Sometimes we forget the true meaning of Memorial Day as we enjoy the things mentioned - as free people should. There's a reason we can enjoy these things, and it's not an altogether joyful reason. But these were sacrifices that were given with great courage, and given freely, thanks to the country we live in and our values. As a veteran who freely and willingly served our country, I respect and am awed by the selfless sacrifice of others.
So today, let's not forget the MEMORY of those that have given their lives for the freedom we take for granted.
Here is a video of a man that spoke at our church in the past. If there is someone that you have a MEMORY of and care to share, leave it in the comments below.
I hope your families are safe today - and our prayers are with those who have lost loved ones, welcomed home injured loved ones, or worry today about deployed friends and family.
We too, are offering a small gift in honor of Memorial Day, and if you are getting crafty this weekend, we hope you enjoy it. We thought since today is all about memories, we would focus on that, and are offering our new Memory MISTI - designed for 12x12 scrapbook pages - at 20% off for today only. Preserving your family's memories is so important. Don't procrastinate celebrating the small moments.
Have a safe Memorial Day - and please share your memories of friends or family in service below.
We appreciate you all.
Hello Iliana, Thank you for sharing this video of Mr. Harrell. I am from Guam and currently live here on Guam with my husband and two adult sons. It is an honor and privilege to remember the many soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. There is a very large contigent of military personnel who live and work here. We remember those who have gone before us every year on what we call "Liberation Day." The soldiers who gave their lives for our "liberation" are to be honored every year. I am thankful we have "Memorial Day" and I am blessed listening to Mr. Harrell. I pray blessings to him and his family.
ReplyDeleteHafa Adai!
DeleteHafa Adai, Carla! I'm so sorry! I didn't see your response until today. How did you know the greeting? Write me at bmprshisler@gmail.com. Thanks! and thanks to Iliana for all that she is giving! Both with her products and with this Memorial Day honor to Mr. Harrell and our people who defend our country. Blessings to all!
DeleteWow! I am speechless. God bless that dear man. What a moving story.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that I never knew about your MISTI until today...I've been reading rave reviews and realize it's the answer to all of my stamping challenges! I have tons of stamps but rarely use them because I get frustrated because they don't quite turn out the way I think they will. Then I saw the video for MISTI and got really excited. But wouldn't you know, I would discover this on the very last day of your contest...what I need is a birthday wish come true! :) crossing my fingers and hoping!
ReplyDeleteI would like to honor the memory of my dad, a career army man, who taught us to love & respect America & all those who served and those still serving. Our freedom has not been free to those men and women (or the families) who have died or been injured in service to the USA. There are no words profound enough to thank you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless all our Veterans and those who care for them
ReplyDeleteMy father was a Staff Sgt and fought in Germany during WWII. He was nearly killed on Easter Sunday, pinned down in a foxhole with three others and out of ammo after two days. His unit finally caught up with them and rescued them. Thank God. He came home safe and sound after the war was over, and I was born nine months later. Other than occasional letters, my mom hadn't had any contact with him in over a year...can you even imagine that kind of stress in today's instant communications? We are so pampered and blessed nowadays. Anyway, we are blessed he returned safely, celebrating 56 years with Mom before we lost him. Mom followed five years later. My memories have had two of the best parents ever.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless this man! I am Canadian and my friends Dad was in the war and he could NEVER speak of the horrors of what he lived through, as Edgar has done. We can NOT even imagine but as sad as it is, I think its important to hear...."Lest we forget"!
ReplyDeleteThey deserve so much respect for their service as do our current service men/women!
Thank You Iliana for posting this. I want to show this to my husband tonight, he too will appreciate watching it!
Iliana, thank you for showing such a powerful speech on you page. Being a Veteran like yourself I can't imagine living without serving my country.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I heard about the Indianapolis was like most people, watching JAWS and the speech that Qunit gave on the ORCA.
I can't imagine living thru that. That is just one story of the war.
