Herman Cranman was just 20 years old when he served in the United States Air Force during WWII and was captured after his plane went down in a forest. Herman remained a prisoner of war (POW) through his 21st birthday and found hope through care packages sent by the Red Cross.
Herman’s son, Roy, described the Red Cross parcels of food, chocolates, hygiene products, and other items as one of the only joys of his existence during this time. On his birthday, other members of the POW camp made a cake for him out of dental powder so he could blow out a candle.
After Herman was liberated from the camp in 1945, he returned home and married his sweetheart, Helen. Sadly, Herman passed away in 2017 and Helen in 2022, but their family shares his story with the American Red Cross of Georgia to remind others of how small acts of kindness can leave a lasting impact.
On this Veterans Day, I wanted to share my gratitude and thoughts those fellow Americans serving to keep us all safe.
I never served in the military myself, which I now deeply regret. My grandfathers and their brothers all fought in either the First World War or the Second World War. We should always be grateful for the sacrifices they made. Their service has led to the longest period of peace we have enjoyed.
Today, we have military personnel stationed in hundreds of places around the world in hot zones and potential flashpoints, putting their lives at risk to keep the peace and act as a deterrent. The job they do day in and day out, the risks they take on our behalf so that we and our families may enjoy safety and peace, should be valued as the highest form of public service.
I'm not particularly eager to get political on my posts. Still, in this context, I will say that one Senator's holding up 100's military promotions to make a political point unrelated to the military, must stop. Senator Tuberville is putting our national security and preparedness at risk at the very point we face massive national security issues in the Ukraine, in the Middle East, and with China. But just as importantly, the Senator's actions are causing extensive and unnecessary personal hardships for military families. On this Veteran's day, we should look for ways to make military families' lives easier not harder. Senator: find another way to make your political points and stop using military families as pawns.
3 Facts Most People Don’t Know About Memorial Day
1. While many people know that Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember those who have died in military service to the United States, not everyone is aware of its origins. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was first observed after the Civil War to commemorate Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the conflict. It officially became a federal holiday in 1971.
2. In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, which asks Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a moment of silence to remember and honor the fallen. This moment of remembrance is a way to unite the nation in honoring the sacrifices of those who have served and died in the military.
3. When Memorial Day was first established as a national holiday in 1971, it was set to be observed on May 30th each year. However, in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, which moved the observance of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. This change was made to create a three-day weekend for federal employees and to encourage the development of long weekends for the American workforce.
Hello my fellow LinkedIn Peeps!!!
I know that we are all excited for this Memorial Day Weekend and that extra day off is awesome BUT remember why we have it. While you are having fun grilling and eating 🍔🌭be sure to take a moment to honor the soldiers who died while serving our nation.
🔔 5 Things To Remember This Weekend 🔔
1️⃣ Don’t wish anyone a “Happy Memorial Day” - This is not Christmas but rather a somber day to honor and respect those who gave all to serve their country.
2️⃣ Don’t thank the current troops - While they absolutely deserve respect and gratitude every day of the year, this day is set aside specifically for America’s fallen warriors from every war. America’s veterans are honored during November on Veteran’s Day when we aim to remember and appreciate the sacrifices of all veterans.
3️⃣ Don’t disregard its importance - Though discounts abound for nearly everything from cars to furniture to pool supplies, that’s not what the holiday is about. When we focus only on the backyard barbecues or discounts on refrigerators, we allow the true meaning to become lost. Particularly when the country has perpetually been at war for the last 16 years, this isn’t something we can allow to happen.
Grill some amazing steaks, and find the perfect mattress on sale, just don’t forget to raise a glass in honor of those servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
4️⃣ Don’t forget it exists - Even worse than allowing the day to become synonymous with deep discounts and potato salad, is letting it slip from the public’s mind completely. When it becomes simply a highly-anticipated extra morning of sleeping in, instead of the day of reflection and appreciation it was meant to be, we disrespect our fallen troops.
5️⃣ Don’t let politics keep you from rendering respect - Even if you don’t agree with the idea of war, or the reasons America goes to war, or the policies of a particular president who was the Commander in Chief during a specific war, it doesn’t matter. People have defended the people and interests of America for over 200 years, and your right to disagree with the reasons for war should be separate from your opinion of the troops themselves.
LearningWithoutScars.org * Contributor * Business Development as the Director of Specialized Transportation & Logistics *
* Teaching about the Politics of Business and the Business of Politics *
YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS HE SAID IT NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE SAYS "FAKE NEWS"!
Welcome to the Ultimate Showdown: Conning Conundrum Syndrome vs. Trump Derangement Syndrome!
In one corner, we have... Conning Conundrum Syndrome (CCS)!
- Symptoms: Unshakable loyalty, denial reflex, and the blame game shuffle. Victims insist they haven't been conned by Trump and Putin, despite overwhelming evidence that could make a blindfolded jury shout "Guilty!"
And in the other corner, we have... Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)!
- Symptoms: Uncontrollable eye-rolling at the mention of Trump, spontaneous fits of fact-checking, and an intense urge to debunk every tweet. Accused sufferers vehemently oppose Trump, sometimes with a fervor that rivals a sports fan during the playoffs.
CCS - "Conning Conundrum Syndrome" is like having a GPS that stubbornly refuses to recalibrate. You're headed for a cliff, but it keeps saying, "Turn right in 100 feet." You’re convinced the destination is glorious, but spoiler alert: it’s a steep drop into reality.
