is called Honor. Could just as easily be Sacrifice.

      Click image for larger version

Name:	Honor.jpg
Views:	320
Size:	49.7 KB
ID:	1036044
      Last edited by jlazar; May 25, 2021, 01:04 PM.

      Comment


        #7
        Click image for larger version

Name:	C3C52BB3-1564-4785-9054-810CA70AA653.jpeg
Views:	319
Size:	161.5 KB
ID:	1036048

        Comment


          #8
          Click image for larger version

Name:	463DBFD0-8B16-4E62-A9B4-4DAF6011BB0A.png
Views:	314
Size:	357.0 KB
ID:	1036060

          Comment


            #9
            When I was a scout leader, every year on Memorial Day we put flags on all of the graves at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. One of the highlights of the year.

            Comment


            • CaptainMike
              CaptainMike commented
              Editing a comment
              One of our volunteer firefighters was a WWII vet and POW of the Japanese. He was captured in the Philippines at the beginning of the war and lost many comrades during his time in captivity. He volunteered at the High School metal shop and they struck a bunch of VFW medallion flag holders for every veteran at our cemetery. It was an honor for us at the FD to place flags for each of those vets, and when Morey died he got one too. I miss him, and many others, to this day.
              Last edited by CaptainMike; May 25, 2021, 03:29 PM.

            #10
            My wife and I visited Gettysburg a few years ago. Here's just a few of the pictures we took in the cemetery.

            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0648.jpeg
Views:	281
Size:	110.9 KB
ID:	1036099
            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0666.jpeg
Views:	287
Size:	72.4 KB
ID:	1036098
            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0684.jpeg
Views:	279
Size:	88.8 KB
ID:	1036100
            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0675.jpeg
Views:	284
Size:	85.7 KB
ID:	1036101
            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0656.jpeg
Views:	284
Size:	82.9 KB
ID:	1036102
            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0652.jpeg
Views:	277
Size:	245.3 KB
ID:	1036103
            Click image for larger version

Name:	DSC_0674.jpeg
Views:	280
Size:	116.8 KB
ID:	1036104

            Comment


            • CaptainMike
              CaptainMike commented
              Editing a comment
              A sacred place of honor.

            #11
            Hey Max, ever thought about a mustard-based addition to the line-up?

            Comment


            • Max Good
              Max Good commented
              Editing a comment
              Yes. We haven't come up with a new one for some time.

            • STEbbq
              STEbbq commented
              Editing a comment
              You have my vote for a mustard one!

          Announcement

          Collapse
          No announcement yet.
          Working...
          X
          false
          0
          Guest
          Guest
          500
          ["pitmaster-my-membership","login","join-pitmaster","lostpw","reset-password","special-offers","help","nojs","meat-ups","gifts","authaau-alpha","ebooklogin-start","alpha","start"]
          false
          false
          {"count":0,"link":"/forum/announcements/","debug":""}
          Yes
          ["\/forum\/free-deep-dive-guide-ebook-downloads","\/forum\/free-deep-dive-guide-ebook-downloads\/1157845-paid-members-download-your-6-deep-dive-guide-ebooks-for-free-here","\/forum\/the-pitcast","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa\/bbq-news-magazine-2019-issues","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa\/bbq-news-magazine-2020-issues","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa\/bbq-news-magazine-2021-issues","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa\/bbq-news-magazine-2022-issues","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa\/current-2023-issues","\/forum\/national-barbecue-news-magazine\/national-barbecue-news-magazine-aa\/current-2024-issues","\/forum\/free-deep-dive-guide-ebook-downloads\/1165909-trial-members-download-your-free-deep-dive-guide-ebook-here"]
          /forum/free-deep-dive-guide-ebook-downloads/1165909-trial-members-download-your-free-deep-dive-guide-ebook-here