Some Gave All

As a former member of the U.S. Army and a war veteran,

    I would like to honor those who paid the highest price in defense of our country and its ideals. America is not perfect, but we have come a long way. We could not have arrived at where we are, nor continue to where we are going, if it weren't for every brave person who has laid their lives down for this country...And there have been many...

    (Chart courtesy of the Washington Post)

      Memorial Day is observed the last Monday of May, and it is done in remembrance of all servicemen and servicewomen who have died while in the U.S. Military. It originated as Decoration Day in the years following the Civil War - many cities and towns in America had begun holding springtime remembrances of their fallen servicemen by the late 1860s, often visiting cemeteries, decorating graves and offering prayers at gravesites. Originally, Decoration Day was to honor only the fallen of the Civil War, but as we joined World War I, it was changed to include all military personnel who had perished in wars. Memorial Day was observed on May 30 for decades until Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Act in 1968 declaring Memorial Day a federal holiday, and making Memorial Day the last Monday in May. This act didn't take effect until 1971.

    Today, to honor our fallen, I figured I'd show a comic book from my collection that I think is perfect for the occasion:

It's my copy of Navy Heroes #1 from  Almanac Publishing, printed in 1945. This comic is filled with stories of those who heroically lost their lives in defense of their country and fellow servicemen. I will share just a few pages, but before you read on, I want to remind you that we were at war, and this was the 1940s - not all images are for sensitive readers:

CPT. Cassin Young

Capt. Franklin Valkenburgh

Seaman James Ward

Machinist's Mate Robert R. Scott

Ensign Francis C. Flaherty

Ensign Herbert C. Jones

Chief Boatswain Edwin J. Hill

Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd

Time fails to tell all the heroic stories of those whose lives were lost in this terrible war. Lives of heroes like Doris "Dorie" Miller:

  Miller was a mess attendant, and former football player and boxing champ who, during the attack on Pearl Harbor, first helped the injured to safety, including his mortally wounded ship's captain. He then returned to the deck and manned a 50-caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until all his ammunition was spent.

   In every war, America has produced heroes that will fight to the finish, men and women who will heed their country's call. My sincerest hope is that we humans will become better beings that cast off war to set our sights fully on higher things, like exploring the stars; however, I am confident that in whatever capacity, America will continue to produce heroes, explorers, people of valor who will stand for what's right and good, and who will not back down from the challenges set before them.

  If you are interested in reading the entire Dell comic, War Heroes, click here: War Heroes. Comic Book Plus offers War Heroes and a huge selection of other great comics that you can peruse at your leisure. They provide a wonderful service to comic book fans.

  Please enjoy your Memorial Day with the people you love, holding in your heart the remembrance of those who gave all so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. And please don't forget to pause at 3pm today to observe the National Moment of Remembrance.

  God bless you all. God bless America. God bless our world.