This picture came out a few years ago, but it still is pretty cool.  Thanks for remembering our veterans Mr. Fireball. 

@rcooley25 @IRonMaN Well said Brother Cooley and Ironman. Meaningful Memorial Day to all.

The veteran's cemetery at Fort Snelling, near Minneapolis.  Those are all veterans, few were killed in action.  

In a letter to his daughter written from France on January 26, 1784, here is what Benjamin Franklin had to say about which bird -- the bald eagle or the turkey -- should be the symbol of our nation:

"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping and Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain and silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

@rcooley25 Would you like to buy a vowel?  

Sorry Bob.  I looked but I couldn't find a picture of a turkey keeping watch at the US cemetery in Normandy.  Hopefully your Memorial Day hasn't been ruined because of it.

@BobKamman  I assumed the missing vowel was due to an early nip of Fireball, but I was too polite to point it out. I am glad you are now the one responsible. 

A photo of the cemetery at Normandy would be appropriate today.  A photo of a cemetery where draftees are buried after their return to civilian life, and death from old age, is not.  Especially since that cemetery had a separate section for black veterans when it was dedicated in 1939.  And it was funded by Congress as a memorial to soldiers who killed Native Americans in the Midwest during the previous century.  

@George4Tacks The tasteless jokes about alcohol will always be with us, but I hoped they would stop for at least one day. 

Approximately 11% of veterans who visit a medical facility run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the first time have a substance use disorder (SUD). Binge drinking, or consuming a lot of alcohol in a short time, is one of the more common issues that veterans face. Veterans may abuse substances in response to mental health disorders, to cope with readjusting to civilian life, or to manage pain. Substance use has been linked to trauma, homelessness, mental health disorders, physical health issues, increased risk of suicide, and problems in relationships and at work. Statistics on substance abuse in veterans show that among those who have SUDs, more than 80% (nearly 900,000) abuse alcohol.

Sorry Bob, but there are several Medal of Honor winners buried at Fort Snelling - that were killed in action for that medal.  If the cemetery's history doesn't quite meet your standards or there aren't enough veterans killed in action to be worthy of your recognizing it as worthy of being mentioned on Memorial Day, that's your right.  Personally, I don't care how many veterans are buried there that died in service.  For those of them that dodged bombs and bullets for us, I appreciate their service and I respect them even more on Memorial Day.

There are nine Medal of Honor winners (six killed in action) out of the 260,000 former service members and spouses who got a free gravesite at Fort Snelling.  But the time to honor all those who served is Veterans Day.  See you in November.  Try to avoid just one day of boozy humor then.  

For Memorial Day, all across the country Veterans Organizations, Boy Scouts, and others place flags in front of the tombstones and grave markers of all veterans. God bless them all.

You assumed correctly.