So touching. I'm sharing this with all of Facebook.

1 | Left by Gary | May. 31, 2010 at 12:02pm

amazing words, jamie. you have such a gift.
may we never forget

2 | Left by julia | May. 31, 2010 at 12:36pm

Let's pray for wars everywhere to end.

3 | Left by Theh0pe | May. 31, 2010 at 2:03pm

I will never forget those who fight. My cousin was out there and got severely hurt. This means so much to and my family. Thank you for recognizing what most people do not.

4 | Left by Tyne | May. 31, 2010 at 5:57pm

Thank a soldier for protecting our country. We need to show more support and think about things like this more often. Home is such a small thing to us right now but if we go through something like our soldiers have been through, it would be so much more. Send love and peace to our soldiers.

5 | Left by Holli | May. 31, 2010 at 7:35pm

My father and mother are in the Ohio national guard and my dad has been deployed before. Thank you. This means so much to me and my family and you have shown respect that needs to be more often than not expressed through words like these. God bless you on this Memorial Day.


WE DONT STOP UNTIL THEY'RE ALL HOME SAFE!-We will not give up on our soldiers lost or captured.

Love,
Emily

6 | Left by Emily Josephine Garcia | May. 31, 2010 at 7:59pm

Jamie,

First, let me transparent. I am an officer in the TWLOHA-TEXAS UChapter. I have nothing but praise and support for our mission. I am also an 7 1/2 Army Veteran who deployed during OIF I and OIF IV/V.

You blog is great, but it would be better served on November 11th, when we remember all Veterans.

Memorial Day is specific. It is a day where we remember those who sacrificed their lives during a time of war. We remember them. Our war dead.

We can appreciate current and past Veteran's, but on this day, we reflect on what it means to die for ones country.

Those of us who have served, gave, so you can have. Those we remember today gave up something much greater. Their families deserve better than being lumped with the rest of us Veteran's. This day has a meaning for them we can never comprehend. Not a lot of people know what Gold Star Families are, but it's them we should extend our love to today.

Yes, we deal with the wounds, physical and mental, brought from war experience, and we don't want you to forget. But today, I would appreciate it more if you took time to truly appreciate what this day means.

Today celebrate what we have because of what they gave. Life.

Thank you.

Donald V. Davis
Disabled Veteran (Army)

7 | Left by Donald Davis | May. 31, 2010 at 8:10pm

Coming from a large military family myself, I appreciate, understand, and thankyou for this Jamie.
My cousin Chad is in Afganastan right now actually...I pray for his safety and courage. He is one of America's bravest.
Thakyou again.

8 | Left by Katie | May. 31, 2010 at 8:46pm

Jamie,

I found this quote recently when watching a re-run of "We Were Soldiers" and thought about your touching message and how it is timeless across all ages and all wars; sorry, it is a little long! Remember our son, Captain David Booker, and his soldiers in Iraq this Memorial Day.

Godspeed!

Buz
________

IF YOU ARE ABLE

If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always.

Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And, in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O’Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam

9 | Left by Buz Booker, Armistead's father | Jun. 1, 2010 at 4:41am

that is a nice thing you said. it means a lot to those who lost a loved one or have one shipped off....
my dads in the military but his job is to recruit. i always pray for the D.E.P's and i hope that they all survive!

10 | Left by Anon | Jun. 1, 2010 at 8:10am

Nicely said Jamie. I work with soldiers coming back from the war with substance abuse problems. It's quite a ness to sort out but a fight worth fighting. It does and value and significance when others are willing to take notice.

11 | Left by Chris Schaffner | Jun. 1, 2010 at 10:03am

To honor our soldiers I will live. That is what they fight for. Our freedom, our Liberty, our right to pursue happiness. We cannot let their death be in vain. They sacrafice too much.
Have a bbq, throw a frisbie around, enjoy your families and friends....... live.
I am so grateful for our brave soldiers. I will constantly pray for them. With love there is hope and with hope comes that inner joy and belonging. Our soldiers need that love so that they can find that joy.
And to all of you widows, fatherless and motherless children, this is not the end. You can still find hope in community.

12 | Left by Luke | Jun. 1, 2010 at 12:54pm

"I live for those who love me, for those who know me true; for the heaven that smiles above me and awaits my spirit too. For the cause that lacks assistance, for the wrong that needs resistance, for the future in the distance, and the good that I can do." by George Linneaus Banks... one of the more profound statements of a caring soul's purpose for living-- --and a perfect goal for us all to strive for ...It is with the greatest appreciation that we honor the memory of those who lived and died carrying with them this same example of courage and generosity of spirit.

13 | Left by SusannahJoy | Jun. 2, 2010 at 12:37pm

Thank you for reminding me there are things bigger than depression, addiction, self-injury, eating disorders. Death by the enemy takes a great toll, and only the good and brave die young.

14 | Left by Stephanie | Jun. 13, 2010 at 2:04pm

Thank you for remembering not only our soldiers, but also those that love them. I miss him everyday.

15 | Left by Lauren | Jun. 13, 2010 at 11:03pm

And remember, that you are the reasons why we fight, the reasons why we die, we sacrafice our selves willingly so that our loved ones may live in peace

16 | Left by Ian | Jul. 16, 2010 at 6:24pm

Ian, thanks for keeping me safe. Thanks for letting me live, and you have made a difference. God bless

17 | Left by Haley | Jul. 17, 2010 at 7:34pm

hello my name is skyla what website do you go on to see black history month and my black is beutiful and bet black girls rock if you dont tell me what it is i will haunt you until you die i will be the spirit of your dawn dang house.

18 | Left by skyla | Nov. 6, 2010 at 10:47am