2O14 All-Server MEMORIAL DAY Event Videos and Transcript

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

Well it was a great turn out amongst guildies, and friends of Tyrs. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule! Bit smaller crowd than normal, but a good turnout none the less, and quite intimate.

This thread will be a work in progress this week. This is a fairly complete transcript. I included the video links during the ceremony so those in attendance who were unable to view them can do so, and of course for those who weren't able to attend.

I'm collecting pictures and other media will make a video and send it out to those who it may comfort. If you have any pics to contribute please contact me via pm.

~~~

Thank you all for making time to be here. I realize some came from other servers and even a few other games {Neverwinter and ESO}. Even though Memorial Day is an American holiday, we stand here with our gaming friends from multiple nations to honor and tribute all nations' fallen.

Tyrs Paladium's traditional opening ceremony poem (which we've recited for each ceremony we've done over the years):

"It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial;

And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag, and

Whose coffin is draped by the flag--
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

---------------

The videos can be viewed FULL SCREEN, in 72Op HD. If you've got the computer for it, try it!
http://www.advancedsourcecode.com/images/video.png CUSTOM VIDEO PRESENTATION: What Does Memorial Day Mean? (http://youtu.be/Pm6htzYKum0) Credits: Words By US Army Sgt Jim Leary. {24 years active duty, just recently retired.} Narrated and produced by Mississippee.

In this video Sgt Leary writes what Memorial Day was like in Woodside, Queens, NY in the 197Os, and how he learned the meaning of this "holiday".

---------------

** MAIN VIDEO **

The song we used was Last Rebel by Lynyrd Skynyrd - This is our tribute to the 24 Medal of Honor Recipients from World War II and the Korean Wars that were overlooked in those years, most likely because of prejudice to their nationality and/or religions.


http://youtu.be/7kXs0uy5KHY

http://www.advancedsourcecode.com/images/video.pngCUSTOM VIDEO PRESENTATION: 24 "Overlooked" Medal of Honor Recipients (http://youtu.be/7kXs0uy5KHY) - Credits: Narrated and Produced by Mississippee. Raw Video by PBS Television & Music by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

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http://www.advancedsourcecode.com/images/video.png CUSTOM VIDEO PRESENTATION: POW MIA Remembrance Table Ceremony (http://youtu.be/st-uEwTALL8)- Credits: Narrated by DDO's own former US Marine Sergeant Bekki. Produced by Mississippee.

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Then I asked if anyone wanted to mention or PM any family and friends that served their country but wasn't with us any longer... What followed, one by one, was a listing of mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, cousins, nephews and friends. I'm always taken aback & humbled, and I believe it set the tone for the rest of the ceremony.

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We then walked over to House Jorasco to close out our gathering with our own rendition of the 21 Gun Salute.

The 3-volley salute is a ceremonial act performed at military and police funerals as part of the drill and ceremony of the Honor Guard. It consists of a rifle party firing blank cartridges into the air three times. The custom originates from the European dynastic wars, where the fighting ceased so the dead and wounded could be removed. Then, three shots were fired into the air to signal that the battle could resume.

The seven Honorary Archers took their positions, took out their bows, and pointed to the sky.

We read this poem:

MEMORIAL FLOWERS
By M. M. (this was written by the wife of a DDO subscriber, who was in Afghanistan at the time I recieved this poem {2O11}. She asked to remain anonymous.

Blue violets open their saintly eyes,
Red columbines bend and sway,

White star-flowers twinkle in beds of moss,
And, blooming, they seem to say,

“We bring you the red and the white and the blue
To welcome Memorial-day.”

So gather them, children, at earliest dawn,
While yet they are fresh with dew,

And we’ll scatter them over the sacred mounds
Where slumber our soldiers true;

For we’ll give them only the colors they loved-
The red and the white and the blue.

The Honor Guard begins the 21 Gun Salute.

"Ready - Aim – Fire"

The seven Honorary Archers shot into the House Jorasco sky.

"Ready - Aim – Fire"

The seven Honorary Archers shot into the House Jorasco sky.

"Ready - Aim – Fire"

The seven Honorary Archers shot into the House Jorasco sky.

---------------

The closing:

Remember the families. Remember the veterans. Fight for a better veteran health care system. Our troops deserve better!! Please remember this week all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for you.

Keep the torch of our freedom burning brightly. Keep faith with those who died yester-year and with those who will die today and tomorrow. Teach your children well the importance of Memorial Day.

Thanks for coming, good night.

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

Some folks we were used to seeing couldn't make it because they were doing the real thing, getting together with old service time brothers and sisters, visiting grave sites, etc. You were all in our hearts this evening.

To make a difference to veterans in real life is not hard. Got this great list in my google+ site not long ago, and they named a few things I've done, and a few I've never heard of. Basically, if you call your local VFW or American Legion post, they will help you with local opportunities in your hometown. I'm always interested to hear what's available to other country's veterans of armed forces, so if anyone has any ideas please let me know.

1. Give a veteran a ride

Medical care may be needed for some veterans for the rest of their lives. Disabled American Veterans provides free transportation to men and women who can't travel to Veterans Affairs medical facilities on their own. You can volunteer to drive a van for those who need a lift. From camouflage to the kitchen Disabled vets learn how to rock climb Empowering veterans to serve back home Iraq War amputee dares to try

2. Donate frequent flier miles

The Fisher House Foundation has a network of homes on the grounds of military and VA hospitals around the country. These homes help family members be close during the hospitalization of a loved one for a combat injury, illness or disease. Fisher House operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flier miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members. You can also volunteer or donate household items.

