1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: The Michael Berry Show. Today is Memorial Day, the day 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: that we as a nation honor the men and women 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: who have died serving this country. Today's show will be 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: a little different. You can probably tell by my tone. Today, 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: we're going to play some of the best Memorial Day 6 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: speeches that we could find, and we have scoured. This 7 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: moving speech was given by veteran of the Iraq War, 8 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: Sergeant Raymond Hubbard, back in two thousand and eight, hearing 9 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 1: how he connected with his father, a Vietnam veteran. I 10 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: hope this gives you a new perspective on the brotherhood 11 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: of combat soldiers. 12 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: To be honest, when George Bauman, my fellow patriot, bestowed 13 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 2: this honor upon me and took all my will not 14 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: back down. Honoring the falling is something so very personal 15 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: that I didn't think I could share my own grief. 16 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: But if I was the first person asked, then it 17 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: was my duty to not let this burden fall on 18 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: someone else's already heavy heart. There have been one point 19 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: six million US soldiers that have served in the combat 20 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: theater in the Middle East since two thousand and one. 21 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 2: That is zero point five percent of the current US population. 22 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: If you Compare that to the two percent of the 23 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 2: populist that served in Vietnam or the twelve percent that 24 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: fought in World War II, this seems to be a 25 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: minor incident. As of March seventeenth, two thousand and eight, 26 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 2: there have been over four thousand United States fatalities from 27 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: our Operation Iraqi Freedom, with approximately seventy four of them 28 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 2: officially declared Wisconsin's sons and daughters. Now I stand up 29 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: here and throw out these numbers, and you, my friends 30 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: my name, either reacted with a sorrowful sigh or a 31 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: desensitized disdain. And if you did so react, it's not 32 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: your fault. It's hard to feel grief, compassion, anger for 33 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 2: over a five year period of time. It's hard to 34 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 2: feel anything at all when only numbers are flashed across 35 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: the street, screen or spoken from a podium. Numbers are 36 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: not faces. Numbers are not people. Numbers are not names 37 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: of loved ones. Names of my comrades can fall from 38 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: my lips like tears from my own eyes. Steph Sargeant 39 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 2: Todd Olsen, Corporal Kenneth Cross, Specialist Sean Novak, Steph Sergeant 40 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: Stephen Martin, Private Isaiah Hunt, Major Chris Splinter Captain Jonathan Kirth, 41 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: and specialists Justin Linden. These are all Wisconsin Suttens and daughters. 42 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: I'm sure more than a few of you know of Justin. 43 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 2: Justin played baseball for the Clinton Cougars. Justin graduated from 44 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 2: Clinton in nineteen ninety nine. Justin moved to Oregon, where 45 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: he met his future wife, Sarah. Justin and Sarah were 46 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: married on February twenty eight, two thousand and four, just 47 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: before Justin was deployed to Iraq. On June fourth, two 48 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 2: thousand and four, Specialist Justin Lindon was killed when his 49 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 2: convoy was attacked by improvised explosive devices and rocket propel's grenades. 50 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: I have never seen so much loss and so much 51 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: pride phil a man that it does with Wayne Lindon, 52 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: Justin's father. Every time he thinks about his son, you 53 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: see the loss and the pride in immeasurable, immeasurable amounts. 54 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: I too, have felt the loss of the soldier. Seeing 55 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: the soldier has affected my life in ways that I 56 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: still have yet to fully understand. This soldier was not 57 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: my son, No God willing never that, and it was 58 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: not during combat with an enemy. The soldier was my 59 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 2: father by my birth and my brother through our service 60 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 2: in our love of our country. While Dan Hubbard was 61 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: attending Elkhorn High School, his cousin in friends since childhood, 62 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: Michael Stoplett, was engaging Democracy's enemy in Vietnam. On November first, 63 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 2: nineteen sixty six, my father's cousin was killed by small 64 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: arms fire. Private first Class Michael Stofflett's name can be 65 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: found on Penel twelve eight, line eight of the Vietnam 66 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 2: Memorial Wall in Washington, d c. My great cousin was 67 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: the third Warworth County resident to die in Vietnam, and 68 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: the first of Elkhorn's sons. My father could not cope 69 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: with his friend's demise. He tried to attend college, but 70 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 2: I believe my father could not shake the feeling of 71 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: if only I was there, if only I could do something. 