Riccardo talk cock, sing song and play mahjong: USA Veteran Day

Its another Holiday in the USA and it was usually SALES and SHOPPING to most of us Singaporean right here whatever the holiday is. A day off from work and a day to search for the best deal on the newspaper and online. I wonder, is that all we could think of doing here in this great country? Just shopping and eating? What is the significant Veteran Day to the true Americans that we have not learn to appreciate? Thats what motivated me to be different today. Searched online for Veteran Day events, the day where all Americans celebrate and remember the man who fought and the man who die for USA to bring them freedom and way of life they got today. Found a Veteran Day memorial service held at Dallas FortWorth National Cemetery located just south of our Air Base....and thats where I'm heading today.

The road name Mountain Creek is a winding one cuting through the autumn forest downhill from the Loop 12 highway. Its a winding road of serenity, peaceful and pretty bumpy. Its easy to spot the entrance of the Cemetery from the numerous USA Flag marking the entrance and the many vehicles turning in instead of heading straight ahead the road. The cemetery service road is only one-way and mark by the sight of neat, symmetrical hundred rows and columns of simple tombstone like seen on the movies. Nothing as elaborate or appealing as what we see in Singapore but the simple shape and clean stones sitting upon the very well trim grass holds the true meaning of a "Final Resting Place". Peaceful and Quiet, calming the heart of the surviving families and friends. There is no where you go in the cemetery that you will miss the sight of a US Flag.

At the National Cemetery... The Flag always fly high for the heroes.

Families and friends came in their Sedan, Coupe, SUV and Caravan neatly park at the side of the road laying flowers (some are actually plastics) and miniture US Flags on the grave of their loved ones. There was sound of sobbing from the old lady who lost his husband/son or daughter in the war and there was the sound of silence of two young guys who might be comrade-in-arms looking blankly at the grave and recalling the times their dear friend was still with them on their tour of duty in a dangerous foreign land.

Remembered by families and friends with Flag and Flowers

Just another stranger in my life but a part of the world freedom and peace.

Its was a short 1 hour memorial service honouring the Veteran both alive and in a special place in Heaven for their dedication and sacrifice to bring Freedom and peace to not just the Americans but to many part of the world. Started with a speech by an old US Marine General. No mention of the achievement of top brass officers of the past so well documented in newspaper and books or some old grandfather war story in his speech but a account of the bravery under fire of a junior ranking Private First Class fighting in Fallujah, Iraq who save his squad-mates despite getting numerous gun wound. He survive the battle but got shot through the heart and die the next week. He may not got any Medal or honoured for his deeds and so does many other great soldiers in the past for the great deeds of war and battle are sometime unheard of. Veteran Day is here for all this unsung heroes...

Wall of honor

Proud Mum of the United States of America, riding Harleys

A female singer next gave a short thank you speech to the man and women in the military past and presents and to their families for taking care back home when their father/son, mum/ daughter answer to the call of duty. She sang the sound "Proud To Be An American", joined in by all the people present today... A very very patriotic song and even for a foreigner like me and my friends right there. Heres a video clip of the song I found on Youtube,