"These heroes who dare
To die and leave
Their children free"
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

They Gave their All, for the Price of Freedom..

All gave some, some gave all.

I watched a Vietnam In Hd History this morning, ran for a couple of hours. It was VERY hard to watch but I felt I needed to be reminded just how awful those years were. Also want to thank all who served our country. I for one am very grateful.

While Churchill was referring to the RAF during the Battle of Britain when he said "Never was so much owed by so many to so few." it also applies to those who have fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today...and mostly take for granted.

Alas, those numbers are NOT "few"...there have been far too many lives wasted due to the whims and capricious nature of our elected leaders.   I know today is supposed to honor our war dead, but if we could somehow hear their voices from beyond the grave I think to a man - and woman- they would say the best honor we could bestow upon them is to make sure in the future their numbers do not increase any more than necessary.

American, Polish & Canadian pilots were piloting in the Battle of Britain-

And the AVG (American Volunteer Group) a.k.a iconic 'Flying Tigers' flew in protection of the Chinese's against the attacking Zeroes in the Pacific Theater- white grave crosses still visible from Siam to Rangoon.

Why must men waste other men - the sad roots of this hereditary tragedy might be found in the Biblical story of Adam & Eve's sons Cain who Slew brother Abel ?? - Lost Paradise.....

"Nothing new under the sun."
~King Solomon

Yes, I knew that.

I think I've seen every movie, watched every documentary about the Battle of Britain and read a fair number of books on the subject. I'd argue that it was the most important battle of WWII, Britain standing alone against the German onslaught, down to just a few days of fuel and food for an entire nation, much less their military.

It's part of the reason I'm such a huge Anglophile. While he had his faults, Churchill is one of my favorite historical figures; I still get a chill when I hear his famous speech after Dunkirk:

"....we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

Totally agree, Churchill & England bravely held the line when Europe was Nazi occupied and Western Europe was in danger of eradication

Peace be unto all who answered our & their nation's call......