72 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: My father, Dan Hubbard, enlisted in nineteen sixty nine and 73 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: was quickly sent into the war zone. The things he 74 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: saw there I shall not repeat for you this morning. 75 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 2: The atrocities and inhumanity was widespread. My father saw combat, 76 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: some of which I cannot attest, and when he came 77 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 2: home he was physically and mentally disabled. Now, my father's 78 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: had an entirely different fourth thrust upon him upon his 79 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: return home, a war for recognition and compassion, a war 80 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: fought against and for the country in which he so loved. 81 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: He was denied of purple heart. He was denied his dignity, 82 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: He was denied a clean conscience. By the time I 83 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: turned fourteen, my father had given up his battles. On 84 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: February eleventh, nineteen ninety two, Dan Hubbard, my father died nameless. 85 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: Faceless another statistic of the Vietnam area, another number. He 86 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 2: was buried on February fourteenth, nineteen ninety two, Valentine's Day, 87 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 2: with his friend's purple heart pined on his chest. Hi 88 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: Raymond Dan Hubbard ask you, my friends, my neighbors, to 89 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: accept my apologies. I cried your pardon. I beg you 90 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: for forgiveness, for I had forgotten the face of my 91 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: father when I was fourteen and I had taken up smoking. 92 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: I had forgotten the face of my father when I 93 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 2: was sixteen and started to drink heavily. I had forgotten 94 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 2: the face of my father when I was seventeen and 95 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 2: dropped out of high school. I had forgotten the face 96 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: of my father. During my graduation from basic training at 97 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: the age of twenty four, I felt a hand clasped 98 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: my shoulder. I looked up into my father's proud eyes 99 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 2: and wept quietly. In formation. Prior to my deployment training, 100 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: I chose a picture taken over my father while he 101 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: was in service to his country in Vietnam. I attached 102 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: it to my bunk so we could always watch over 103 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: me during my tour. On July fourth, two thousand and six, 104 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 2: our nation's independence day, when a large self propelled rocket 105 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: detonated meters away from me, I saw my father's face again, 106 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:36,679 Speaker 2: fighting to keep me alive. My friends, my neighbors, Only 107 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: through our perseverance and never forgetting, will we get through 108 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: this difficult times ahead. Only through our humility and never forgetting. 109 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 2: Will we make them who have served feel our gratitude. 110 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: Only through our unity, and never forgetting, will we honor 111 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 2: the fallen. My name is starting Raymond Hubbard, and I 112 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: will never forget the face of my brothers. Thank you. 113 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: With his finger on the pulse, The King of Team 114 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 3: continues on the Michael Berry Show. 115 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: One of the songs that came out of World War 116 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: II is Blood upon the rises. It's an American paratrooper 117 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: song that tells of the final fatal jump of a 118 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: rookie paratrooper whose parachute fails to deploy. This results in 119 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:40,959 Speaker 1: him falling to his death. Unfortunately, remember, the airborne at 120 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: this point was still a fairly new concept. Most American 121 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: paratroopers volunteered because it would increase their pay by fifty 122 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: dollars a month. It's true the saying that hard times 123 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: make hard men was never truer than it was for 124 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: the men that fought in World War Two. Those men 125 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: grew up during the Great Depression. They knew suffering, they 126 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: knew privation, and then they went directly to a war 127 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: against the Nazis literal Nazis, not the buzzword Nazi that 128 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: little keyboard warriors use on Twitter. The Nazis get all 129 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: the attention, but the Japanese were fanatical fighters. Those battles 130 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: in the Pacific theater brutal study those sometimes it took 131 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: hard men to do what those men did. Over four 132 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: hundred thousand of those men were lost a generation during 133 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: World War Two. These are some scenes from the movie 134 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: Saving Private Ryan. And yes, I know it's a movie, 135 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 