Memorial Day flags

[David LaPell]

Memorial Day to me doesn't mean BBQ's and banquets. I have always been raised to believe that it means something else. I keep over the mantle of my fireplace the funeral flags of three of my relatives who all served in the military. On the left is my grandfather's on my mother's side, who served as a Radarman on the LST 614, the flagship for the 7th Flotilla in the Pacific and was the first in to nearly every amphibious landing and was on the 1945 Life magazine cover as MacArthur waded ashore at Luzon. Despite being attached by Japanese dive bombers and kamikazes (and with its few AA guns shooting down one) the ship never had so much as a single combat casualty throughout the entire Pacific campaign, a major feat. The flag in the middle belonged to my grandmother's second husband, a man who I knew all my life and was to me was as close as blood. He joined the 82nd Airborne even though he was almost thirty when he signed up. Being a boxer he was in excellent condition. He jumped into Normandy on June 6, 1944. The third flag belongs to my father's stepfather, who was too young to join when the war started and by the time he got to basic the war was over, but was sent to the Phillipines in 1946. While he didn't see any combat, he did get to see the birth of the US Air Force's (he joined the Army Air Corps) jet fighter program as his base was where they started flying the experimental version of the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the Air Forces first combat jet aircraft.

 

[Stonecove]

I am glad to see your pride in your family. A grateful nation thanks them for their service.
Thanks for posting.
Stonecove

 

[Brian41]

Sadly not many of those WWII vets still with us anymore.

I have my Father's funeral flag in a triangle box like those over my computer desk with the spent casings from his 21 gun salute.
What is remarkable is my dad served in the Canadian Army during WWII but the VFW here still honored him as he'd been a U.S. citizen since the 1960s. They place a flag at his grave too each Memorial Day.

Last Thursday we put a couple flags out at our old buddy Jim's unmarked grave as we do each year. He was a WWII Navy dive bomber pilot and wished to be buried with no fuss. He spent 3 days every Memorial Day weekend putting out flags for our fallen but wasn't concerned about his own recognition.

 

[CelticSire]

Several friends of mine from the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and I went to a cemetery in Arlington this morning and placed flags. There was a Boy Scout troop there, a local Fire Dept engine and crew placing flags, and several employees from Lockheed Martin as well as private citizens. A good way to spend a Sunday morning.

 

[MSgt G]

In my little town of Ringgold, GA, are over 900 flags and crosses displayed on the Court House lawn and down all the streets for everyone to see. What a beautiful sight! Each cross has a deceased veteran's name and branch of service on them. The deceased veteran's family donates a flag to the city for it to be displayed. My Air Force Junior ROTC, from the next county over, helps to erect and take them down for Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. It really solidifies what the flags mean to many people when they drive by and wave or stop and thank them as they're helping with the flags.

 

[jrm53]

I take care of a small cemtery here and the VFW used to put flags on the veterans graves but they have about all died out so I have bought the flags the last couple of years and put them out and they are made in the USA, I mowed it wed afternoon and trimmed it thursday morning and we put the flags out friday morning and it always looks great, remember what the veterans have done. NEVER FORGET. Jeff

 

[gunsmith11]

jrm53 very nice of you,,,thanks

 

[ditrina]

To all our Servicemen and Women.. Thank You..

To my Father... Thank You For EVERYTHING..

The center picture was taken at Disney on Memorial Day 8 years ago.. He was chosen to participate in " Retreat ".. A Disney employee walked up to him and asked.. " Are you a Veteran".. His reply was " Your damned straight I am " "then come with me sir..." The next thing we knew there he was, with an Honor Guard and Band..

By this time he was having a hard time getting around.. but I never saw him stand prouder and walk straighter than that day..

RIP, Pop

Thanks Dave for allowing to this post in your thread..