In memory of my father and the men that served with him in WWII, Pacific Theater, Luzon, Philippine Islands 1945.

Medical Aidman Technician 5th Grade, John Gallo



130th Infantry, 33rd Division U.S. Army

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,
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!
- Kelly Strong

Fourteen years ago when we were there for the first time there were slightly over 1,200 site to decorate, now we have that many Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and family member coming out to honor those that served.

This year there were just over 1000 volenteers at national cemetery. In less than 40 minutes they decorated over 25,000 sites.

These included what is now an old, fat werebear.

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BTW, that is fellow InnMate "PartyScout" next to me.

I am not of military heritage; I don't come from a line of fighters but of poor farmers and merchants. I and my folks in Canada don't have much to say about this sort of thing for the most part, but I feel it appropriate to contribute to this thread with a story of my own family.

My mum's father- we called him Papa- was Russian, and he was enlisted in what I would guess would be the Russian army in those days, likely under the earlier Soviet Regime. He later escaped from Russia, changing his last name in the process, but during his days in the war he never fought at the front lines- I believe he was a part of those who managed one of the Russian concentration camps around Siberia.
Even as a younger person, Papa had an awful upbringing full of brutal, nasty things that were done to him that I never was able to hear about; he died too early, and my mum's mother (Oma) was never interested in telling them to me; but I do know that the war left deep and terrible scars upon his memories which haunted him all the way to the grave. I don't know what he did at his camp, or how he escaped the war, but those are very dark places...

I wish I could have known him better. I wish so much that I could have heard his stories, because they now are lost forever. Maybe I will find them somewhere from someone who knew them or Oma herself. I think it would be wise for all of us to learn of these stories from our elders even just to receive a simple reminder of the luxury we have of peace and freedom-- it didn't come at an easy price for most of us.

Wishing you all well on Memorial Day.

I know this is a bit awkward, but I'm not the best on communicating my feelings...

I have a military heritage, with great grand parents on both sides having served, and an uncle currently serving...

There's not much I can say, but that these people are doing possibly the most difficult job ever, and serve for others instead of themselves. I wish all currently serving and retired army soldiers the best of memorial days, and I honour the fallen and deceased ones. Each of you has done a job I would never be able to do.

I love you...
To those men and women who went before me,
To those men and women who go after me,
To those men and women who went with me,
I thank you and am honored to call you family.

Memorial Day 2015:
Once again I am pleased to present this thread.

The first Memorial Day Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery decorations occured in May of 2000. The cemetary officially was dedicated in June of 2000. While I was Scoutmaster our Troop attended that first decoration ceremony. I have been attending each year since with our Scouts. I found out that I am now the last volunteer that has attended all decoration days. My father was buried there in 2003 so I have a personal reason to attend more than just being a voluteer.

So take a moment this weekend to remember all the service people from all the countries that have stood in harms way to give us a better life.


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Memorial Day 2014:
Once again I am pleased to present this thread.

This Saturday, the 24th, Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops of Northeast Ohio will assemble to place flags on the graves of the over 30,000 military at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. My father is in one of those.

This year I may be the last of the original attandies of the first Decoration Day. But from that first it has grown from about 80 Scouts to over 500. Last year the nearly 30,000 site were decorated in less than a hour.

I hope you remember to thank the veterens in your area and take a moment remember those that served. This includes those of all nations that united to protect freedom.

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Memorial Day 2013:

This Saturday we will once again "Honor" and remember those that have gone before. Please take a moment to remember those that defended your rights. The Scouts in the area will decorate the over 30,000 graves of our service people.

Also this year please remember those first responders that have put their lives on the line every day to protect and save us here in our own country.

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I wanted to repost this reminder. Next Saturday the 26th we will once again honor our service people by decorating the graves at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. This is the 12th year it has been open.
Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery

Here is the 2012 write up from the Akron Beacon Journal

(Below written in 2010)
I want to take a moment and ask our Inn Mates to pause and say "Thank You" to those that protect and defend our rights to do things like gather online for fellowship and those that gave that last ounce of life. Whether they died in actions protecting our rights or passed after surviving to enjoy the those rights they honorably defended.

Today I attended the 10th decoration day at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery outside of Rittman, Ohio. Our Scout Troop, among many others here,has been proud to take the time each year since OWRNC has opened to help plant American Flags on each of final resting places of these service people. Today we honored 13,300 service men and women, which included my father. Arlington Nation Cemetery in Washington, DC is nearly full. This is our nations second National Cemetery and is growing at a rate of 12 veterans per week.

I am constantly reminded of this Honored place because I live close enough to see at night the spot light that illuminate the giant flag there and often in the quite of the evening to hear "Taps" that is played every night.

So on this long weekend of outdoor picnics, swimming parties and family gatherings please pause for that moment of "Thank You".

"Freedom is not Free, there are those that paid the price for you!

To my fellow vets, Thank you for standing with me.

For the rest of you, your welcome; it was a privilege to serve you for 23 years.

To all of those who have dead, to all those that will die and to those that still live on. Be you a vet or family of a vet, I honor you today and everyday for standing guard upon this great nation.

Thank You

For Your Service

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
But not of war it sings to-day.
The road is rhythmic with the feet
Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red
On tombs where weary soldiers lie;
Flags wave above the honored dead
And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel,
They kept the faith and fought the fight.
Through flying lead and crimson steel
They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn
Their strength, who lie beneath this sod,
Who went through fire and death to earn
At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed
They march, the legions of the Lord;
He is their Captain unafraid,
The Prince of Peace...Who brought a sword.

Memorial Day 2016:
This morning we once again gathered at Western Reserve National Cemetery to honor and respect the final resting place for many of those that have served in this nations Armed Forces.

I hope many of you will take a moment to remember and say "Thank You" to those that served.

I know this site has an international reach and I wish to thank all those that stood together in great times of need.

Remember all those that helped keep all of us free.

"Thank You."

Thank You for Serving

I remember a medic I served with and ganmed with. RIP John Stephens, KIA in Iraq.

I thank all those who served living or dead. Especially my husband who served in the Navy and is now gone.

Thank you all veterans who risk their lives so we can live free.