Memorial Day Tributes and Observances (Video)

Here are the best of the Memorial Day videos I’ve been collecting over the past week. These are moving tributes to those who sacrificed all.

Let’s remember their sacrifice and courage, today and everyday.

The first video is actually neither a tribute or an observance – it’s a Memorial Day Challenge.
Ryan’s Story:

#DoMore this Memorial Day. Help get 50,000 views to show WWII vets we care. Share now: http://on.fb.me/JnEaAf …and then thank a WWII vet on Facebook:http://on.fb.me/JHONys

This one via The Right Scoop showed up in my in box just this morning, sent by Brian B:

Congressman Allen West speaks at the Boynton Beach Memorial Day Observance May 27, 2012:

Continuing where West left off: No Greater Love:

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:13
Musical Selections from:
“Simple Gifts” (instrumental) from Appalachian Spring, by Aaron Copland, 1944
“Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copland, 1942
“Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, by John Williams, 1998

Memorial Day Tributes 2012:

These are montages of stirring war photos coupled with soaring music:

Not feeling any hesitation to call these men heroes…

USAA’s 2012 Memorial Day Ceremony:

Courage to Persevere is the theme of USAA’s 2012 Memorial Day program. Highlights include J.R. Martinez, motivational speaker and champion of Dancing with the Stars, Season 13; singer Angie Johnson, a contestant on The Voice and former Tops in Blue performer; and country music artist Russ Murphy.

Over an hour long, this one starts with former Marine SSgt Tim Chambers’ 10th Rolling Thunder vigil…

See Also:

Hot Air: Video: MSNBC observes Memorial Day:

….for another *ahem* point of view.

Yesterday, MSNBC and its host Chris Hayes called that recognition warmongering in an incoherent, rambling statement that will haunt the channel and its host for a very long time…

Human Events: Forgotten: Why has Bowe Bergdahl languished as a POW for nearly 3 years?

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), himself a former POW, told Human Events he has followed the captured soldier’s plight with interest.

“We’ve had briefings from the intelligence community; we’ve been doing everything we can to try to see what can be done,” McCain said. “I know that the men and women who are serving in the military are willing to do anything to rescue him. I’ve had briefings from the intelligence people, and they tell me it’s their highest priority.”

But notably absent from the discussion has been any commitment from President Obama that the country will not leave its own behind. After refusing interviews for nearly three years, Bergdahl’s parents briefly broke their silence earlier this month.

Not even a Hallmark card

“(President Obama) has never contacted us,” Sgt. Bergdahl’s mother, Jani Bergdahl, told the New York Times in a May 13 story. “We haven’t gotten a Hallmark card, we haven’t gotten a note signed by an aide, nothing. Is it because he thinks we’re not Democrats?”

A year ago, Robert Bergdahl, the sergeant’s father, tried to communicate with his son’s captors directly via YouTube, thanking them for keeping him alive and pleading for his safe return.

“We’ve been quiet in public, but we haven’t been quiet behind the scenes,” Robert Bergdahl said in the video, addressing his son. “You are not forgotten. You are not forgotten.”

CNN: The toll of war now includes more amputees:

They are a small group, the quadruple amputee combat vets — just five of them.

There are also 40 triple amputees. When they come home, they have their own set of issues, but many face the problems of every wounded vet. They start their new lives together.

“When you are out on the battlefield, you don’t realize how many amputees there are because you are not there and you don’t see them,” Nicely said. “But when you are in the hospital and see all the amputations. … But it’s like one big support group. It doesn’t matter whether you are a quad or missing one leg, it doesn’t matter, everybody is in it together and it’s like one big family in there.”

UPDATE II:

In contrast to Obama’s long-winded, self-congratulatory Memorial Day speech, here’s Mitt’s simple message of thanks to our fallen heroes: