Memorial Day…Lest We Forget

By Charlotte Iserbyt
5-28-16

Lest we forget…

My father-in law, Gerard Iserbyt, a Belgian doctor, was in World War I, Flanders, and also lived under the German occupation of Belgium during World War II.

A wonderful man, who evidently saw unbelievable misery/tragedy during the slaughter in Flanders, and during World War II, carried with him in his wallet until he died in 1971, a clipping from the local Flemish paper which gave slightly skewed statistics for military deaths during World War I (1914-1918), when compared against more recent (updated) statistics (below).

I keep his picture and that faded newspaper clipping in order that my family will never forget to pray for those young men who sacrificed their lives in response to the call of their respective nations.

Casualties And WW1 Facts

Here are statistics for U.S. involvement in more recent wars.

America’s Wars – US Casualties And Veterans

Charlotte

From Harry Cooper
President – Sharkhunters
5-28-16

We do not wish anyone a “Happy Memorial Day” because this special day was not meant to be a vacation with a long week-end at the beach, picnics and barbecue or fun at the ball park.

This day is to remember all who served and with special memories to those wounded in battle and the most holy memories of those who fell in battle.  God bless them all…

www.sharkhunters.com
The World’s ONLY International Source of U-Boat History

sharkhunters@earthlink.net

A Poem Worth Reading: A Vet Or A Politician? No Contest!!!

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Joe has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a Veteran died today.

He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
‘Tho a Veteran died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Veteran
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Veteran,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever-waffling stand?

Or would you want a Veteran
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Veteran,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Veteran,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Veteran’s part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A VETERAN DIED TODAY.”
(Author unknown)

Tribute To Veteran Gary E Harvey

“A wife’s loving tribute to her husband, Gary Harvey – Veteran and unfortunately trapped in an abusive guardianship. Currently, Gary is confined to a hospital room and denied all visitation from family, friends, advocates – even clergy. The guardian does not keep his wife informed of his medical condition and blocks all her efforts to advocate for his best interest and his preferences.

Please pray for Gary’s continued strength and that he will be allowed the comfort and the love of his wife.”

View video, click here.

Angry U.S. Marine Steve Holt Speaks Out

The Lisbon Reporter reports “No comment necessary…an angry patriot speaking the truth. ”

View video HERE.

 

U.S. Reps. Michael Michaud, Chellie Pingree Join House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) To Defeat Funding For Veterans Benefits

“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid the shutdown turmoil in the nation’s capital city, 33 House Democrats crossed party lines Tuesday night to support a GOP measure to restore funding for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014.

The resolution failed (264 – 164) to get the two-thirds vote threshold required for passage in the House under a suspension of the rules. Reps. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to help defeat the resolution.

In response to Michaud’s vote against funding for veterans affairs, the Maine Republican Party questioned whether the Congressman’s loyalties lie with national Democrats or Maine’s veterans.”

Read more HERE.

Source: Maine Wire

View Press Release HERE .

Congressman Mike Michaud Votes Against Funding For Veterans Benefits

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2013

“REPUBLICAN PARTY QUESTIONS MICHAUD’S LEADERSHIP IN VOTE AGAINST FUNDING FOR VETERANS

Michaud casts vote denying funding for Veteran’s Affairs

 

AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party today issued a statement questioning Congressman Mike Michaud’s leadership and priorities in light of his vote against the funding of veterans’ benefits in favor of partisan gridlock and a federal government shutdown.

“Mike Michaud has claimed support of Maine’s veterans as hallmark of his Congressional term,” said Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine Republican Party. “But this vote contradicts everything the Maine people think they know about Congressman Michaud.”

“Thirty-three Democrats in the House broke rank with their party leaders and had the courage to vote to provide funding for veterans’ benefits in the face of this government shutdown, but Mike Michaud was not one of them,” said Savage.

Savage said it is time that Maine people, especially Maine veterans and their families, get some answers, “What are Maine veterans to think about Mike Michaud’s recent political turn?  Are our veterans as important to Mike Michaud as helping his partisan leadership team to score a few political points?  How can voters expect Mike Michaud to effectively lead our state if he won’t even buck his partisan leaders to help Maine veterans?”

“Let’s hope that Mike Michaud somehow musters the courage and conviction to stand with Maine veterans in the future, even if it means bucking his party leaders,” concluded Savage. “This recent vote against veterans is certainly not a profile in courage – Maine deserves better.”

The roll call referenced above, roll call 506, can be found at the following link:http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll506.xml”

Source: mainegop.com

Wheelchair-bound WWII Veterans Barricaded From World War II Memorial By Government Shutdown Is A Public Disgrace, A National Scandal

Stars and Stripes reports “Wheelchair-bound elderly veterans pushed aside barricades to tour the World War II Memorial Tuesday morning, in defiance of the government shutdown which closed all of the memorials in the nation’s capital.

The four bus loads of veterans — visiting from Mississippi as part of a once-in-a-lifetime Honor Flight tour — ignored National Park Police instructions not to enter the site as lawmakers and tourists cheered them on.

“We didn’t come this far not to get in,” one veteran proclaimed.” Read more HERE.

Watch what happens when Michele Bachmann and other lawmakers help WWII Veterans STORM the WWII Memorial After Being Turned Away by Park Police. Click here.