1: but I've always found them to be incredibly compelling. The 136 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 1: first was General Marshall reading the letter to Missus Bixby 137 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: from Abraham Lincoln. Missus Bixby, if you recall lost five 138 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: sons to the Civil War, or so we thought. It 139 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: turns out they had not all been lost, but at 140 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: that moment he believed the President did, because the letters 141 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: from the War Department said that they had. 142 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 4: I have a letter here. 143 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 5: The been a long time ago, to a Missus Bixby 144 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 5: in Boston. Bear with me, dear madam. I have been 145 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 5: shown in the files at the War Department of statement 146 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 5: the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother 147 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 5: of five sons who have died gloriously on the field 148 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 5: of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be 149 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 5: any words of mine attempt to beguile you from the 150 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 5: grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain 151 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 5: from tendering to you the consolation that may be found 152 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 5: in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. 153 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 6: God. 154 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 5: I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish 155 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 5: of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory 156 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 5: of the loved and lost. The Solemn pride that must 157 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 5: be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon 158 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 5: the altar of freedom. Yours, very sincerely and respectfully, Hey, 159 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 5: Abraham Lincoln. 160 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: The second scene is at the end of the movie. 161 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: It's when James Ryan is standing in front of the 162 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: headstone of Captain John Miller. He tells him that he 163 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: tried to live a life worthy of their sacrifice. Powerful. 164 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 7: My family is with me. 165 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 4: They wanted to come with me. 166 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 7: To be honest with your eye, I wouldn't sure hollow 167 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 7: I feel coming back, Peter. Every day I think of 168 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 7: what you said to a nag on the bridge. I've 169 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 7: ted to live my life the best I could. I 170 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 7: hope that wasn't enough. I hope they're at least in 171 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 7: your eyes. 172 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 4: I've learned all of you have done for me. 173 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: Wow, that is something that we should all aspire to do, 174 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: to live a life worthy of the sacrifice of all 175 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: of those we lost in combat. 176 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 5: You've got the Michael Berrys Show. 177 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: Lieutenant Colonel J. L. Peterson is a Marine from Bismarck, 178 00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: North Dakota. Lieutenant Colonel Peterson has been in the Marine 179 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 1: Corps since nineteen ninety four, and he served in Afghanistan. 180 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: He gave a very emotional speech Memorial Day twenty fifteen. 181 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: His love of America is palpable. You're going to want 182 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: to hear this. 183 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 6: There are about twenty five million living American veterans today, 184 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 6: and since General Washington's commanded the Continental Army, forty two 185 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 6: million Americans have served the Colors, a million more have 186 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 6: been killed in its defense, and another million and a 187 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:37,679 Speaker 6: half wounded. These are small numbers compared to the billions 188 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 6: across the planet, and billions yet still unborn to live 189 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 6: free because Americans have fought and died for their freedom. 190 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 6: Memorial Day was established by presidential decree on the fifth 191 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 6: of May eighteen sixty eight, and first observed later that 192 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 6: month on the thirtieth, when all the graves at Arlington 193 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 6: National Cemetery were decorated with flowers and plats. Through the years, 194 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,839 Speaker 6: Memorial Day continued to mean visiting and decorating graves or 195 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 6: town square memorials to those who died serving our great nation, 196 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 6: and celebrating with parades and civic events. Americans in the 197 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 6: past kept the day quiet, positing to remember, at least 198 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 6: for a little while, the kind of men and women 199 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 6: that so willingly gave that last full measure. When I 200 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 6: was growing up, I felt in all my grandfather's generation Guadalcanal, Sicily, Tarawa, Salerno, Ewajima, Normandy, 201 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 6: those places were real to them. They lived it. Then 202 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 6: came my father's generation trudging through the jungles of Vietnam. 