Mike, As National President of the Armed Forces E9 Association please thank your son for me to have served our country in the highest tradition as those that have gone before him. If only our country would think more about being Americans rather than becoming more and more diversified with ethnic groups wanting to change this country to their liking, our beloved America would be better off. My opinion. I support our troops and veterans all the time. It not only my volunteer job but my responsibility as aveteran to do so. I pray each day for our troops and their families. God bless thm all.

Tell your son that I am Very proud of him and I want to thank him very much for his service to our country. God Bless him and all the rest of our troops where ever they are and may God watch over them and get them back to us as soon as possible in one piece.

HE

Welcome back home Steven Holt, Job well done! Thank You for serving our country.

Linda, Along with "most" of the people here, I would like to thank your son and your relatives for their service to our country.

And thank you and Mike for this web site where we can learn so much about the electrical industry as well as the important things in life!

It's great to hear positive comments. Keep up the great work.

God Bless Your son, all the Veterans, & The USA.

Navy Aviations Electricians Mate 1st.Class 1952 -56

Memorial Day Order Traditional observance Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each gravesite at National Cemeteries. Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other people who have died.

Another way would be to mail a check to: USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, Inc. Philadelphia International Airport Terminal A-East Philadelphia, PA 19153 215-365-8010 or go to http://www.libertyuso.org/donate/

To some degree over the span of our lifetime we all mistakenly take our freedom for granted. We are not always in agreement on how and what we must do to protect it but we always call on the same people to defend it when becomes necessary. Lets support them when we can. Jim Wescott

(For the interesting history read "Memorial Day" on Wikipedia) Please feel free to send this to your friends!

Linda I feel the same way. It's definitely the day to remember not only loved ones but especially the military during times like these. I'm glad your son made it back ok!.

Congatulations to you and Mike for raising such a fine family. I was driving Mike to BWI airport when he told me of Steven's enlistment. Wow, that was five years ago! How time flies. I know the pride you both feel. Our daughter has been serving for just over nine years and just reenlisted for four more. I could go on and on about her service. To all that serve, have served, and their families, may God bless. Ed

THANKS TO ALL THAT HAVE SERVED, ARE SERVING NOW AND WILL SERVE IN THE FUTURE TO PROTECT US, OUR FREEDOM AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YOUR FAMILIES.

Thank you so very much to all the Veterans that have served. I am honored to join the ranks with those of you that know that freedom is not free at all. Thank you for everything that you sacrificed so that I was able to serve in the same foot prints that you left behind. Throughout the strands of time it will always be known that men and women of this country will stand for what they believe in. I am proud to say that I stood in the place of my forefathers to protect the rights of our freedom. Thank you and happy Memorial Day.

I see your son has his dolphins, congrats on that. Whats his rate? Here where I live (Bremerton) we have the nations largest armed forces celebration on Armed Forces Day (last saturday). There were two WWII vets who walked the entire parade route and got standing ovations. I served 6 years in the Navy Nuclear Power Program, the best thing that I have ever done.

I'm proud of all the men and women who have served and who are serving to protect our freedom now. I had served in the Seabees from 81-87 and am proud of all that are part of an only volunteer service. YES folks, if you didn't know the Great USA is the only VOLUNTEER military in the world! Thanks to all and GOD BLESS AMERICA. Rick

Dear Mike, To your page: Why we Celebrate Memorial Day. I am very happy to correspond with people like you, and your family. We escape from communist Czechoslovakia after we survived bloody revolution in 1968 and deep oppression between 1977 and 1982. I am very proud to be American citizen and very happy to have new home here. We celebrate Memorial Day as you do, and we are very proud of our boys, who are fighting for our freedom. But last half of year we have more problems then as you called “This country may have its faults”. Some politic try to build new regime, what I call Mix of socialisms and fascisms. We have to make sure that never happened. Or. one nice day in the future our children or grant children will have the same destiny as my family, and have to run. My son Jan Rehacek wrote book about our escape from CZ. The book is about our way to west, as how saw it 10 year old boy. The name of the book is “The Long Escape” and is available on www.amazon.com . Sincerely Joe

Thank you Mrs. Holt for YOUR sacrifices. This from a proud former Sergeant of Marines who served with the 1st Marine Division, Republic of Vietnam, 1969-1970.

I remember my tour in S.E. Asia in the Air Force in 70-71. Our return home through Los Angeles was uneventful. Not at all like the folks up in Maine who come to the airport to greet the soldiers and airmen returning from the Middle East. I believe it is in Bangor, Maine. I have seen web reports on it from time to time.

Still, I am proud to have served and I am also proud to have had 2 sons serve. Dan has decided to remain in the Air Force and has served for 15 years now. He has visited the Middle East 3 times and is due to return next fall.

Though we may not always agree with our foreign policies, we must never hold those who wear the uniform responsible for them. We sleep soundly at night because our men and women in uniform have chosen to defend freedom wherever they must go.

