Memorial Day
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Have a somber, contemplative Memorial Day. 
The following was borrowed from another forum but applies here:
Memorial Day Flag Etiquette and a National Moment of Remembrance
On this sacred holiday flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon. This is in memory of the dead; the somber tradition represents the nation's mourning for the lives lost in military service.
To do this properly, and to start Memorial Day off right, the U.S. flag should first be hoisted to the peak for an instant, then lowered to the half-staff position.
After 12 p.m., the flag should be raised to full-staff. This represents the resolve to continue the fight for freedom and uphold the sacrifices made by those who served.
Additionally, the National Moment of Remembrance is an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States.
The following was borrowed from another forum but applies here:Memorial Day Flag Etiquette and a National Moment of Remembrance
On this sacred holiday flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon. This is in memory of the dead; the somber tradition represents the nation's mourning for the lives lost in military service.
To do this properly, and to start Memorial Day off right, the U.S. flag should first be hoisted to the peak for an instant, then lowered to the half-staff position.
After 12 p.m., the flag should be raised to full-staff. This represents the resolve to continue the fight for freedom and uphold the sacrifices made by those who served.
Additionally, the National Moment of Remembrance is an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States.
I have two friends that call me every Memorial Day to thank me for my service even though I have told them numerous times, the day is for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Each year I count my blessings and give thanks for not being on that list.
Each year I count my blessings and give thanks for not being on that list.
Lcpl Derek Cothran... I miss that guy so bad... Died in Iraq April of 2006 when he got hit in his Humvee with a RPG.. He was my childhood best friend.
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While everyone is enjoying a day off from work spending it with family and friends grilling out, take a moment to remember those that served and died giving us the freedom we have, imperiled as it may be at the moment.
In my case, most of my family members that served were Navy. (Dad was Army). One died in WW2.
His name was Charles DeFreytas. My mothers cousin. He was an Electricians Mate Third Class on the submarine USS Capelin.
In WW2, there were two bases that subs operated out of. One was Pearl Harbor, and the Western Command operated out of Australia. Capelin's first war patrol lasted only 2 weeks, and she returned to Darwin for repairs. 2 days later, she set sail on her second war patrol, and except for a brief sonar contact with the submarine USS Bonefish, was never heard from again. Best guess is she struck a Japanese mine in the Celebes Sea. She was lost with all hands on or about 3 December 1943.
In the Silent Service, submarines that failed to return from patrol were declared "Overdue and presumed lost". They are said to be on Eternal Patrol.
In my case, most of my family members that served were Navy. (Dad was Army). One died in WW2.
His name was Charles DeFreytas. My mothers cousin. He was an Electricians Mate Third Class on the submarine USS Capelin.
In WW2, there were two bases that subs operated out of. One was Pearl Harbor, and the Western Command operated out of Australia. Capelin's first war patrol lasted only 2 weeks, and she returned to Darwin for repairs. 2 days later, she set sail on her second war patrol, and except for a brief sonar contact with the submarine USS Bonefish, was never heard from again. Best guess is she struck a Japanese mine in the Celebes Sea. She was lost with all hands on or about 3 December 1943.
In the Silent Service, submarines that failed to return from patrol were declared "Overdue and presumed lost". They are said to be on Eternal Patrol.
Submariners are a special breed.
The US had the roomiest and most luxuriest subs of War 2. If you are ever in Chicago, tour the Musuem of Science and Industry. One of the exhibits is U505. U505 has the distinction of being the only man-o-war to be captured on the high seas since the War of 1812. By comparison, it is tiny and cramped alongside a US Fleet Boat. Very few amenities for the crew.
Imagine serving in a sealed tube with 80 other men. A typical patrol lasted 75 days. Water on a sub has to be continuously distilled from sea water by Kleinschmidt stills for things like the batteries, make up cooling water for the engines, drinking, cooking, and washing. Total water needs amounted to 4000 gallons per week. The batteries alone consumed 500 gallons per week. Bathing was restricted to a "Navy Shower" every 3 days. And I doubt many sailors in those days had Right Guard.
The Fleet Boats had A/C, not for crew comfort, but to dehumidify the air to prevent shorts in the high voltage electrical buss. When under attack, the A/C was shut down when the order to rig for silent running was given. Temperature and humidity would both quickly approach 100 degrees/percent.
For those interested in War 2 submarine history, read Wahoo and Clear the Bridge! both authored by Richard O'Kane, Captain of the #1 scoring sub in WW2. Amazon has both.
Imagine serving in a sealed tube with 80 other men. A typical patrol lasted 75 days. Water on a sub has to be continuously distilled from sea water by Kleinschmidt stills for things like the batteries, make up cooling water for the engines, drinking, cooking, and washing. Total water needs amounted to 4000 gallons per week. The batteries alone consumed 500 gallons per week. Bathing was restricted to a "Navy Shower" every 3 days. And I doubt many sailors in those days had Right Guard.
The Fleet Boats had A/C, not for crew comfort, but to dehumidify the air to prevent shorts in the high voltage electrical buss. When under attack, the A/C was shut down when the order to rig for silent running was given. Temperature and humidity would both quickly approach 100 degrees/percent.
For those interested in War 2 submarine history, read Wahoo and Clear the Bridge! both authored by Richard O'Kane, Captain of the #1 scoring sub in WW2. Amazon has both.
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I've been to the U505 - after reading Admiral Gallery's book on the capture.
It's an incredible experience!
4 June 1944 Boarding party from USS Pillsbury (DE-133) working to secure a tow line to U-505's bow. Note the large U.S. flag flying from the submarine's periscope. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
It's an incredible experience!
4 June 1944 Boarding party from USS Pillsbury (DE-133) working to secure a tow line to U-505's bow. Note the large U.S. flag flying from the submarine's periscope. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Fun Fact:
The engines for U505 were made by Mann in Germany. They actually still had parts on hand to get one of U505's engines operational. When the film U571 was in production, they sent a sound crew to Chicago to record what a real U boat engine sounded like. That recording was used in the film. All this was when U505 was still stored outside the museum. Today the sub is inside the museum, so running the engine is probably never going to happen again.
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I'm so grateful for those who gave ALL. AMEN.