Ye Olde Green Wave Forum

RIP -

I can never think about today without first playing in my head the opening line of FDR’s speech to a joint session of Congress.

https://youtu.be/YhtuMrMVJDk

If you have never listened to the whole speech, it’s only seven minutes and well worth it. Stunning in its directness and anger. I was curious to see if he was seated with his polio, a then closely held secret, but it looks like he was standing and then escorted from the podium afterwards.

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Tulane Class of 1978 | NROTC Tulane - Submariner | From everywhere and nowhere

Thanks.
The speech is eight minutes and is well worth to listen to it in its entirety.

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[i]

just a subtle request to TUPF - if you don't see me remembering these dates, please take over. My Dad was Navy, your Dad was Navy, you're Navy - never forget Dec 7th, 1941.

The Ripley Aquarium in Gatlinburg had a special exhibit for 2 years about Pearl Harbor; they had incredible photos of the aftermath, plus models of the shipyard and naval base, descriptions on where things occurred, etc. It was impossible to leave the exhibit without feeling moved.

I don't want to sound like a curmudgeonly "get off my lawn" kind of guy, but the current generation truly has little insight into the impact that the events that fateful Sunday morning had on everyone. I read today that this year's ceremonies are the first ones to occur without a survivor of the Arizona in attendance. A few years ago I was touring a WW2 destroyer at Charleston Harbor, heard some scouts complaining that they needed air conditioning on the boat; I could not help but comment to them that several hundred young men spent 4 years on that ship, weathering storms, attacks, tight quarters and, yes, no air conditioning, to preserve those kids' liberties.

My maternal grandfather was a naval surgeon in the Pacific, stationed in New Guinea for a good part. My father was part of the Big Red One in Europe. My wife's father was a radar operator on the Hambleton, her stepfather was also a naval officer. I try hard to make sure my own kids understand the gravity of this day and what happened; too many of their peers are oblivious.

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What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?

I hear ya, AO Sig. What you are citing, though sad at times, is also the inevitability of history. We have only faced two existential threats to our nation since its founding, the Civil War and WWII (and perhaps the War of 1812). As much as we were stung by 9/11 our nation’s very existence was never in question. Because of that I think it was almost required that there was a Greatest Generation. Like a wise man once told me—nothing like an imminent hanging to focus one’s attention. You either rise to the occasion or you die.

As frustrating as it might feel, it is our duty to continually remind the young ones of the sacrifices that were made in any struggle that came before them so that they might enjoy the fruits now. But do not be quick to anger if they do not. If you live in a house of plenty it is difficult to internalize that your grandparents had to scrounge for food.

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Tulane Class of 1978 | NROTC Tulane - Submariner | From everywhere and nowhere

Navy Hymn

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Tulane Class of 1978 | NROTC Tulane - Submariner | From everywhere and nowhere

They used to sing it every Sunday at chapel during my 16 weeks at Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola. They always ended it with the verse that says, "O guard and guide the men who fly through the great spaces in the sky". I was sure they would play it during 41's funeral, and they did at the end, but I hoped the choir would sing that verse, but they didn't. I have told all my family to make sure that song and that verse are sung at my funeral (not imminent, I hope).

Same here, Cheerleader.

Here’s the version including the verse for submariners.

https://youtu.be/ZKMEl4HU0fA

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Tulane Class of 1978 | NROTC Tulane - Submariner | From everywhere and nowhere