3. Buy veteran-friendly holiday cards

More than a third of all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have or will experience post-traumatic stress disorder. And veterans of past wars are still dealing with the ghosts of their time in the service. Coping with PTSD can put stress on not just veterans but also their families and friends.
Your holiday card purchase this year can help veterans dealing with PTSD and other similar issues. Puppies Behind Bars is a program in which prisoners train companion dogs for veterans with PTSD, and these canines are featured in holiday cards sold to support the program.
(If you know a veteran dealing with PTSD, the VA offers the PTSD Coach Online to help veterans learn to manage symptoms, come up with ways to cope and find professional help.)

4. Help build a home for severely injured vets

Severely injured veterans often come home needing a place to live that better accommodates their physical disabilities. Homes for our Troops builds specially modified homes for veterans that help them live independently. These homes are provided by Homes for Our Troops at no cost to the veterans. The group is able to do so through fund-raisers and donations.

5. Keep veterans off the streets

In times of war, exhausted combat units were removed from the battlefield to "stand down" in a place of relative security to rest. The Department of Veterans Affairs' Stand Down program is designed to help homeless veterans "combat" life on the streets. Stand Downs are usually one- to three-day events to provide food, shelter, clothing and health screenings to homeless and unemployed veterans. To find a Stand Down program in your community, contact your local VA hospital in the VA Medical Center Directory.
A phone call can also make difference in the life of a veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Call 877-4AID-VET, or 877-424-3838, to be connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week with help at the VA. The VA has set a goal of eliminating homelessness among veterans by 2015.

6. Send a care package or a letter

Operation Gratitude is about to send its 1 millionth individually addressed care package to the military community. The packages are sent to current military members as well as veterans, wounded warriors and their caregivers. As more American troops return to civilian life, the Operation Gratitude veterans program has been growing. It also has a letter writing campaign encouraging everyone to write handwritten letters of gratitude to veterans. Over the next two years, Operation Gratitude hopes to provide a care package to every Vietnam veteran ahead of the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

7. Help them take flight

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 World War II veterans die every day. The Honor Flight Network helps veterans of the "greatest generation" make a free pilgrimage to the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington. You can volunteer to escort these men and women on the flight to see this memorial. Honor Flight also plans to help Korean and Vietnam War veterans visit memorials to those wars in Washington as well.

8. Share their stories

So many veterans' stories have been left untold, but the Library of Congress is collecting the tales of veterans of every war with the Veterans History Project. If you are related to a veteran or know one who has a story to tell, the Library of Congress wants to hear it. Help veterans share their stories before it's too late. For directions on how to get involved, check out the Veterans History Project.

Here's a link to the entire article (http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/05/us/iyw-simple-ways-to-honor-veterans/).

[HungarianRhapsody]

"It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial;

And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag, and

Whose coffin is draped by the flag--
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."


I said this the last time and I'll say it again now. Please leave your offensive and insulting propaganda out of this event.

Want to honor the soldiers? That's fine. I applaud the idea of letting soldiers and the families of soldiers know that they're appreciated. The poem that you posted is entirely inappropriate for this holiday, however. It is disrespectful and offensive.

"It is the Soldier AND the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It is the Soldier AND the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the Soldier AND the campus organizer,
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier AND the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial;

And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag, and

Whose coffin is draped by the flag--
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

If you want to honor our soldiers, then please don't dishonor and disrespect the good people that the soldiers fight and die to protect.

[jalont]

I said this the last time and I'll say it again now. Please leave your offensive and insulting propaganda out of this event.

Want to honor the soldiers? That's fine. I applaud the idea of letting soldiers and the families of soldiers know that they're appreciated. The poem that you posted is entirely inappropriate for this holiday, however. It is disrespectful and offensive.

"It is the Soldier AND the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It is the Soldier AND the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the Soldier AND the campus organizer,
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier AND the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial;

And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag, and

Whose coffin is draped by the flag--
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

If you want to honor our soldiers, then please don't dishonor and disrespect the good people that the soldiers fight and die to protect.

Their opinion has no affect on your life. It's probably just best to allow them to have it without feeling you need to debate it. Give up and move on. There is absolutely no point in this post.

[Missing_Minds]

If you want to honor our soldiers, then please don't dishonor and disrespect the good people that the soldiers fight and die to protect.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Province

http://www.pattonhq.com/koreamemorial.html

This is all I plan on stating.

[Cordovan]

Closing this thread as well.