Memorial Day...A Time to Remember

With Memorial Day just around the corner I decided to do a little research with regards to this holiday. The holiday was originally established after the Civil War to honor the Union soldiers who had died fighting to preserve the Union. Some time after World War I the holiday was expanded to honor all fallen heroes from the wars America has been involved in. This is certainly one of my favorite holidays because during it we celebrate the men who helped create a free country for us to live in.
We honor the men who died in the American Revolution as America pushed aside an oppressive King in order to establish a new country founded on freedom. We honor the men who died in the Civil War as the South fought for state’s rights and the North fought to preserve the Union. We remember the men who gave their lives in World War I in the trenches of Europe. We also honor the greatest generation who fought in World War II to save the world from evil dictators. We also honor the men who fought in the cold mountains of Korea and the tropical jungles of Vietnam. Now more recently we honor the men and women who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan as they bravely fight a war against a cowardly enemy in order to make the world safer. The Untied States has definitely paid the price for its freedom and it is on this national holiday that we look back to honor the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation.
The Kuhn family definitely has a lot to be thankful for on Memorial Day. Granddaddy’s brothers Glen and Tom both served in World War II and Granddaddy served in Korea. Glen was the only one of the three who lost his life in battle. Glen died during the Battle of the Bulge in Europe which was the last major offensive by the Germans of the war and ultimately broke the back of the Third Reich, which Hitler had predicted would last for 1,000 years. I recently learned that Tom served in the United States Marine Corps and fought on Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima was a pivotal island in the Pacific that the United States needed in order to bomb Japan. The Japanese defended this eight square mile island with 22,000 of their best troops. It took 35 days for American perseverance to win out in this epic battle and at the end of the 35 days 6,825 Americans lay dead in the black ash of the island. Tom was wounded on this island in the leg and received the Purple Heart for his service to his country. I am told that he walked with a limp the rest of his life which was no doubt a testament to his love for his country. The torch was next passed to Granddaddy who served in Korea during the Korean War. The Korean War began when North Korean troops crossed the 38th Parallel leading to US and UN combined intervention. The Marines pushed the North Koreans all the way to the north of the peninsula until they pushed them almost into China. This almost started World War III as General Douglas MacArthur wanted to continue the invasion into China by using the atomic bomb and defeating the Communists in China. MacArthur was removed from command and the Chinese entered the war. The Marines then began to “advance in another direction” back to the 38th parallel where eventually a cease fire was agreed to. Marines are still in this country to this day to ensure the peace.
There is no doubt that the Kuhn name has participated in many wars that helped America become who she is today. I am sure that there are others who have served this great country from our family but at this time I am unaware of their names. So as you go about your weekend think of all the veterans who served their country bravely to ensure our freedom. If you know someone who served call them and thank them for what they did. We certainly do owe our freedom today to the men, living and dead, who served this country in times of crisis.
Following is a little poem I found that I really do like. I’m not too found of the term of old geezers but the poem does have a very good point. It is to these people that we today owe our lives……
OLD GEEZERS
"Geezers" are easy to spot:
At sporting events, during the playing of the National Anthem,
Old Geezers remove their caps and stand at attention
and sing without embarrassment. They know the Words and
believe in them.
They remember the Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor,
Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler. They remember the
Atomic Age, the Korean War 1950-53-55, The Cold War,
the jet age, and the moon landing, the 50 plus Peacekeeping
Missions from 1945 to 2005, the Jet Age and the Moon
Landing, not to mention Vietnam.
If you bump into an Old Geezer on the sidewalk, he will
apologize.
If you pass an Old Geezer on the street, he will nod or tip
his cap to a lady.
Old Geezers trust strangers and are courtly to women.
Old Geezers hold the door for the next person and always,
when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside
for protection.
Old Geezers get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they
don't like the filth on TV or in the movies.
Old Geezers have moral courage. They seldom brag unless it's about their grandchildren.
It's the Old Geezers who know our great country is protected, not by politicians or
police, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country!
Our country needs Old Geezers and their decent values. We need them now more than
ever!
Thank God for Old Geezers!