Friday, May 27, 2011

Memorial Day...for those who gave their last full measure of devotion.

American Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought fourth on this continent, a new nation,


War of 1812


conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.


Indian Wars 1775-1918





Mexican - American War 1846-1848






Now we are engaged in a civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

Civil War 1861-1865

We are met here on a great battle-field of the war.

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live.

Spanish American War April 1898-December 1898


It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground.


World War I

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.


World War II 1939-1945

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.


Korean War 1950-1953


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.


Vietnam War 1995-1975

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 the cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion --

Afghanistan War 2001--- and Operation Iraqi freedom 2003--
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.
~ The Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln





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