TDS - "Trump Derangement Syndrome" is like having a highly sensitive radar that detects every single Trump-related blip, no matter how small. You’re hyper-aware of every move, comment, and typo, often resulting in high blood pressure and a sudden urge to tweet.
Denial vs. Obsession
- CCS: "No way, Trump’s perfect!"
- TDS: "No way, Trump’s terrible!"
Blame Game vs. Blame Flame
- CCS: "What about those emails?"
- TDS: "What about that tax return?"
Loyalty vs. Paranoia
- CCS: "Trump could do no wrong."
- TDS: "Trump can do no right."
The Hilarious Hypocrisy:
- CCS sufferers are like fans at a magic show, utterly convinced that the magician’s tricks are real, while TDS sufferers are the skeptics yelling, "I see the wires!"
- CCS Remedy: "Come on, admitting you've been conned isn't that bad. Think of it like realizing the magician pulls rabbits out of hats, not thin air."
- TDS Remedy: "Hey, take a breath. Sometimes it’s okay to let a tweet pass by without a full investigation. Not every blip is a bombshell."
In the grand scheme of things, both CCS and TDS could use a little bit of perspective, a dash of humor, and a lot less stress. After all, life’s too short to be stuck in a syndrome, right?
So, whether you’re staunchly defending or constantly critiquing, remember to laugh along the way. Because in the end, we’re all just trying to navigate this crazy world, one conundrum at a time.
Band Leader, bass guitarist, vocalist, songwriter at Deep River, Asheville's Premier Country Vocal Group
FROM THE INTERSECTION:
HAPPY SUCKERS & LOSERS DAY👹
(That’s an absolutely horrible thing to say on Memorial Day, or any day, isn’t it⁉️But that’s how Trump described Americans severely injured or killed in combat per his then Chief-of-Staff, General John Kelly, USMC👺)
“A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them,'" Kelly said of Trump. "A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’ A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family — for all Gold Star families — on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France.”
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, honors and remembers U.S. military personnel who died in service. It reflects on the cost of freedom and fosters national unity through public and private commemorations. Originating after the Civil War as Decoration Day, it evolved to honor all fallen military personnel, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.
🌟 Memorial Day Sale Alert! 🌟
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Creator of Soul School Music with Marshall Thompson of The Chi-Lites
KNOW YOUR HISTORY:
Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May, 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for 2 weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 Black children where they marched, sang and celebrated.
Origins: The custom of holding observances (including the laying of flowers on burial sites) to remember and honor those who gave their lives in military service goes back many hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In the United States, that custom has long since been formalized in the creation of Memorial Day (formerly known as Decoration Day), a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Traditionally, every year the President of the United States (or, in his absence, another high-ranking government official) visits Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day to honor all those Americans who have died in military service to their country by participating in a symbolic wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
From Brother Roo…🙏🏼😔🫡🫡🫡🫡🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🫵
We veterans do take this very seriously:
Here's some ground rules for this weekend:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial Day! There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It's not a holiday, it's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA or local Veterans Cemetery.
4. Don't talk to me how great any one political power is. Talk to me about Eugene Ashley, Brian Bucher, Nate Chapman, John Levitow, Jon Mills, Mitch Nelson, Chris Kyle, Neil Roberts, John Chapman, Robert Miller and countless other of our Special Forces heroes too numerous to name who made the ultimate sacrifice. Attend a Bell Ceremony, Roll Call or any other type and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about, I have carried the burden all too many times for Warriors who now stand their post with God.
6. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
7. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in "peace".
One more thing, as a Veteran, when you come together, when you have that BBQ, before you eat, circle up and say a prayer. Raise a glass to your Brothers and Sisters that are gone. Then you don't say a word. After that, eat and enjoy each others company.
"Unwavering Bonds of Sacrifice: The leadership tale of compassion and faithfulness"
Wu Ch'i, was an ancient and renowned military general, did not merely command his troops; unlike many leaders who remained distant, Wu Ch'i chose to live alongside his soldiers, sharing in their struggles and hardships.
When a soldier under his command suffered from an abscess infected by a deadly, life-threatening virus, Wu Ch'i did not hesitate. He personally sucked out the poison to alleviate his comrade's pain, and gradually, the soldier recovered.
Now, here comes the heart-wrenching part. When the soldier’s mother heard about the incident, instead of becoming happy at her son's recovery, she began wailing and lamenting.
When asked why by the people, she revealed a touching history. Years ago, General Wu Ch'i had performed a similar act for her husband. Since then, her husband remained by the general's side until he sacrificed his life on the battlefield; her husband never left the general alone.
Now, General Wu Ch'i performed the same act of kindness with her son. She now believes that her son will surely never leave General Wu Ch'i alone unless he sacrifices his life, just as her husband did. The grief was revealed by the woman, saying, "I’ll surely lose my son the way I lost my husband."
leadership isn't just about giving orders; it's about forging connections, displaying empathy, and making sacrifices for the greater good.
Content courtesy by book The Art of war by Sun Tzu
#theartofwar#mondaythoughts#leadershipmindset#servantleadership#chinesetradition#booklovers#peoplefirstculture
Active volunteer with the school marching band, PTA and public library. Adult member of Girl Scouts.
2wIt's the thought that counts the most .❤️