[May 27, 2024] Hello General. After being home from Vietnam 55 years ago and coming upon my 56th Memorial Day coming up next week, it got me wondering where all this time went. To be honest, I don’t recall much about my first 35 Memorial Days, but a lot has happened over the last 20.
What is Memorial Day, and why do we celebrate it? What have I learned over the last 55 years? I think I would like to share a few thoughts.
The song by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fortunate Son, sounds like it was meant for Politicians and rich family kids. I believe it was meant for teenage Vietnam Veterans that went off to war because our Country asked, and that is what our Mom’s and Dad’s taught us. They taught us Patriotism. Vietnam Veterans were the fortunate ones.
When Veterans come home from War, they buy a lot of Chevys and Fords. I guess that is because they ride like Jeeps, trucks in the war. Why not buy Fords and Chevys? They made a lot of vehicles we used in the military. The Rich and a lot of Politicians drive Mercedes and Lexus. We, as Veterans were used to mountain, desert, water, rice patty, sand driving on ice and in monsoons. Not too comfortable. Chevys and Fords are fine for us.
About Weapons, Politicians have guards carrying weapons protecting them; teenage Vietnam Veterans carried guns to protect a nation.
I have noticed how many people that run our country in Washington fit into Tuxedos but never tried on a Military Jacket and pair of pants.
When it comes to combat boots, they seemed to have all sizes that fit us right after high school graduation to go to Vietnam. But we never fit into Golf Shoes or Country Club Tennis Sneakers.
Why is it our Judicial system in this country finds it so easy to send Combat Veterans off to jail after they come home from war with PTSD or TBI? We fight in this country to keep politicians out of jail but can’t wait to incarcerate our Heroes.
Why do Veterans have Socialized Medicine, but Politicians have Blue Cross and Blue Shield?
Why are College campuses getting away with protesting and all this attention? When we were in Vietnam fighting for all these college presidents and professors, what we got in return was being ignored, beat up, spit on, and told get your education elsewhere; you are not welcome here.
By the way, a lot of Fortune 500 companies said we will not hire protesters today.
But when the colleges protested Vietnam Veterans, they hired the protesters and not the Vietnam Veteran.
General, one thing I do remember very early in my youth was my Dad on Memorial Day driving me around Philadelphia to see all the War memorials. He would explain to me why they were so important. He would say, “Joe, they tell a story; give us a description of what a soldier looked like as a young warrior.” My Dad would then go on to explain what part of the world the war took place.
But the most important lesson he taught me was long after we have left this earth these Memorials will still be here to tell all about our brave Veterans that always bring peace to the world.
And finally General, Memorial Day is all about the Veterans that died in the war and Veterans that came home and suffered short term and long term illness with their mental and physical injuries and then went out to the Pastures of God called Veterans cemeteries.
General, whenever I go to Arlington, it reminds me of being in the Largest Library in the world. See in a normal city library you have isles of books that tell stories. Some of the stories are true; some are fiction. But in the Arlington library, aisles of white tablets standing tall and straight are telling us a story that is true, a story of why America is free.
Just like books in a city library with authors’ names on the cover and titles of the books, the white tablets in our Veterans’ cemeteries have the authors’ names on it. Along with the titles Marine, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force. Remember they all were there, so we can be here.
With close to 90,000 POW/MIA still not home from all wars and 1,700 not home from Vietnam, how do we celebrate any holidays in this country without remembering them and doing all we can to find and bring them back home to their loved ones?
All remember, on Memorial Day, it is not important what you see, where you go, what you say, what you eat or what you wear. The most important thing you can do on this very important day is to remember.
Joe F Griffies, A Proud Vietnam Veteran
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A great man, Joe Griffies.
Mr. G, I missed our article on Memorial Day but today I’m back. Yesterday was a day to attend a Memorial Day parade in my hometown, spend time with my family (uncle is a Vietnam Vet and my granddad was in the Korean War), and altho I didn’t serve (no left foot from an injury as a kid) I always wanted to do my part and say that I stand with America. I do that now by writing and by telling folks the importance of doing good for your community (like Gen. Satterfield does). Please continue doing what you are doing and helping vets and others too.
Hi everyone, please get the word out on the Joe Griffies radio show. And call in if you can.
Below is a link to the Welcome Home Veterans radio show on every Sunday from 9AM to 11AM
http://www.wwacradio.com
Call in to the show at 609-398-1020
Catch up with news on our show by liking our Facebook Page:
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Good to hear from you again, Pink Cloud. I listened to Joe’s show a few years ago when Gen. Satterfield was on. I liked the veterans focus. If I remember correctly, there was a vet that had a home owner association after him for having put up a flag pole in his backyard with an American flag. I don’t know what became of it. But this is just a small example of the problems vets have that Joe Griffies exposes for us and helps fix.
Yeah, Bernie. I remember too. Great show.
Nicely said!
Such a great sentiment, Joe Griffies. And being a Vietnam Vet, I want to say “WELCOME HOME,” sir!!!!! There is nothing more honorable than to meet and listen to a Vietnam Vet and to hear their stories and to read what they believe to be important. Sir, your article on Gen. Satterfield’s website made my day. 👍
yes and my thoughts too
Jerome, I think that Joe Griffies has hit upon several important ideas that our Vietnam War vets carry with them. But no matter what happens, there will always be a core of Americans who are willing to step up and sign their name on the dotted line and say they are willing to give up their lives for their country. The soft underbelly of our nation may never appreciate them, but that is their loss, not the veterans loss.
Mr. Joe, excellent. You made my day. My dad was in Vietnam war and he never talked about it. Somehow, I believe he felt betrayed by the politicians of the day.
Such a heart-felt walk through the thoughts of a great Vietnam War vet.
I do think that is true but what are the ideas and thoughts we should take from Mr. G.? I believe one of those is that our veterans do far more than we might think. And, I think the divide between veterans and ordinary citizens is, sadly, increasing and not because of the vet or citizen but because too many politicains are quick to dismiss their sacrifices. God Bless America, and God Bless our Veterans.
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You got that right Patriot Wife. And I too am a patriot just like Gen. Satterfield and Mr. Joe Griffies.
Well said, Patriot Wife.
Memorial Day is about remembering, but we remember for many reasons and Joe Griffies wrote, “General, one thing I do remember very early in my youth was my Dad on Memorial Day driving me around Philadelphia to see all the War memorials. He would explain to me why they were so important. He would say, “Joe, they tell a story; give us a description of what a soldier looked like as a young warrior.” My Dad would then go on to explain what part of the world the war took place. But the most important lesson he taught me was long after we have left this earth these Memorials will still be here to tell all about our brave Veterans that always bring peace to the world.” Sir, well said.
Excellent article, sir. Well done. Let us all remember those we must remember, else we will repeat the mistakes of the past and fail to make the proper decisions for the future. Our servicemembers are those who are at the tip of the spear of America, and we should be proud of them, but most importantly, we must support them.
Bride, u got that right. 👍
Thank you, Saul. Good to be able to say a few good words, and yes I know that words are a small thing compared to the sacrifices of our servicemembers. Too many have died but as long as we remember why they died – or wounded or PTSD or TBI or whatever else – then we have moved our society to a point that we are more conscious about the world and can now hold our elected officials publically accountable.
Mr. Joe Griffies …. WELCOME HOME … good to have you with us, brother.
Nailed it, Army Vet. Thank you for your service.