Your daughter is very cute and pretty

Thank you for your kind words

That will stay with her forever

I was shooting a photo of one grave when she asked me how old were they I answered some of them were younger then 20, she made big eyes and remain quiet for awhile then said to me I'm sure they won't be dead and lying here I believe they want be alive, she was realy affected and so I was.

I'm happy that you liked the photos I'll make an dvd with the movie and the photos and send you a copy of it.

By speeking of dvd's how did you liked the dvd about the Luxembourg resistence members and the enroled by force?

I can remember when I saw it at the cinema that I was real concerned about it, what the poeple endured during the occupation for nearly 5 years you couldn't say what you want, do what you want or trust someone.

Flag Folding

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As an Army and Navy custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night.

This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone.

____________________

Flag Folding Ceremony

The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies.

Here is a typical sequence of the reading:

(Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward).

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country in uniform.

In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.

(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.)

The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.

The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."

The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."

(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.)

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.

[The Flag Folding Ceremony above is from the US Air Force Academy]

I got a Cd with Photos from my friend Tom from New hampshire his father was in the                                                  552nd Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company Tank, if you like I'll make you a copy of it.

 

 

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Rennoq I would love to have a copy of that disc .

Thank you .

I’ll send you my adress !!!!

your School program is admirable how's the acceptence of the Kids

The kids are always very shocked !

They almost seem not to believe it really happened .

Right after my introduction they already start asking questions , mostly the same .

But I'm sure they will never forget !

Lennon

From my very dear friend, John McAuliffe...

Today, Sunday May 28, the various Veterans Groups in tha area met as usual on the Sunday before Memorial Day at Elm Park in Worcester.MA

The park, one of the oldest in the country is but a 10 minute walk from my residence at 425 Pleasant St. Both my Dad before me as a kid and I have ice-skated on these waters in winter time at Elm Park...On the Horton Bridge , and arched bridge which transverses the pond waters The Worcester Veterans Council sponsers "The Water Ceremony" annually at this site every year the day before Memorial Day. Hundreds of Veterans attend and many stand on the bridge, and when called upon throw a wreath or floral tribute of flowers to the memory of the those soldiers , sailors, marines who sacrificed their lives in the waters around the globe in all of our countrys wars.....At my turn, I approached the microphone and said," To the memory of my comrads of the US Third Army, who gave their lives upon the waters of the Rhine River crossing in Germany, March 1945.....and tossed my floral bouquet......There were perhaps about 20-25 who participated in the ceremony..... A young black High school girl sang the National Anthem..... A young Vietnamese girl praised the veterans in hackneyed English.......Many other veterans and service groups stood around....the Marine Corps group shot volleys.....and a Scottish bagpipe played......Tomorrow I will join Col. Bill Conley, a Marine veteran, at College Square, outside Holy Cross College, where Our Cent. Mass Chapter , dedicated our Monument to the VBOB, in October 2003......Their is also a WW-II Memorial here which honors the veterans from the Main South area of the city Worcester...a huge honor Board with hundreds of names on it......Col. Conley will lower the existing flag and with a bugler playing taps replace it with a new Flag, flying over the Square which honors veterans from the area......as well as our Battle of the Bulge veterans which our Cent. Mass Chapter Monument pays tribute ....then I will procede the Hope Cemetery for the Memorial Day Ceremonies, honoring all the City's dead from all wars......May they rest in Peace.

Memorial Day May 2006, Worcester, MA.

Johh McAuliffe

http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i315/Len...rgraten%202006/

Here are some foto's I took yesterday on Memorial Day in Margraten , the Netherlands .