203 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 6: It was a bit different. Then. We removed our hats 204 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 6: during the national anthem, we said the pledged allegiance before school, 205 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 6: and it didn't offend anyone's sensitivities or seen as trampling 206 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 6: on the rights of anyone else. Memorial Day was a 207 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 6: day to remember our heroes with the day of reverence 208 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 6: to repay the debt that we could truly never repay. 209 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 6: We live in a different time today and people have 210 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 6: indeed lost something of quality over the years. We don't 211 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 6: always see that same selfless devotion to something bigger than ourselves. 212 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 6: Memorial Day to day is more about a day to 213 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 6: take advantage of the big sales at the malls or 214 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 6: fighting the traffic to get to the beach for a 215 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 6: long weekend. But we should be ashamed of ourselves if 216 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 6: we forget as we enjoy the long weekend that we 217 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 6: are again at war today and the new generation can 218 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 6: he continues to fight and win, begins an enemy on 219 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 6: our behalf in Afghanistan and other locations around the globe. 220 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 6: And in contrasts to my grandfather and father's generations where 221 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 6: nearly everyone had family, that serves only about one percent 222 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 6: of Americans served today. But I can say with confidence 223 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 6: that Americans will always stand for what is right. And 224 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 6: I brought my son Bo here today, and when I 225 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 6: look at him, I know that his generation will carry 226 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 6: on that tradition to Nope, they'll carry on that American 227 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 6: legacy forward, just as his father and grandfather had done 228 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 6: as well. Why because we love America and are willing 229 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 6: to die for freedom in our way of life. Memorial 230 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 6: Day is not as much for our families of the fallen, 231 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 6: but for us who have been to combat and dir losses. 232 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 6: We remember those guys every day, moral days for the 233 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 6: rest of the nation systems to remember and say thank 234 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 6: you to those that have fallen and given so much 235 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 6: to all of us. And thanks May all of our 236 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 6: fallen rest peacefully, maybe love them find peace and understanding 237 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 6: their sacrifice, and that the America that they so loved 238 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 6: and protected and gave their lives for it is forever worthy. 239 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 6: We will never forget you. God bless America. I love America. 240 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 6: Thank you. 241 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 3: This segment exclusively produced by Hawaiian Chad Nakanishi. Aloha bro 242 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 3: Ha to Michael Barry Show. 243 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 1: James W. Bill Oxford was elected National Commander of the 244 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,880 Speaker 1: American Legion on August twenty nine, twenty nineteen, in Indianapolis, 245 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: during the organization's one hundred first national Convention. A veteran 246 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: of the US Marine Corps, Oxford was an aviation electronic 247 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: technician for the A six Intruder and served in Vietnam 248 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: during his initial enlistment. After being discharged as a sergeant 249 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy, Oxford joined the North Carolina National Guard. 250 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: He subsequently attended Officers Candidate School and transferred to the 251 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: US Army Reserve, where he ultimately retired as a colonel 252 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 1: after more than thirty four years of service. In twenty twenty. 253 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: He gave this speech on Memorial Day. 254 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 4: We're here today to celebrate Memorial Day, but it could 255 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 4: be better said, lest we forget. If you're here today 256 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 4: as a veteran who served this country, you're to be commended. 257 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 4: Thank you for your service and the sacrifices you made 258 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 4: in service to her. But if you're here today, it's 259 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 4: not about you. Today is about those who served this 260 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 4: nation and made the supreme sacrifice in service to this country. 261 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 4: The American military is served this country for more than 262 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 4: two hundred and four years. That service can never be 263 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 4: understated or repaid. That service is stretch from the American 264 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 4: Revolution in seventeen seventy five to current service in more 265 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 4: than one hundred and thirty countries around the world. Today, 266 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 4: and to this day, Americans continue to die on foreign soil. Sadly, 267 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 4: none of the men and women who have died in 268 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 4: service to this nation can be replaced, and there have 269 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 4: been more than a million of them, but their sacrifices 270 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 4: must be remembered and honored. Most were young in their prime, husbands, sons, daughters, fathers, wives, mothers, uncles. 