Thank you again Iliana for reminding everyone what this day is about
My husband served in the Air Force for 20 years. So many marriages don't survive the military. The stress on families while spouses are separated is so hard. Yet the servicemen and women serve out countries and allow us to have our freedom. There is great sacrifice for the things we tend to take for granted. Pray for your military families. People have asked me, "Did you serve?" You better believe I did. So did our children. We go from base to base, often holding down a 2nd job as military pay isn't adequate. Holding down the fort as our spouses are away from home. I'm proud of my husband. I'm proud of my family. It made our family a strong unit as with God's help we made it through. We are proud of our country and that we served.
ReplyDeleteOur church had white roses in bud vases on the front platform representing each of the wars the USA was in, and showed on the screen the numbers of lives lost in each war...a Coast Guard Chaplin closed in prayer after our Pastor and Worship Leader led us thru this presentation. An impressive Memorial to those achieving and protecting our freedoms! After the second church service, the congregation was invited to take one of the white rose bud vases to deliver to a vet or vet's family. An unusual service, but very moving and an eye opener. Thanks for sharing and again reminding us of the sacrifices made to keep us free!
ReplyDeletePaper Hugs,
Jan
Thanks for reminding us of what Memorial Day stands for. And, thanks for the sale! You just pushed me over the edge! Haha! Next, the Mini! I haven't won one this month, so when does that go on sale?! lol
ReplyDeletewow, what a story. so makes me glad to be an American. what our soldiers give up for our freedom is immeasurable.
ReplyDeleteEVERY single person who has served or is serving for our freedom needs to be remembered and honored. At this time I have 2 members of my family serving in the US Army and I thank them and all those who are helping us to keep our precious God given freedom. May the Lord bless and keep these dedicated people!
ReplyDeleteWonderful messages for the day we honor those have given their lives so we may live in freedom! God Bless America!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute! Thanks so much for sharing! Wishing you and your family a safe and enjoyable tribute!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story! Happy Memorial Day!
ReplyDeleteIliana, I want to thank you for this thoughtful post. It is so important to share stories like these.
ReplyDeleteI also want to thank you for the month long MISTI give away. First for having the opportunity to get acquainted with all the wonderful artists you have featured (THANK YOU ALL!) and second for all the wonderful stamping techniques they have shared. It would have taken me months to (maybe) figure out some of what I learned in the past month. With the little time I have to stamp, I can't express how grateful I am that I had the opportunity for this "mini course" and for the Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented!!! THANKS!!!
Thank you so much for sharing, I am remembering family and friends who served our country and are not here to talk to us of their experiences.
ReplyDeletefirst I"ve seen or heard of Mr Harrell. gave me goose flesh and tears. what a horrendous thing to go through. Glad he told the story and thanks to you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say thank you for the wonderful giveaway. I got to see a lot of artist/designers I'd never known before. so much fun
ReplyDeleteA thousand thanks for the Edgar Harrell video. Before coming to your site, Iliana, I watched the TV airing of the U.S. Memorial Day Concert. Many times, with hands clutching tissue, I wailed out of gratitude for the fallen and living veterans. I did the same with Edgar Harrell. I would honor the memory of my dad, a career police officer and detective with the St. Louis, MO Police Dept. He taught me, even during times of great civil unrest, to respect each other and do not "look" at color of skin or religion.
ReplyDeleteI want to take this time to tell you that I very much appreciate your great generosity of 31 days of May-nia. Because I've quit my career to take care of my daughter (brain cancer) I STILL have my fingers crossed that I will be a winner of your most interesting, and most valuable tool for a card maker (and other crafts). I also appreciate that you are generously giving a 20% discount on your fabulous invention. I will pass this information on to card makers I know.
Many blessings to you for all your kindnesses.
