On Monday, May 12th, I shall be attending a funeral that is 40 years old. A childhood friend of mine from Philadelphia will be being moved from a cemetery in Philadelphia to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Mike was killed in November of 1968. I found out about his death from my mom in January of 1969, my first month in Viet Nam. Obviously, I was unable to attend his original funeral. I shall be at this one. Mike also was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He is the only native Philadelphian to be awarded our nation's highest honor. Below is my high school's website with a link to the news story, if you care to read about it. There is also a podcast from our local news about the events of May 12th.

http://www.cardinaldougherty.org/in...iew=yes&nid=154

Jim the link didn't work

http://www.cardinaldougherty.org/index.php?task=news&view=yes&nid=154

Try this Blue. Thanks.

(Message edited by JimMc on April 29, 2008)

I'm glad to know you Jim, even if it's from afar.

Likewise my friend. I hope we have the great opportunity to meet someday on the island that we love so much.

Link works.

Jim like it is said "Never Forgotten"

The Patriot Guard (PGR) also has this on the web site as a Pending Confirmation Mission for Mike....hopefully the family will invite the PGR cause they will Honer Mike with Pride & Respect.

Jim here is one of the PGR links:
http://www.patriotguard.org/ALLForums/tabid/61/forumid/11/view/topic/postid/854922/Default.aspx

Jim there are many things that can be said but, I guess most would not understand the deep feelings that are attached....May God Bless Mike's family and be with them and you during this time.

Mike R.I.P. with your brothers.

Jim.....the PGR has been requested.

Blue, from what I understand, the PGR, along with some other groups (Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club, Philadelphia Police Motorcycles, and a number of others. He will be escorted through Delaware, MD, and finally DC by their state police. VA State Police will pick him up in VA. There will be no tolls, etc. for the motorcade. It should be a pretty humbling and awesome experience for us.

I'm sure it will be a wonderful tribute.


And by the way Jim....Thank You For Your Service and if no one has told you WELCOME HOME SOLDIER!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X787K4zr2Og&feature=related

Grown men are not supposed to cry, I'm sorry, I couldn't help it.

Jim and Mike.....Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

Jim,
THANK YOU and safe travels.

My utmost respect and humbled Thank You to Mike. Your selfless sacrifice will never be forgotten.

I don't want anyone on this board to think that I am a militaristic hawk or anything like that. Many of us spent many years in total denial and memory blocking that time we spent in RVN. For many of us supporting the troops, not the war, is a very good healing agent for what we did not receive. I am in the early stages, right now, of forming support groups in my area for Viet Nam vets to help returning Iraq/ Afghanistan vets cope with their PTSD which they will surely have from this horrific war. I could not do it last October, but I hope to take the class through HSA in the fall to work on the Wounded Warriors Project on Bonaire, which I know many of you supported both monetarily and spiritually. Oh yeah, Blue, I was a Marine not a soldier. LOL

Thank you so much for bringing this to or attention Jim.. "NEVER FORGOTTEN" God bless all the service men and women that have served for our freedom and all those that one day will hear the calling as well..

Thank you for telling us of your friend and thank you for going to Arlington. I'm sure there are many other thanks we should give you, but they are just too many to count. Thank you!

(Message edited by jeanineclark on April 30, 2008)

Nope they are not forgotten.

Jim, you need not explain yourself. IMO military service, past, present or future deserves respect and admiration for multiple reasons. Those that can't comprehend that need a history lesson and a reality check.

Thanks John. However, sometimes in the past couple of months I have brought the topic up, mostly because of my son Tim. A lot of memories were stirred up with me, especially seeing him in his uniform. My mom has pictures of me in my Alphas (dress green uniform) and you would swear it is the same person. This barbaric ongoing war has not helped matters either. I just wish the hell it would end honorably and soon. Unfortunately and pragmatically, I don't see that happening in the near future.