Most young people would benefit from a term of military service. The few other vets I work with are all much older than me. Even fewer younger people serve. In my father's and grandfather's generations (the two world wars) it was considered remarkable if you weren't a vet. Today it's remarkable if you are.

I know what you are going through Mike. My brother Andrew is in the Navy as well and you really look at Memorial Day and every other day as well through different eyes and it really makes you think. What your son stephen and every other family who has a loved in the Military goes through at difficult times. God Bless you, your wife and your son stephen.

God Bless

Memorial Day needs to serve as much more than just another day off from work. Too many Americans gave their lives so we could be enjoying the freedoms we have. Their families also paid a high price. My grandparents lost both their sons in the serviceand this had a huge effect on them, as can be imagined. Uncle Ronnie was a B-17 co-pilot killed by flak on a mission over Germany. Uncle Johnny served as a navigator on a recon plane in Korea and as a co-pilot/navigator on a B-57 bomber. He was killed during a training flight almost exactly 10 years afer his brother. Neither one was forced to join the service, but did so willingly. Aside from the grief my grandparents experienced, we missed having 2 uncles and more cousins. Freedom doesn't come cheaply. We need to remember that and honor those who served and, particularly, those who didn't come home.

What does this have to do with electrical field. Please don't put non electrical bs out. All you are doing is supporting a group that conducted genocide, biological warfare and still operates as an occupational force. And I am not talking about the middle east.

Well put! Todd Lincoln Baghdad, Iraq.

USMC Veteran, 11yrs, Son, USMC Veteran 8 years, Daughter and son-in-law, USAF Veterans, 6 years each, Son-in-law, Iraq Veteran Bronze Star, Dad Army Veteran Korea, Brother USAF Veteran Desert Storm, 4 years. God Bless our veterans. Remember those who gave all, because all of us gave some.

Linda, Both you and Mike are so blessed to have not only a handsome son, but one who has the courage to stand up for the freedoms of each of us Americans. I too come from a long line of military personnel from my grandpa to my dad, my brothers and even one of my sisters. Now it's a new generation and I have my little niece in the Air Force, along with countless of cousins and nephews across the military lines. Despite the faults of our country, yes, we are so blessed to have these young souls defend our FREEDOM each and everyday. Happy Memorial Day and I keep on praying for the safety of our troops and those who have laid down their lives for each of us! ~Ms. Bora~

AMEN

Out here in San Francisco, being patriotic won't win you any friends. When I see the Navy ships come in on occasion, I cringe, hoping that my fellow San Francisian's will treat them with the respect they deserve. I try and pass on to my kids and nephews that they should be thankful that others have sacrificed so much so that they can enjoy the freedom we all enjoy. hopefully some of it will sink in.

I share your sentiments about the imperfections and the greatness of this country. As far as it being a great country forever, I don't think that's something any of us should take as Gospel. Our ancestors MADE this a great country and we and future generations have inherited the OPPORTUNITY to have a great country, not the entitlement of a great country.

God bless those who have served for doing their part to keep this country great. I hope that we and future generations will be willing to make the sacrifices to keep it that way.

Happy memorial Day to all.

I watched the video nad i was so impressed ,so God bless your familly Linda and Mike .

With respect,thank you for all Emails. IOAN.

God Bless You and Your Family. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your family serving our country and protecting us. We do have a country to be very thankful for. Please God continue to Bless America !!!

USNAVY 1952-1973 Diesel boats forever

Thank you

Thank you for this very moving e-mail,you tube, God Bless our troops, our very brave men/women. Thank you, Linda Sabori

Congratulations on your son's safe return and best wishes for a safe Memorial day to all.

Thank you Steven Michael Holt. We are all pround of you and your commitment. Welcome to the world of the Veteran, we are a proud bunch and share your love of this great country. Thanks Jim Wescott

I also served my country with over 26 years in the Coast Guard. I am still serving as a Legionnaire and will be in the Rifle Squad at our Memorial Day Ceremony held at a local cemetery. My dad, granddad and great granddad all retired from the Coast Guard including 5 uncles for a total of 267 combined years. God bless the USA

May God Bless and Keep You for all that you say and do.

Darrell Brightwell St. Albans Riverfest p.o. Box 2191 St. Albans, W.Va. 25177

well said....and thank you to your family as well...

Mike --

Tx., and God Bless you and your family abundantly.

I also pray that God Bless this great and bountiful Nation; but, that He first forgive our sins and help us to turn to His Way.

Regards . . .

Jim

We do appreciate what these younger/older men and women do for us. Just wish there were better ways to solve these conflicts and that the radicals could be contained. The people who are brainwashed into suicide missions are so easily swayed. We have to thank others, too, who try to educate some of the poorer residents of countries who get swept up into the propaganda.

As a USAF veteran I share your sentiments. There are too many in our country who would tear it down and who demean those who defend it. Long live the United States!