Why?
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
May 25, 2008 2:28pm CST
Why do we celebrate Memorial Day in the U.S.?
[i]The young Marine came back from the war, with his toughest fight ahead of him. Merlin German waged that battle in the quiet of a Texas hospital, far from the dusty road in Iraq where a bomb exploded, leaving him with burns over 97 percent of his body.
No one expected him to survive.
But for more than three years, he would not surrender. He endured more than 100 surgeries and procedures. He learned to live with pain, to stare at a stranger's face in the mirror. He learned to smile again, to joke, to make others laugh.
He became known as the "Miracle Man."
But just when it seemed he would defy impossible odds, Sgt. Merlin German lost his last battle this spring — an unexpected final chapter in a story many imagined would have a happy ending.
"I think all of us had believed in some way, shape or form that he was invincible," says Lt. Col. Evan Renz, who was German's surgeon and his friend. "He had beaten so many other operations. ... It just reminded us, he, too, was human."[/i]
If you've read this far, please finish:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080525/ap_on_re_us/memorial_day__miracle__marine
This is why we celebrate Memorial Day.
God Bless you, Sgt German. Semper fi ...
6 people like this
8 responses
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 May 08
ldyjarhead. I read the story and am weeping because I wanted
so much for him to make it, and he almost did.what a story
how anyone could read this and not be deeply touched'
is beyond me. I will pray now and on memorial day for all
those brave young menand women who gave their all for
the rest of us. I hope everyone else will take a moment
to read this.its heart rending but also encouraging too.
If he had the guts to get as far as he did with his
recuperation then the rest of us should be able
to face up to our small problems as well.
3 people like this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
25 May 08
I'll be honest I didn't read the story but we celebrate Memorial day because of the people who have helped make this country the way it is.. Free.. The question is it really? My father was a Vietnam Vet you know the funny thing of it is he wasn't even proud to say it nore was he even proud to say anything that happened while being there.. But we do this for the brave men and women that help keep our country safe and fight for us and honor the ones that have been at war and that are no longer here like my father.. If they didn't you and I would be there right now fighting for what we believe in.. Our country... God Bless the USA and everyone who is or has fought for us...
2 people like this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 May 08
Read the story ... It's a tear jerker, but it's what it's all about.
I'm a retired Marine myself and my son followed mine and his Dad's footsteps and did three tours in Iraq.
We've got a long way to go in taking care of our veteran's, but things are definitely better now than they were 35 years ago.
2 people like this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
26 May 08
Hi again I totally disagree with taking care of our vets there are so many of them out there that have to fight for help.. My dad was one of them.. He was hurt in the war and fought and fought for many years to get help about 5 years ago he finally got it, though it didn't the family any nore him sense he passed away... He wasn't able to work or do anything cause of the things that happened to him while he was in Vietnam.. He was a POW and he was considered missing in action.. These vets that fought for us gave us what we have today.. Yet as I said before what? Freedom, That's another story though... But by the time these vets do get help from the government, I think it's almost to late.. It's just sad.. I will though read the story...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
26 May 08
Like I said, things are a lot better today for the veteran than they were after they returned from previous conflicts.
Is it perfect? Goodness, no. But I am at the VA several times a month (I'm a patient myself) and my husband is there every day. They HAVE come a long way and I've witnessed it in untold number of cases myself personally.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
28 May 08
...that was very heart wrenching.. the horrors of war, but the great bravery of those who fight the worst evils.. If not for them down through the ages, the world would have ceased long ago, and many of us never would have been born.. It's hard to fathom their sacrifice and the loss the families experience.. "Merlin's Miracles" - he was a miracle!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
22 Jun 08
Yes, he was.
I can't forget the sacrifices of others as I served for more than 21 years myself - it was my life. God bless them all ...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 May 08
Thank you, on behalf of Sgt German.
The news media wastes no time telling the not-so-nice stories about the war and our military, it's nice to see them shed in good light.
1 person likes this
@Shawchert (1094)
• United States
25 May 08
I heard about him in the newspaper, i didn't know the whole story though, thanks for sharing
Yes I think that celebrating memorial day is something very honorable because those people fought, got injured, and diedto keep us free and others as well.
2 people like this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 May 08
It was the first time I'd read his story, and what a sad ending to it all.
He sure was an inspiration to many, and I think he realized that's why he was still with us when by all the laws of nature, he should never have lived through the incident.
2 people like this
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
26 May 08
Thank you for this heartwarming, soul wrenching story. I am truly grateful for these men and women who sacrifice so much for us, but I have to agree with Andy Rooney. When we find a way to settle our differences without killing each other, then we'll truly have a reason to celebrate.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
26 May 08
Good ol' Andy Rooney. Gotta love him.
On behalf of all who have served, thank you...
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
26 May 08
What a wonderful way to commemorate Memorial Day. I will be honest, Memorial Day around here is basically the start of summer. We don't attend ceremonies or go to parades but I do remember those at war and those who've paid the ultimate price every day in my prayers.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
26 May 08
You don't have to wave a flag at a parade to honor them. Your thoughts and prayers still mean a lot. I don't do parades and such either, for the most part,and I served for more than 21 years!
@bournecaindelta (2477)
• India
26 May 08
Thats the way to live life.. Dancing with the body hurt.. Yeah. Thats the way.
bourne
