15 May Armed Forces Day

[las47032]

In 1949 President Harry Truman reserved 15 May as Armed Forces Day to acknowledge the unification of the military under the Department of Defense and to recognize exceptional allegiance and commitment of Americans serving in the military putting their lives on the line around the world and at home.

Remembering and honoring our service men and women, who have served giving so much, and those who gave their lives defending our nation and our freedom, they made it a reality.

To our troops, thank you for your service and the sacrifices you and your families had to endure.

No Freedom Isn't Free

Author unknown

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

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Star Spangled Heroes

by Marie Williams

Star spangled heroes

Red, white and blue

Fighting for our country

Fighting for me and you.

Marching in to battle

Standing proud and tall

Pride on their faces

Courage one and all.

Waiting for the day break

Bombs blasting in the distance

Capturing enemy soldiers

Fighting with much resistance.

God grant them safety

Is their eternal plea

Bring them home to loved ones

Waiting patiently.

Let them not become discouraged

These military women and men

But give hope for tomorrow

And strength from deep within.

Star Spangled Heroes

Yes heroes indeed

They give all their best

They give out of our need.

[kruser79]

Beautiful sentiment las, thank you.

[filthybeast]

Thank you kiddo.

[Snowden]

Beautiful, las - thank you.

That last picture of Iwo. My brother-in-law was one of the Marines wounded there. He's 84 or 85 now, failing but still stalwart.

[Woodmonkey]

This is beautiful, las, thank you for posting it.