271 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 4: They all left a nation that will be forever in 272 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 4: their debt. Picture in your mind's eye, the empty seat 273 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 4: at the dinner table, opening presents on Christmas with someone missing, 274 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 4: the Thanksgiving Day football game in the yard with a 275 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 4: star player missing, the daughter who has no father to 276 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 4: walk her down the aisle, all lost in service to you, 277 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 4: me in this country. I'll have trouble with this, but 278 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 4: elect to introduce you to a couple of personal acquaintances. 279 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 4: William L. Lutz. I remember Billy from the third grade. 280 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 4: He was in the second. I was closer to his 281 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,919 Speaker 4: brother Eddie. I still see Eddie, and I went to 282 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 4: school with Eddie's wife, Carolyn D. Company First Pattating forty 283 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 4: sixth inh Try America Division, Republic of Vietnam. Killed May twelfth, 284 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 4: nineteen sixty nine. Benny Prestwood B. Company First Pattating, First Marines, 285 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 4: Republic of Vietnam. We played football on the same team 286 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 4: in high school. I was a tenth grader. Bennie was 287 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:29,199 Speaker 4: a ninth grader. Benny was a good running back. But 288 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 4: the thing I remember about Bennie he was a red 289 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 4: headed and funny guy. He carried the football funny up 290 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 4: and down, not front to back like the coaches taught us. 291 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 4: Bennie's last letter to his family, three days after Thanksgiving 292 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 4: November sixty eight, was written on a sea ration box 293 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 4: because paper was so scarce. Previously wounded. He died January ninth, 294 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 4: nineteen sixty nine. Two thousand and six. Staff starred at 295 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 4: Jason Ramser previously been deployed to Afghanistan and only been 296 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,719 Speaker 4: in a rack month when he was killed by an ied. 297 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 4: He was my hometown. I used to do the PA 298 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 4: for high school football games and I called I called 299 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,679 Speaker 4: his name many times. On the football field. He was 300 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 4: not a big guy, but he terrorized running back says 301 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 4: a linebacker. And on the baseball diamond, I once saw 302 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 4: him hit a baseball into another's zip code. Killed in 303 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 4: service to this country. In two thousand and eight, another 304 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 4: twenty nine year old from my hometown was killed when 305 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 4: the vehicle he was driving struck a roadside bomb. A 306 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 4: true Southern gentleman and proud on what he was doing, 307 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 4: Robbie Bowman's family and his friend all talked about his 308 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 4: personal motto. He said, my life has a taste that 309 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 4: the sheltered will never know. Robbie told a complete story. 310 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 4: When his little sister asked him why he had to 311 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 4: leave again, he said, I go and do what I 312 00:22:54,680 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 4: do so you won't have to, my little princess and 313 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 4: his core. Memorial Day commemorates the universal, all encompassing words 314 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 4: from the Bible when it says, no greater love than 315 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 4: this does any man have than to lay down his 316 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 4: life for his friends. One more introduction. A first beetween 317 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 4: Charlie Company, twenty sixth Infantry, first Division, US Army, on 318 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 4: a motorized patrol. A nineteen year old spec form was 319 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 4: manning the machine gun on top of an armed hum 320 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 4: the as they moved through the streets high buildings on 321 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:29,959 Speaker 4: either side. You can see the picture. Suddenly, though not unexpectedly, 322 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 4: a grenade is thrown at the vehicle. It lands in 323 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 4: the turret and falls all the way to the bottom 324 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 4: of the vehicle where the other where four other soldiers 325 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 4: were riding. What the spacialist was trained to do, what 326 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 4: he did, and why he did it is a different story. 327 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 4: Rather than save himself, Specialist Ross McGinnis from Meadville, Pennsylvania 328 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 4: jumped down inside the vehicle and smothered the grenade with 329 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 4: his own body. He died instantly, but the other four 330 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 4: men survived their wounds. In July two thousand and eight, 331 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 4: in the Oval Office, his parents were presented the Medal 332 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 4: of Honor on his behalf. An American hero by any standard. 