As we salute our annual commemoration of Memorial Day in the United States, it is never a bad idea to get a reminder about what this holiday means.
Don't bother asking Joe Biden or Kamala Harris though. They think it is just about ice cream and a long weekend:
Stay cool this weekend, folks. pic.twitter.com/Z2xOTekvUZ
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 29, 2021
Enjoy the long weekend. pic.twitter.com/ilGOrod4AW
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 29, 2021
Disgraceful.
Sorry to begin this article with such awful takes from our 'leaders,' but I thought it was important to set the framework.
A MUCH better source for understanding Memorial Day is Jesse Kelly. We love Kelly here at Twitchy, mainly for his humorous -- if cynical -- takes on American politics, but also for his firm stance as an anti-Communist and his emphasis on getting involved politically if you want to make change, especially at the local level. He has offered some brilliant advice on both topics over the years.
But Kelly is also a Marine. He might say that he is first and foremost a Marine. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 2000. After the nightmare of 9/11, Kelly served as an infantry Marine in the Second Gulf War and was honorably discharged after four years in the Corps.
On Friday, Kelly reminded everyone on Twitter what Memorial Day means.
REMINDER: Memorial Day is not Veterans Day. It’s not cop day, firefighter day, first responder day, or “all who served” day.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) May 24, 2024
It is a sacred day that belongs EXCLUSIVELY to those who gave their lives for this country and the families they leave behind.
Don’t water it down.
It's not a lot to ask. We have an entire month to celebrate 'pride' and about 300 other days during the year to celebrate every new letter in the gender cult. (Yesterday was even 'Pansexual Awareness Day,' whatever that means.)
All we are asked to give our fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and their families and loved ones is one single day.
But Kelly's tweet was just the beginning. What followed was an avalanche of replies from users on Twitter who gave us the gift of letting us share in the memory of those heroes.
I say this with all sincerity and not even an iota of sarcasm: You may want to get some Kleenex handy before you read on. (I know I needed some.)
On this Memorial Day weekend, let's take time to remember and honor those who sacrificed all for the United States of America and for us:
My great uncle never came home . He died a P.O.W. . We carry on his name by naming our boys ( middle name ) generation after generation after him . Henry Lee Carey is remembered and a family legacy. pic.twitter.com/QkN4zAEUAr
— Debra L O'Ciardha (@DebbieLynnMs2) May 24, 2024
Same with my uncle. KIA - Korean War.
— Alpha Kenny Body ↗️🐝 (@DougA919) May 25, 2024
My brother has his name.
We still have the Flag.
My great-uncle Walter Sampair died barely a young man in France during WWI. His two brothers who also served but survived never found his grave nor remains. Few living today even know his name and no one who knew him. May all warmongers face full justice.
— A Orrego (@BlueSquarePeru) May 25, 2024
— Maiden America (@hobodayz) May 24, 2024
I was eleven when my brother was KIA in Viet Nam in 1970. All these years later I still have the vision of the green car pulling in our driveway to deliver the news..
— Geno (@geno101959) May 24, 2024
Gone but never forgotten pic.twitter.com/Odl7Kg2B5D
My Uncle - Willie D Tyler - KIA - Mar 10, 1945 pic.twitter.com/s8lkY3uwgX
— Debbie M (@oldyfan2012) May 24, 2024
A longstanding tradition in MY family is to visit cemeteries we know hold graves of our loved ones and lay flowers on each as a loving tribute on Memorial Day. We won't water our family tradition down.
— Jenni Conley 🇺🇸 XX MAGA (@reinjenjenni) May 24, 2024
Memory Day pic.twitter.com/2AhA4YONuY
My dad flew over a hundred defoliant missions in Vietnam. Decades later he developed Parkinson's Disease as a result. After 8 years of horrible suffering, it finally took his life.
— Traitor in the Empire of Lies (@DonLueders) May 25, 2024
Memorial Day is for him, my mom, and the rest of his loved ones. DON'T WATER IT DOWN. pic.twitter.com/mI0EV3m63e
Thank you So many have died for generations Hell for centuries pic.twitter.com/vsem9meAID
— Linda Lee King (@LindaLeeKing) May 25, 2024
— Karly (@DepravedAngel) May 25, 2024
My Dad served in WW ll. He then lived to be 92, and passed of old age. He is buried in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery in Maryland. I think it is appropriate to honor him and others that served but have passed now too. pic.twitter.com/0oPFVqoEfF
— Richard West 🇺🇲🚂🏈🔫 (@westrich54) May 25, 2024
Corporal Albert G. Haddad. KIA- February 3, 1991. Operation Desert Storm. Always miss you, my friend. You were an amazing human. #USMC This weekend is about you and all your historic service members who gave their lives for us. I’m sorry we’re mucking it all up right now pic.twitter.com/gkWIPsaMIr
— @laquinta007 (@007db9Bondgirl) May 25, 2024
My great uncle Grady Lee Rice. pic.twitter.com/X7NE5ZfpNC
— jennifermcb 📚🏖🎂 (@jennifermcb) May 25, 2024
As the stepmother of a fallen hero, I agree.
— Patricia Miller (@Millerx25666) May 25, 2024
PFC Anthony Scott Miller
7/6/83-4/7/03
KIA
OIF
To my 17 brothers who did not come home with us https://t.co/Urf6xvDwA9
— The Havana Syndrome (@sindromeHabana) May 25, 2024
Yep Thanks Grandpa, Great Uncle Vanzant and Cousin George 🇺🇸 Canada 🇨🇦🇺🇸
— ☀️GLORIA☀️ (@NowJust_G) May 25, 2024
From a Gold Star family Jesse -
— John Bowman (@JohnBow14838687) May 25, 2024
Thank you.
Thank you. My Grandfather died at Aachen and it's a special day for my Mom. Other people don't understand why the all who served thing irritates her.
— Winning 🇺🇸 (@WrightorWrongAL) May 24, 2024
— Phelps Prescott (@PhelpsPrescott) May 24, 2024
I have known many soldiers who have died in military service and even more friends who have lost spouses, other family members, or loved ones. As I am sure we all have.
I also know many who are veterans or in active service today. This latter group, in honor of the former group, does not want to be recognized on Memorial Day. Ask any one of them and they'll tell you. For them, it is a sacred and solemn day to remember the fallen. (And please try not to tell anyone 'Happy Memorial Day'; it is disrespectful.)
In closing, I would just like to take a moment to remember the inception of Memorial Day in the United States, with the Civil War and 'Decoration Day' to remember the fallen from both sides of that horrible conflict.
To do that, there is really only one man -- and one speech -- to turn to:
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here, have, thus far, so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
-- Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863
God Bless all of the fallen this Memorial Day.