Memorial Day

The weather only halfway cooperated for the Memorial Day observance at Tahoma National Cemetery. It rained steadily during most of the day, but finally let up about two-thirds the way through the service and held off long enough for us to get a picture by the USSVI plaque at the cemetery.



I also wanted to share the Memorial Day Message from USSVI National Commander Pat Householder.

Remembering on Memorial Day...

Arlington National Cemetery is the centerpiece of our national cemetery system, but it is only one of 141 others around the country and 24 more located in other countries.

Over three million men and women are interred in these hallowed grounds; Across the years, those who fought and died for our freedoms as well as those who served and survived to help build a better America lie here and give silent testimony to the faithfulness of their service.

And there are the others, who disappeared from the battlefield without trace, or were swallowed up by the unforgiving seas.
In particular, we remember the brave young men who went to war in Submarines and laid their lives on the altar of freedom in steel hulls now forever on eternal patrol.

All of these brave young souls deserve to be honored and remembered for their sacrifices; over 1.5 million of them in battle and another 1.5 million as veterans, all of whom left the comforts of home to endure hardship and danger to insure our freedoms.

Those who did not serve will never know the feeling of pride that comes from having honorably served our Nation to preserve the greatest constitutional republic that has ever existed.

We veterans can take solemn pride in knowing that we 'earned' our citizenship. We understand the meaning of sacrifice for a cause larger than our own personal lives.
On this Memorial Day week-end, remember to give thanks to each other, to all those brave young men and women currently serving, and pay homage to the men and women who are now silent sentinels in hallowed ground throughout the world.

No nation has ever been better served than by the men of the United States Submarine Service and the warriors of the United States military services.

I am proud to be your shipmate and I salute you for your selfless service to the United States of America.

Fraternally,
Patrick Householder
National Commander 2008-2010