USMCRECON Posted May 29, 2011 Share #1 Posted May 29, 2011 My buddy Larry and I have been going down to the Wall together every Memorial Day since 1996. He always came up the Sunday before and we would go out for steaks and a couple beers. then we'd get up early and head down there so we could get there between 06-0630 to visit our fallen buddies and get out before all the posers, pretenders, rolling clowns, and media types showed up to tun the event into a circus. After he passed away in later March, I was thinking I wouldn't be able to handle going down there this year but yesterday, my grandson told me he'd like to go with me so it's back on. It will give me a chance to talk to him about my buddies one at a time. I'm looking forward to it again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjones5452 Posted May 29, 2011 Share #2 Posted May 29, 2011 Good for you! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted May 29, 2011 Share #3 Posted May 29, 2011 Bill Best wishes and have a great time with your grandson. RD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted May 29, 2011 Share #4 Posted May 29, 2011 I think this trip will be even more memorable!! Now you will pass this important occasion on to a new generation! :bravo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted May 30, 2011 Share #5 Posted May 30, 2011 Bill...my best on your visit to the wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memphismeister Posted May 30, 2011 Share #6 Posted May 30, 2011 Grandsons are wonderfull learners. Take the stroll and remember all........................................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robswashashore Posted May 30, 2011 Share #7 Posted May 30, 2011 Bill, thank you for sharing this sweet story with us. And thank you for your service. Jean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted May 30, 2011 Share #8 Posted May 30, 2011 :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted May 30, 2011 Share #9 Posted May 30, 2011 Bill, my best - thoughts are with you and the Grandson at this monent. s/f Darrell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted May 30, 2011 Share #10 Posted May 30, 2011 Bill, sorry to hear of your friends passing , but glad that you can share it now with someone of the younger generation , too many of our younger people really don't learn the important history of our ealier and latter wars and know what scarifices were made that they enjoy the freedoms they have today because of them ! I thank you for your service as well as ALL those that served and are serving, you are all "THE BEST" and words can not extend how much what you did and are doing means to us all , HAND SALUTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted May 30, 2011 Thank you all for the kind words. Cameron got up at 0500 this morning to carry on the early arrival at the Wall tradition that Larry and I had been sticking to for the last 15 years or so. We got back from the Wall a little while ago and I thought I'd post a handful of pictures from the trip. I'm glad Cameron went with me as I had a chance to tell him about my and Larry's buddies and what happened to them. I'm not always going to be here and I wanted him to know about them and to carry on the visitation so these men will never become just anonymous names on a black marble slab. This is a shot of the Wall, taken from the area of the statue and the flagpole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted May 30, 2011 Here is my grandson, Cameron in front of the Vietnam Memorial statue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted May 30, 2011 Cameron pointing to the name of my buddy, Ron Kitzke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted May 30, 2011 Here Cameron is pointing to my buddy, Mike Laporte on the top row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted May 30, 2011 Cameron at the Nurse's Memorial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted May 30, 2011 Cameron at the Lincoln Memorial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #17 Posted May 30, 2011 Cameron at the entrance to the Lincoln Memorial. In the background is the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument. As you can see, the Reflecting Pool is empty and torn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted May 30, 2011 Another shot of the torn up Reflecting Pool. One of the Park Policemen told me that this is a year-long reconstruction effort to seal leaks in the bottom of the pool. The Park Service had been drawing (and paying for) water for the pool from the City of Washington and, especially with the leaks, that had gotten very expensive. In addition to fixing the leaks, the project will install a pipe from the tidal basin and a filtration system. Once finished, the water will be drawn directly from the tidal basin and the cost will only be the pumping and filtration of the water. It looks like a mess now but, when done, it will be a great cost, energy, and water saver. Wishing you all a very meaningful Memorial Day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted May 30, 2011 Share #19 Posted May 30, 2011 THANK YOU! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted May 30, 2011 Share #20 Posted May 30, 2011 :thumbsup: :salute: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S_E_Craig Posted May 30, 2011 Share #21 Posted May 30, 2011 My buddy Larry and I have been going down to the Wall together every Memorial Day since 1996. He always came up the Sunday before and we would go out for steaks and a couple beers. then we'd get up early and head down there so we could get there between 06-0630 to visit our fallen buddies and get out before all the posers, pretenders, rolling clowns, and media types showed up to tun the event into a circus. After he passed away in later March, I was thinking I wouldn't be able to handle going down there this year but yesterday, my grandson told me he'd like to go with me so it's back on. It will give me a chance to talk to him about my buddies one at a time. I'm looking forward to it again! That is wonderful. More children should be like your grandson. I hope the two of you enjoy the experience. When I was a child back in the 50's, I had a special buddy who had been a Col in WW1. We used to go buy flags and go to the two local cemetaires in our town, and put flags on the graves of his WW1, buddies, and he would tell me their stories, then we would go back to the drug store and eat ice cream. I cherrish those memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCRECON Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share #22 Posted May 30, 2011 That is wonderful. More children should be like your grandson. I hope the two of you enjoy the experience. When I was a child back in the 50's, I had a special buddy who had been a Col in WW1. We used to go buy flags and go to the two local cemetaires in our town, and put flags on the graves of his WW1, buddies, and he would tell me their stories, then we would go back to the drug store and eat ice cream. I cherrish those memories. They sound like great memories. I had a similar experience in the late 50s. My uncle (by marriage) was a WW-II vet. He belonged to the VFW in the south suburbs of Chicago. I would go with him every Memorial Day (I believe they called it Decoration Day then) and help him and the other VFW members to put small flags on the graves of the WW-I, WW-II, and Korean War vets buried there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted May 30, 2011 Share #23 Posted May 30, 2011 Thank you for sharing the Passing of the Torch. The two of you will have many more visits and much more to talk about!! Bless both of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1944 Posted May 30, 2011 Share #24 Posted May 30, 2011 Bill, That's Excellent and thank you for sharing the story's with us and also for sharing the picture's with us aswell Very Nice :thumbsup: Tomás. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkash23686 Posted May 30, 2011 Share #25 Posted May 30, 2011 I was down there today as well. Thank You for your service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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