Lenn

Actually I dont recall Memorial Day back in '45 and wha I/we did. It was only about 3

weeks after wars end in ETO. Our company was billetted in civilian houses taken over by the Military in a small village in Austria. Trouble was though, roumor had it that our

3rd Inf Div. was slated to go to the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Which never happened. Thank God. Today, I just rode a few miles back in the woods on my ATV

and sat a while. Reminiceing about the many friends and buddies I lost, and being

thankfull to God for bringing me home alive. No one around me so I could do some

recalling of what happened and then putting it deep back in my memory. A couple of

quiet hours of remembering and then back home. No flags waving, no music, just a

quiet couple of hours in THEIR honor. So maybe I didnt celibrate it the proper way,

but it was my way.

Joe my dear, who's to say that there is a proper way to honor your buddies, or that your method isn't the right one? Anytime they enter your thoughts and you take a moment to reflect on them, then you honor them. They know. We know.

Lenn; May GOD bless you for starting that program. Years from now American kids will have to go to Belgium to find out about Americas part in WWII. That is, if they will know on what continent Belgium is on.

A few years back, a poll was taken of high school graduates on history. Several could not locate where Washington D.C. was. One student said it was on the west coast. I wonder if he knew what side of the country the west coast was on?

Here's to the A.C.L.U. --- May it sink back into the muck, from whence it came

Ya, and how can a child raised in this country not even know what the Revoltionary War was or when it was fought. One question they had was, when was the Civil War fought. One young lady (about 22) answered, uh, around 1950? Have mercy on us all.

Ya, and how can a child raised in this country not even know what the Revoltionary War was or when it was fought. One question they had was, when was the Civil War fought. One young lady (about 22) answered, uh, around 1950? Have mercy on us all.

OK Marion...YOU got me started... Not too long ago I saw a "street survey" of highschool age (and older) young Americans and I was apalled at their lack of knowledge...One girl thought Germany was on OUR SIDE during WWII!! Maybe she went to Joe Stalin Highschool I don't know....God help us.

Jim

Oh the humanity!!!!! Now we know that they won't know where that quote came from...

Actually I dont recall Memorial Day back in '45 and wha I/we did. It was only about 3

weeks after wars end in ETO. Our company was billetted in civilian houses taken over by the Military in a small village in Austria. Trouble was though, roumor had it that our

3rd Inf Div. was slated to go to the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Which never happened. Thank God. Today, I just rode a few miles back in the woods on my ATV

and sat a while. Reminiceing about the many friends and buddies I lost, and being

thankfull to God for bringing me home alive. No one around me so I could do some

recalling of what happened and then putting it deep back in my memory. A couple of

quiet hours of remembering and then back home. No flags waving, no music, just a

quiet couple of hours in THEIR honor. So maybe I didnt celibrate it the proper way,

but it was my way.

Joe ,

There indeed is no proper way !

You were there , you were with them . We were not !

We can only do what we can do now.... Raise flags , visit the cemetaries and say prayers ....

You, my friend, should remember them in your own way because that's the way they would wanted to be remembered .

A man should be with his comrades at any time , especially on Memorial Day .

That's what you are doing and you're doing great Joe !

Lennon

Joe; You are indeed fortunate, being able to go out in God's open country

and sit there and reflect back to the time when it was our turn..

It is different here in the city. I started the day by raising the POW<MIA

banner just below the FLAG. My flag pole is 20ft high and as luck would have

it, there was a nice breeze, so I just stood there, saluted and like you I

thought back to those times in N. Africa ans Italy..Joe did you know Italy is

over 800 miles from Salerno to Venice. That was quite a walk. I could have

used your ATV up on the No. Appenines. Anyway later wife and I went to

the cementary and placed flowers on some T/Stones including her brothers,

Bernie,(WWII),Pacific, and Benjamin, (KOREA). So a few tears were shed

and I was NOT embarrassed at all. Quite a day. I DID REMEMBER CASSINO

THE TOWN AND THE MONASTARY. Just hang tough Joe.

GOD BLESS all VETERANS. Roque

Beautiful Photos from Margraten Lennon

I’ll send you my adress !!!!

I didn't got your adress yet, send it before you leave for Normandy so you'll have when you're back!!

By the Way enjoy your trip to Normandy:pdt34: , I wish I could go there myself