ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY PLEASE REMEMBER
Taps Lyrics:
Day is done, gone the sun, from the lakes from the hills from the sky, all is well, safely, rest, God is near. Fading light, Dims the sight, And a star gems the sky Gleaming bright, From afar, Drawing, near, Falls the night. Thanks and praise, For our days, Neath the sun Neath the stars Neath the sky, As we go, This, we, know, God is near. TAPS
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Honoring The Dead Of Unknown
As Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. said in his Memorial Day address in 1884 at Keene, Memorial Day 'celebrates and solemnly reaffirms from year to year a national act of enthusiasm and faith.' With changing times, Memorial Day is more celebrated as a holiday than the glum occasion it was meant for. We must remember that the day means to honor of America's defense personnel who lost their lives in various wars. Though, people used to honor the graves of the war dead even before the Civil War, the National Memorial Day holiday, originally known as 'Decoration Day' was first observed on May 30, 1868. The concept originated in the mind of General John Alexander Logan, who dedicated this day to decorate the graves of the American Civil War dead. Later, it encompassed all those who sacrificed their lives for their nation, from the Revolutionary War to the present. May 30th every year was celebrated as the Memorial Day until 1971. Later, the federal government issued the orders of holding the Memorial Day on the last Monday of May. Alabama celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the fourth Monday in April while the states of Mississippi and Georgia celebrate it on the last Monday of April. Seeing the Memorial Day losing its importance in the minds of younger generations, the concept of the National Moment of Remembrance was hatched by a national humanitarian organizations known as the 'No Greater Love, based in Washington, D.C. It was introduced in 1997 and is recognized by the President and Members of Congress. Since then, 'Taps' is at 3 p.m. throughout America to honor the contributions of our dead soldiers. All Americans are encouraged to pay respect to them by keeping silent for one minute in their memory at 3:00 p.m. |
It was the Veteran,
Not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It was the Veteran,
Not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It was the Veteran,
Not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It was the Veteran,
Not the police,
Who has given us the right to be secure in our persons.
It was the Veteran,
Not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the right to demonstrate.
It is the Veteran,
Not the politician,
Who defends our Nation
It is the Veteran,
Who salutes the flag.
Not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It was the Veteran,
Not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It was the Veteran,
Not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It was the Veteran,
Not the police,
Who has given us the right to be secure in our persons.
It was the Veteran,
Not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the right to demonstrate.
It is the Veteran,
Not the politician,
Who defends our Nation
It is the Veteran,
Who salutes the flag.
Please note the only person standing as the flag passes. He's the one in the wheel chair and probably a Veteran.
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AVIATOR'S HYMN
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26 APR 78 A/C: P3 LOCATION: NAF Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal TYPE: Collision Water SRIKE: Yes DEATHS: 07 BUNO: 152724 CAUSE: Pilot/Poss VMC Air
"...My roomate was AO3 Joe Elmore, who died in 1978, in crash of LJ-4. I don't know if anyone remembers but Joe had been in the Army before and fought front line combat in Nam. He was also wounded numerous times. He told me he loved the military but wanted a "safer" job so he hooked up with the Navy and came to VP-23. Only to been involved in that fatal crash where we all lost some of our brothers....
"...I would love to hear from crew/friends of my husband, Lt. David Gerald Schwerstein, PPC of LJ6, VP-23, NAS Brunswick, Maine. His plane went down at sea on April 28, 1978. This April will be 25 years since the accident. If you knew my husband, please contact me. Thank you...
"...My father LTjg Micheal Dziubak also died in the April 26, 1978 plane crash near NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal (BUNO:152724 I think) with six other members of his VP-23 flight AP6Q in a P3 plane. I'm 22 now (as of Sept 00) and I wanted to see if there was still anyone around that remembered anything about him since I never got to meet him. Please e-mail me if you have any info on him or the crash. Thanks!
"...I'm looking for friends of my father (Robert Hasselbacher - P3B #152724 (LJ-4) 26APR78) killed in the mishap...
"...My daddy was stationed in Brunswick, Maine with VP-23. His P-3 crashed in the ocean near the Azores on April 26, 1978. His squadron friends called him "The Hulk", and he was a wonderful and talented man. He would have went far with his Naval career, but he was only 32 years old at the time of his death. I am now 32 myself, and I miss him every day of my life. I would love to hear from anyone who served with my father. I also understand that there is to be a 20 year memorial service in Brunswick next April to commemorate my father an his crew. If anyone has any further information, please get in touch with me. My deepest gratitude to all of the men who have served our country in the armed forces!!"
"...Cindy has received several messages from men who were with her father in the Azores, and it has been great comfort to her. "Reading all of the nice e-mail from dad's crew members has made a big difference..." [07AUG97]
"...My roomate was AO3 Joe Elmore, who died in 1978, in crash of LJ-4. I don't know if anyone remembers but Joe had been in the Army before and fought front line combat in Nam. He was also wounded numerous times. He told me he loved the military but wanted a "safer" job so he hooked up with the Navy and came to VP-23. Only to been involved in that fatal crash where we all lost some of our brothers....
"...I would love to hear from crew/friends of my husband, Lt. David Gerald Schwerstein, PPC of LJ6, VP-23, NAS Brunswick, Maine. His plane went down at sea on April 28, 1978. This April will be 25 years since the accident. If you knew my husband, please contact me. Thank you...
"...My father LTjg Micheal Dziubak also died in the April 26, 1978 plane crash near NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal (BUNO:152724 I think) with six other members of his VP-23 flight AP6Q in a P3 plane. I'm 22 now (as of Sept 00) and I wanted to see if there was still anyone around that remembered anything about him since I never got to meet him. Please e-mail me if you have any info on him or the crash. Thanks!
"...I'm looking for friends of my father (Robert Hasselbacher - P3B #152724 (LJ-4) 26APR78) killed in the mishap...
"...My daddy was stationed in Brunswick, Maine with VP-23. His P-3 crashed in the ocean near the Azores on April 26, 1978. His squadron friends called him "The Hulk", and he was a wonderful and talented man. He would have went far with his Naval career, but he was only 32 years old at the time of his death. I am now 32 myself, and I miss him every day of my life. I would love to hear from anyone who served with my father. I also understand that there is to be a 20 year memorial service in Brunswick next April to commemorate my father an his crew. If anyone has any further information, please get in touch with me. My deepest gratitude to all of the men who have served our country in the armed forces!!"
"...Cindy has received several messages from men who were with her father in the Azores, and it has been great comfort to her. "Reading all of the nice e-mail from dad's crew members has made a big difference..." [07AUG97]