Thank you for sharing this video!! I have had two soldiers, my sons. One only did 6 years and one deployment. My oldest son just retired early-medical discharge. He had did 5 deployments and as much as I love all our soldiers, I was glad to hear from my son that he was retiring and moving back home this summer. It will be.good to have him and his family back. He left when he was 17 years old, and he is in his 30s now. Can't wait to have my grandchildren home as well and so excited that they don't have to send their dad off to another country in harms way anymore. His last injury came when the truck he was in was blown up. I'm a fortunate parent in that my son came home with all his limbs, but I'm here to say that the.person you sent in the military isn't the same person you get back. My son is working on getting back to his old care free self with therapy but the physical injuries are life long as are the scars they were on their body and in their mind. Thanks for sharing what Memorial day is really about. Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteThank you for your service and for the reminder and this video of the meaning of Memorial Day. That was utterly horrifying what Mr. Harrell and the others endured.
ReplyDeleteMy father-in-law never spoke much about it but he was a POW in Germany for about 6 months after the plane he was in went down. I believe only he and one other survived the crash.
Thank you for the wonderful post and for your service to our country.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, Iliana, and thank you for your service! My heart goes out to all our servicemen and women who have fought for our freedom and to those families who have lost or fell injured while serving. Thanks to all for the great sacrifices they made for America!
ReplyDeleteMy father was in the Navy, during WW11 he arrived at Pearl Harbor days after attack, he was 20 and was profoundly affected. His hair turned white. The remainder time was traveling the islands and battles. Peace, love & blessings to all veterans living and gone.
ReplyDeletei want to honor all military men and woman! Past, present amd future. Our freedom isnt free and they and their family pay the price everyday.
ReplyDeleteGod bless and keep you all in his protectio
God bless. Thank you so much to all the heroes who have fought and to the ones who are still fighting for our freedom and a special thanks to their families who fight along beside them in heart and spirit and thank you Mr.Harrell and all the fallen heroes,God bless the real "Super Heroes".
ReplyDeleteSuch a moving testimony of this gentleman's experience while in service. God bless him!
ReplyDeleteMy friends Dad had served in WW2 and he was never able to recount anything that he experienced as it was too painful. He always cried when anyone asked him anything about it. We cannot image what these folks LIVED! If not for them we would not be able to live in the freedom we enjoy!
Thank you for sharing this! I salute, Mr. Harrell!
thanks for remembering all who have served. I am proud to say I served, as did my father, and am retired from the Army. I served in Desert Storm/Shield and in Bosnia. Thank you for sharing the video.
ReplyDeleteI watched the video of that heroic man. We've all heard about the sharks attacking, but the rest of the horrors are unimaginable to endure. It's a miracle that any of the men survived. My father served in Germany during WWII.
ReplyDeleteI watched the video of that heroic man. We've all heard about the sharks attacking, but the rest of the horrors are unimaginable to endure. It's a miracle that any of the men survived. My father served in Germany during WWII.
ReplyDeleteThankful!
ReplyDeleteMy 1st cousin Dewey Dolan Ruis Jr killed in a foxhole in Vietnam Early 1969. He was so young.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a story! My dad was a medic in the Pacific Theater in WWII. He used to go out with the marines on air-sea rescue missions. I'm wondering if he was involved with the rescue of any of these men. He never really talked about his experiences until about a year or two before he died. He spoke about how awful it was to see the men coming back from Iwo Jima. It made him cry to talk about it. My mom had never heard the bad memories. I can't imagine how awful it was. He came back home and went to med school. I'd like to read more about the events in the Pacific theater, so I can learn more about what he and all of the others went through.
ReplyDeleteI love using the Misti as its opened up a whole new level of stamping. Thank you 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Just another reason to be grateful. Thanks for the memories of Edgar Harrell and the chance to win your great invention. This video reminded me of my father. He served in WWII and now I have a better understanding of why He was so amazing too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the video of Edgar Harrell. I did not know about the Indianapolis but am going to look up history on it when I return home in a couple days. What an incredible story of survival.
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