Memorial Day

[plumbjim]

How many here will have to Google to find out what Memorial Day is celebrated for? Be honest now. How many Vets do we have on the board? What years did you serve? It's no shame not to be a Vet and I don't mean to imply it is, I was just wondering.

[Survivor]

God Bless America.

[Buck Laser]

I served in the army from 1953 until 1956. My service was totally unexceptional, though. My entire tour of duty was at Ft. Bliss, TX. But I earned the GI Bill, and learned enough about electronics to work my way through college and graduate school. I'm sorry that so many veterans didn't get the benefits I did. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Viet Nam vets received benefits comparable to veterans of WW2 and Korea.

I respect and appreciate all who served under enemy fire. I'm not sure I'd have had the courage to do that, and I'm everlastingly grateful that I didn't have to find out.

[lily]

I'd like to thank all the posters that served for their service.

[plumbjim]

Vietnam Vets get the exact same as Korea and WW II Vets. The new solders don't get the benefits we did. Some who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan will get one year free medical benefits and then they are booted out. Isn’t Bush a wonderful, generous man?

[Buck Laser]

Vietnam Vets get the exact same as Korea and WW II Vets. The new solders don't get the benefits we did. Some who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan will get one year free medical benefits and then they are booted out. Isn’t Bush a wonderful, generous man?


My benefits as a Korean veteran were different from the WW2 vets. I got $110 a month while I was single, $135 after I was married. It was good for four academic years, so I managed to stretch it into a year of grad school by graduating college in three years.

I was under the impression that WW2 vets got their tuition paid, and perhaps a small stipend, different from what I got. Surely, if the Viet vets got

[plumbjim]

The money end I'm not sure about. I was speaking of the medical benefits and tuition. My wife's uncle got the same as I did as far as his collage tuition and medical benefits. He was Korean and I was Vietnam.

[micfranklin]

Wait, who needs to use Google to find out why Memorial Day is celebrated?

[lily]

History in the making. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070528/METRO/705280341)

Arab vets to march into parade history

Group to share pride in America with first appearance in Memorial Day rite
in Dearborn.

Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News



DEARBORN -- After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, U.S. Marine Sgt. Jamal
Baadani immediately contacted other soldiers of Arabic descent and the
Muslim faith.

"There was such a backlash and discrimination against our communities and we
scrambled to find out where the Arabs and Muslims were in our armed forces,"
Baadani said. "I thought we could tell people, 'Look, we are not terrorists
like these guys who attacked our country. We are Arab-Americans, and we are
soldiers.' "

Baadani discovered there was no organization of Arab-American soldiers, so
he started one.

Today, about 50 soldiers and veterans who are members of the Association of
Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military will march for the first time in a
parade during the Memorial Day festivities in Dearborn.

"It's an historic moment, and I am really proud of them," said City
Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini. "It really is about time for these soldiers
and veterans to be recognized."

For Baadani, a Marine for 19 years who completed two recent tours with an
anti-terrorism task force in the Horn of Africa, the mission of the march is
crucial.

"We want to get the attention of two groups: First, the American people so
that they will know Arab-Americans and Muslims are serving in the armed
forces," he said. "Second, for others in our communities, so they will sign
up."

About 3,500 soldiers of Arab descent are in the armed services, and Arabic
soldiers have served the country since the Revolutionary War. But young men
and women of Arab descent and the Muslim faith often eye the foreign policy
of the country in places like the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and
elsewhere and wonder if it is appropriate for them to fight, leaders in both
communities say.

Among the 50 soldiers and veterans expected to march are Ronald Amen, who
heads security at the Arab American National Museum and who served in the
U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; Marine Sgt. Bassem Alkhafaji of Dearborn,
who is stationed at Camp Pendleton after tours in Iraq; and Marine Cpl.
Musheer al-Safari of Dearborn.

[Buck Laser]

The money end I'm not sure about. I was speaking of the medical benefits and tuition. My wife's uncle got the same as I did as far as his collage tuition and medical benefits. He was Korean and I was Vietnam.


I wasn't aware of any medical benefits. On the other hand, I don't think I was sick for more than two days between the ages of 21 and 40, so had practically no medical bills. But I got this cash stipend, and not tuition paid. It was living money for me. But, no point arguing about it. I guess all our memories are getting hazy. The GI Bill was the most important benefit I ever got, though. My parents absolutely could not help me, and when I finished high school, I was too scatter-brained to make a go of college. Fortunately, I knew it, so went into the army a month after I graduated. The three years to mature, read and think made a HUGE difference. I won academic scholarships every year after my freshman semester.

[ViolaLee]

About 3,500 soldiers of Arab descent are in the armed services, and Arabic
soldiers have served the country since the Revolutionary War. But young men
and women of Arab descent and the Muslim faith often eye the foreign policy
of the country in places like the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and
elsewhere and wonder if it is appropriate for them to fight, leaders in both
communities say.

Among the 50 soldiers and veterans expected to march are Ronald Amen, who
heads security at the Arab American National Museum and who served in the
U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; Marine Sgt. Bassem Alkhafaji of Dearborn,
who is stationed at Camp Pendleton after tours in Iraq; and Marine Cpl.
Musheer al-Safari of Dearborn.

That's very good to hear and it's good news. I hope the racists and bigots in America read about this. Racism, bigotry and hate will only prolong the death and destruction.

Peace to all on Memorial Day. And thank you to those who serve and have served our country.