By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2009 – As the nation prepares to enjoy its Memorial Day holiday, the military’s top officer asked that U.S. troops and families be remembered for their sacrifices.
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made appearances this morning on the major network morning shows broadcasting from the Pentagon.

Mullen called today’s fighting force and its families the best he’s ever been associated with.

“I've been wearing the uniform for over 41 years. This is the best military we've ever had, and they are making a big difference in these two wars that we're fighting,” he said. “And we're in our eighth year of war, our sixth year of fighting two wars simultaneously, and they've just been incredible.”

The holiday serves as the unofficial start of summer with many community pools opening for the weekend. Many enjoy the typical three-day weekend boating, cooking out and in other outdoor recreational activities.

But Mullen asked that the nation take pause to remember the sacrifices of the troops and families, and to renew its commitment to supporting those in their communities who are serving.

“Today’s a day we need to remember their sacrifice -- those who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as the families of the fallen,” Mullen said.

Nearly 5,000 troops have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since they began, Mullen said. More than 36,000 troops have been injured.

“We’ve got some 240,000 young men and women of the United States deployed around the world today … and many of them in harms way who we really need to take pause and remember their sacrifice,” the chairman said.

“They represent the best of America. They’re the best young people I have ever been associated with and they really do make a difference,” Mullen said.



Biographies:
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

Labels: Admiral Mike Mullen, heroes, Memorial Day, military families

WREATH LAYING - President George W. Bush, left, and Army Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe Jr., Military District of Washington commander, take part in a Memorial Day commemoration wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 26, 2008. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley



Story - More Photos

Labels: Arlington National Cemetery, Army Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr., Memorial Day, photos, President George W. Bush, Tomb of the Unknowns

ROLLING THUNDER - Motorcycle riders cruise through Washington, D.C., during the 21st Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, May 25, 2008. The bikers ride to raise awareness about prisoners of war, troops missing in action and veterans' benefits. Defense Dept. photo by John J. Kruzel More Photos - Story

Labels: Fallen Heroes, Memorial Day, motorcycles, POW/MIA, Ride for Freedom, Rolling Thunder, tributes, Veterans

ELLSWORTH WATCH - U.S. Air Force airmen watch the flag being lowered to half-staff during a Memorial Day retreat on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., May 15, 2008. U.S. Air Force photo Senior Airman Marc I. Lane

Labels: Memorial Day, photos, USAF

They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP-rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets, and steel pots. They carried the M-16 assault rifle. They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade launcher, M-14's, CR-15s, Stoners, Swedish K's, 66 mm Laws, shotguns, 45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes.

Some carried napalm, CBU's, and large bombs; some risked their lives to rescue others. Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damages. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive.

They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworms, and leaches. They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots. They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world, and love for one another. And sometimes they disguised that love: "Don't mean nothin'!"

They carried memories!

For the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people squealed, or wanted to, but couldn't; when they twitched and made moaning sounds and covered their heads and said, "Dear God," and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly, and cringed and begged for the noise to stop, and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die. They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing, and their reputations.

They carried the soldier's greatest fear, the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced or flew into fire, so as not to die of embarrassment.

They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it. They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment. They carried the weight of the world, and the weight of every free citizen of America .

THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER.



Sent by Major Ross W., via Seamus

Labels: Memorial Day, tributes, USMC

HONORING FALLEN HEROES - U.S. Army Master Sgt. Sandra Quaschnick, right, and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Bailey, left, render salutes during the "Flags In" ceremony to honor fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 22, 2008. Quaschnick and Bailey are assigned to the the Fife and Drum Corps of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, "The Old Guard." Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti Jr.

More Photos

Labels: 3rd US Infantry, Arlington National Cemetery, Fallen Heroes, Flags In, Memorial Day, photos, The Old Guard, US Army

HONOLULU (May 27, 2007) - Hundreds of flags fly over the graves of those who have passed on while defending freedom. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and more than a dozen other volunteers and service organizations honored our country’s fallen heroes on Memorial Day by participating in the 8th Annual Roll Call of Honor in Remembrance ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ben A. Gonzales

Labels: Fallen Heroes, Memorial Day, National memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

IN FORMATION
United States Marines just returning from their deployment to Iraq march in formation holding their M-14’s while participating in the Memorial Day Parade on Constitution Ave. in Washington, DC, May 28, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by William D. Moss

Labels: heroes, Memorial Day, photos, USMC

Mr. Stokely sends us his Memorial Day thoughts. he
writes:

No doubt, as David recounted the other day,
Memorial Day has become anything but in the eyes of most. Plain and simple,
Memorial Day is about one group of people who share one common distinguishing
denominator - they are U.S. military peronnel who died in the line of duty,
serving with honor the country the America they loved. DUTY HONOR
COUNTRY.

This past week I have tried to think what is the proper approach to
Memorial Day. Obviously the word celebrate, at first glance seems to have the
wrong "theme", for how do you celebrate the death of a soldier, sailor or airman
in the line of duty? It should not be called a holiday for can it be proper to
have fun and leisure on a day when we are supposed to be remembering those who died in the line of duty so we can remain free and prosperous?

So, what should we do? Simple to me, REMEMBER, for when we remember, we
show respect for the sacrifice made on our behalf. For me, I will remember these
things about my son and how we came to be a family whose Memorial Day was
forever changed in an instant:

Read the Rest at The Thunder Run

Labels: Fallen Heroes, Gold Star families, Memorial Day, Robert Stokely, SGT Mike Stokely, The Thunder Run