NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY MEMORIAL , Utah Beach , Sainte Mére L'église

Anniversary D-Day 2007

VEE

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Here's a poem John McAuliffe, 87th Inf Div, sent me. Thanks sir!

MEMORIAL DAY

The bugle echos shrill and sweet,

But not of war it sings today.

The road is rhythmic with the feet

Of men at-arms who come to pray.

The roses bloom white and red

On Tombs where weary soldiers lie;

Flags wave round the honored dead

And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above these 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.

Joyce Kilmer: 165th Reg't; 69th Division

Poet/Soldier: KIA July 30, 1918 WWI

Sent to me by James Bird - 45th Inf Div

Bill Mauldin wrote in his book. The Brass Ring about the 1945 Memorial Day ceremony at Anzio-Nettuno Cemetery.

Mauldin told how General Lucian Truscott turned his back on visitors and VIPs and spoke to the dead. He apologized to the dead for their presence here. He said everybody tells leaders it is not their fault that men get killed in war, but that every leader knows in his own heart this is not altogether true. He said he hoped everybody here [deceased veterans] through any mistake of his would forgive Him. but he realized that was asking a hell of a lot under the circumstances. Truscott did say he would not speak about the glorious dead because he didn’t see much glory in getting killed in you late teens or early twenties. He promised that if in the future he ran into anybody, especially old men, who though death in battle was glorious, he would straighten them out. He said he thought that was the least he could do.

From Rocky J Squirrel (alias Roque Riojas - 34th Inf Div), also now known as REAR ADMIRAL! Rocky I know they are going to start askin' questions!

I JUST RECV'D THIS FROM OUR STATE COMMANDER OF THE,"AMERICAN G.I. FORUM'', MAYBE YOU CAN PASS IT ON. HUGS, many, ROCKY

Memorial.pdf

Fallen Comrades

Thank You For Your Eternal Gifts

Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow

May You Rest In Peace

Jim Hennessey

87th-Inf.Div.

M-1-------MY REAR IS ADMIRABLE ESPECIALY IN A SHALLOW FOX HOLE.

Hey Rocky, I got your email about them not being able to FIX your rank of Rear Admiral online! Guess we'll have to keep saluting you until they demote cha! Anyway, thanks for your PDF contribution on Memorial Day.

I WONDER IF THERE IS A REAR ADMIRAL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE AND

THEY GOT HIM AS A PFC, ARMY, HOPE SO. BUT IN THE MEANTIME.

TEN-HUT!! ole squirrel sure do git around. Just got word, gonna

shine Monday AM--if it doesn't rain. REMINDER!!!! ALL YOU VETERANS,

WEAR YOUR RIBBONS MONDAY AND STAND TALL !!!!!!!!

ROQUE (Rocky)

This is from Al Panebianco, 45th Inf Div

http://home.comcast.net/~nw-fla/tribute_flag_B_thompson.htm

This was a card sent to me by Jane and Russ Weiskircher, 45th Inf Div

http://www.bluemountain.com/view.pd?i=1921...p;source=bma999

Thank you!

To ALL the Vet's living and dead from all the wars. Thank You for all you have given to this great nation.

To the gentlemen of the GREATEST GENERATION, including my father (36th Combat Eng), you gave so much and said so little of your feats.

Be they small or big you all help contribute to bring the end of WWII. Thank you can never say enough for what you went through.

I fly my flag proudly every day in honor of all that gave so much.

Semicop----THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING US THAT ARE STILL AROUND

AND BEST OF ALL, THE HEROES THAT GAVE THEIR ALL.

ROQUE(rocky)

Sent to me by:

Hello All,

My new column is up on Newsarama. It's about Memorial Day. I hope to see you all soon. I forgot to credit the photographer (and it looks like I credited Herve and Gerome) for the photo of Tomosu Hirahara's grave and there are some typos as I rushed the column over the weekend for yesterday.

Anyway, if you like the column, please post a response as it will help get "Sgt. Rock - The Lost Battalion" more publicity.

Thanks!

Billy

William Tucci

Ambassadeur, De La Region De Bruyeres, Vosges, France

Crusade Fine Arts, Ltd.

429 Middle Road

Bayport , NY 11705

ph. 631.472.2866

fx. 631.472.2798

www.williamtucci.com

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=158170

"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"

AMEN to that from the great Joyce Kilmer!

For many years now, I honor our veterans on Memorial Day by attending the flag raising

ceremony and then outdoor Mass for Veterans at St Mary's Cemetery. I wear a shirt that says: "If you value your freedom - thank a Vet" and got to thank quite a few Vets yesterday!

The first time I ever went to the outdoor Memorial Day service, it was so beautiful & moving, I was sorry I hadn't attended years before. Yesterday's Mass was just as wonderful - all the local Wellesley, Needham, and Newton Vets come with their families and many, many people from the towns around. It really makes you feel so encouraged to see such a big crowd of people remembering that Memorial Day is not

just about cook-outs!

I always arrive early, park the car & walk to all the Howard graves - Aunt Mary's,

Uncle Joe's, my Grandparent's, and Mom & Dad & brother's. Yesterday, I realized that I'd been coming to the cemetery for over 50 years. As a child, my Dad brought me to water the flowers & I've a vivid memory of the sound of robins singing & leaves rustling in the May twilight. I've been planting all the flowers for over 25 years now & I've also "adopted" the grave of the Rainsford family. Though I never knew him, Mr. Rainsford was a friend and neighbor of my grandfather. His 8 children all died young in their 20s & 30s - and there's no one left to plant flowers, so I honor him for his kindness to my grandparents ( he was a carpenter & helped build my grandparents home).

"May we, their grateful children, learn.." - Indeed, I hope many children are still being taught to honor those who've sacrificed so much - our veterans, our families, & friends.

m2

For me, an add on to Memorial Day is, tomorrow Wed. I am joining several

other WW 11 Vets. for a luncheon,(free), then we will be instructed on the

tour that we are being taken to Wash. D.C. June 11. Marion<, Gary Swanson

called me and said He wanted me to go. There is an org. here called

"AMERICANS REMEMBERED INC. & JACKSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY",

that is sponsoring this trip. I feel fortunate that I was one they picked. Rocky