Home to Heroes
On Memorial Day, Mustang Koji did far more than what was expected from him. For those of you who are not familiar with this wonderful person – PLEASE continue to read and then go to the page for his family – The Letter from 1945.
http://p47koji.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/45/
Thank You!
A journey to the Riverside National Cemetery for this Memorial Day weekend was deemed in order.
Just my way of saying “Thank you” to three men… and Marge Johnson as well.
I was told that the Boy Scouts planted over 200,000 flags for this weekend. Well, there’s a few more flags now… albeit just small tokens of appreciation from me, they are recognition of what America deeply owes them.
If you never served (like me), you should be grateful that these men did… instead of you.
In a documentary, a paralyzed Marine who made it back from Iwo Jima said one indescribable smell resonates in him to that day: the sweet, distinct smell of fresh blood squirting out from a wound to the jugular vein. He said if you smelled that, it signaled a dying Marine.
The Riverside National Cemetery is the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration. …
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Posted on May 29, 2014, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
An interesting and informative post, Msgt Oleary was not exactly a young soldier when he served in Vietnam as indicated on his memorial plaque.
A fine career soldier no doubt.
Emu aka Ian
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A career man goes where he’s told, like any other – Uncle Jim didn’t exactly take to retirement either!! Thank you very much for reading this, Ian, you’re a true friend.
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Similarly to a previous commenter I can remember putting flags on graves–except I did it as a girl scout.
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That was very nice of you and your troop, no reason it can’t be done by the girls aw well. And look at the wonderful person who grew up! You’re a good friend, Sheryl.
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Thanks for sharing gpcox and for the extra flags… There are many things about war that are unpleasant and yet our Soldiers endure till they return home or they never do but even with those who do return home, there is still the adjustment which can be just as hard, I give heartfelt thanks to the Soldiers but not for the war, yes it may be needed but it gives no joy.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
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Wonderful article. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. That smell–wow.
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My pleasure, Jacqui. Koji deserves attention.
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gpcox, I am very humbled… It was an honor to have been able to offer prayers for your uncle and in his presence.
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And – it is MY honor to know YOU!
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I used to place little American flags on family graves. Ironically, because the boy scouts assumed they were ones set out by them, they inadvertently “stole” my flags when they collected them after the Memorial Day holiday. I pretty much gave up on this. Yeah, I’m pissed.
Next year, I may put a little Scottish flag on my maternal grandparents’ grave, a Scottish and English flag on my parents’, and an English on my paternal grandmother’s grave. If anyone objects, I’ll relate the story of how the boy scouts “stole: my American flags. “E pluribus unum”, and all that. That’s where we come from.
Perhaps I could tie my American flags to the ones of Scotland and England as a way of differentiating them from the scout-stuck ones.
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I was going to add that maybe, because it would be obviously a mistake by the boys, you should distinguish your flags differently such as: paint the poles gold, add a yellow ribbon (with glue, not just tied) or a larger flag as Koji did at my uncle’s grave.
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He’s the fourth one on the list…
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I should have known!
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I thought I was an open book…
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I don’t like to presume too much.
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