333 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 4: But does any medd or award make the loss of 334 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 4: their son any easier? I think not. Oliver Wendell Holmes 335 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 4: call Memorial Day our most sacred holiday and urged that 336 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 4: we not ponder with said thoughts the passing of our heroes, 337 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 4: but rather ponder their legacy. As we ponder the passing 338 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 4: of heroes. Ross mcguinnis meets every description. These five deaths 339 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 4: that I just described can never be repaid. But and 340 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 4: I ask you to consider this very carefully, can you 341 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 4: consider the four other soldiers who lived because Ross McGinnis died. 342 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 4: Those four other soldiers, their wives, their children, their extended 343 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 4: families owe their world to the young man who gave 344 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:04,719 Speaker 4: his life to protect theirs. I knew Billy Loot's been 345 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 4: impressed with Jason Ramser personally in Robbie Bowman's family pretty well, 346 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 4: and I could describe how their deaths made me feel. 347 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 4: And I suppose many of you could relate to the 348 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 4: loss of close friends. But try as we might, we 349 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 4: can analyze, dissect, discuss, review, but we can never come 350 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 4: up with a way to express the feelings those four 351 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 4: other soldiers had and will forever have for Ross mcguinnis. 352 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 4: We as Americans need to understand how thankful those four 353 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 4: soldiers are and realize we should feel the same way 354 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,399 Speaker 4: about every person who ever gave their life in service 355 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 4: to this country. Consider that when we talk about this 356 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 4: day and the people who have given their life to 357 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 4: preserve and protect this country, are we that thankful? The 358 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 4: Americans have lost their lives in service to this country 359 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 4: have not done so in vain, but for a bigger 360 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 4: and more noble cause, to not only America, but to 361 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 4: the world. Few people choose the dangerous but essential work 362 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 4: of protecting this country. We always need to remember, honor 363 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 4: and recognize those people who choose to bear the sword 364 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 4: to defend this country. We need to be thankful for 365 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 4: their service and their sacrifices. There's something else we need 366 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 4: to realize. We have a responsibility to carry on. We 367 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 4: cannot let those deaths be in vain. Take up to 368 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 4: quarrel with our enemies, never give up, never abandon the 369 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 4: American ideals, and always preserve the principles of justice, freedom 370 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 4: and democracy. We have a responsibility to carry on, preserve 371 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 4: and protect this country. We all know America will never 372 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 4: run out of enemies. There will always people who wish 373 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 4: us harm. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day. 374 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 4: Be safe, practice social distancing. Things are improving. We'll be 375 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,959 Speaker 4: better and stronger than when we get through this national emergency. 376 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 4: But for Memorial Day twenty twenty, we need to remember 377 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 4: honor and be eternally grateful for those members of our 378 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 4: society who lost their lives protecting us. God Bless America, 379 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 4: God bless the American service members we have lost their 380 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 4: life protecting her and us. 381 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: If you like the Michael Berry Show and Podcast, please 382 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: tell one friend, and if you're so inclined, write a 383 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: nice review of our podcast. Comments, suggestions, questions, and interest 384 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,640 Speaker 1: in being a corporate sponsor and partner can be communicated 385 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 1: directly to the show at our email address, Michael at 386 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: Michael Berryshow dot com, or simply by clicking on our website, 387 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: Michael Berryshow dot com. The Michael Berry Show and Podcast 388 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: is produced by Ramon Roeblis, the King of Ding. Executive 389 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 1: producer is Chad Knakanishi. Jim Mudd is the creative director. 390 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:59,360 Speaker 1: Voices Jingles, Tomfoolery and Shenanigans are provided by Chance McLean. 391 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 1: Director of Research is Sandy Peterson. Emily Bull is our 392 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 1: assistant listener and superfan. Contributions are appreciated and often incorporated 393 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 1: into our production where possible. We give credit where not, 394 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 1: we take all the credit for ourselves. God bless the 395 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: memory of Rush Limbaugh. Long live Elvis, be a simple 396 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: man like Leonard Skinnard told you, and God bless America. Finally, 397 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: if you know a veteran suffering from PTSD, call Camp 398 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 1: Hope at eight seven seven seven one seven PTSD and 399 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: a combat veteran will answer the phone to provide free counseling.