Memorial Day 2014 (c)

The pictures blow are difficult to view and I agonize over posting them. But they are the real reason for Memorial Day. They are the real sacrifice for freedom. They are the real heroes of our age.

May God bless these families. May our people forever honor these heroic Marines and their fallen comrades.

El Cid
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The widow of Marine Second Lieutenant John T. Wroblewski, Joanna Wroblewski, left, weeps as Captain Martin Lewis, right, hands the American flag that draped her husband's coffin during a funeral ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Friday, April 23, 2004


Shawn and John Wroblewski mourn the loss of their oldest son, Marine Ltieuenant John Thomas 'J.T.,' as they remember him on the deck behind their Jefferson home on Thursday. Dawn Benko / Daily Record

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jtwroblewski.htm


Erica Rios, the widow of United States Marine Sgt. Duane Rios grasps the flag which was draped on his coffin at his funeral Saturday, April 19, 2003 in Griffith, Ind. Rios, 25, was killed April 5 in a battle on the outskirts of Baghdad. His remains were to be cremated after the ceremony. (AP Photo/Michael Gard)


The family of Marine PFC Francisco Martinez Flores embrace as they greave for the 21-year-old during his funeral Mass Saturday, April, 12, 2003 in Monrovia, Calif. His mother, Martha Martinez Flores embraces her husband Samuel, left and her youngest son, Sammy. The Marine was killed when his tank tumbled from a collapsing bridge in Iraq was remembered Saturday as a man who loved two countries the United States and Mexico and died to liberate a third. Hundreds of mourners packed Immaculate Conception Church and others overflowed outside during the funeral Mass for Martinez Flores, 21, who died just two weeks before he was to become a U.S. citizen.(AP Photo/Virgina Lee Hunter)


Sonia Roads, mother of fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler Roads, is overcome Saturday as folded flags are handed to her and to Roads’ wife, Megan Stone-Roads.


Jennifer Germosen, widow of Marine Staff Sergeant Scott N. Germosen, 37, and the couple's daughter, Alyssa, receive a U.S. flag from Marine Lieutenant Colonel Carl Parker during a memorial service Thursday, January 17, 2002, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. Germosen was among the seven Marines killed in the January 9, 2002, crash of their KC-130 refueling plane in Pakistan. Parker is the commanding officer of the crew's squadron.

http://arlingtoncemetery.net/sgermosen.htm


Katie Stack, sitting center, is supported by Marine wives as Marines fold the flag from her husband Lance Cpl. James Stack's casket during a graveside service at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights on Saturday, November 20th. Dawn Hedrick, Katie's mother, is holding the Stack's daughter, 1-year-old daughter, Mikayla, at left. Stack was killed November 10th while serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment for one month in Sangin, Afghanistan.

https://contests.nppa.org/monthly_news_clip_contest/view_winners.php?c=21&d=Nov&r=5&t=GNN&p=1st


After Ryley Gallinger-Long's casket is buried into the Willamette National Cemetery, his widow, Hope, grieves at the graveside. Ryley's identical twin brother, Wyatt, is comforting her. At right is another brother, Zack.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianeditors/2011/08/readers_object_to_graveside_ph.html