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Check out which brave stars have put their life on the line and served our country in the military.
5/31/2010 4:30 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
Stars Who've Served
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Reader Comments
(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments1.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO POST ON SITES SUCH AS THESE BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO DIED FOR THIS COUNTRY GAVE ME THAT RIGHT.
ALL OF THE SERVICE-MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE, COME HOME SAFE
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2.
Do some research TMZ--Memorial Day is about honoring those who DIED in serving their country, not just for all veterns. Veterns Day, in November, is for all veterns, but actually focuses on living vets.
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3.
what saddens me, there are no 'stars' of now - a whole generation of stars?? And, it is not just to honor the dead, it's to honor all - there are many articles about Memorial Day, some should read them - be safe.
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4.
This is a shocking commentary that TMZ can only find 13 people
among all the 1000's of celebrities, hangers on & worthless famous men who served in our military that they report on!
There has got to be more!
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5.
The day honors all vets. Whether or not celebs. One thing about it. You won't ever find those so called journalists on fox news channel among any vets.
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6.
Real heroes are the ones who were'nt drafted, aint famous and don't talk about their heroics.
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7.
The anti-American, racist Fox Nooz channel employs war veterans? Since when? LMAO
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9.
You've got to be joking, Elvis got a " plum " stationing in Germany. More to the point, who actually served in combat?
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10.
Mr. Arness US Army (3rd Infantry, WWII, wounded at Anzio, Italy)
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11.
Please America, say that there are more who served our country among the rich & famous!
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12.
Fellow TMZ readers, please join me in NOT commenting under any Lindsay Lohan stories in the hopes that TMZ will take the hint and realize we're sick of hearing about her.
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14.
Wow! Instead of Pat Tillman "looks good in any uniform" how about "he gave his life for his country!!! Nice caption TMZ!
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15.
Susie is right - Memorial Day is for fallen soldiers (but thank your living vets today anyway for their service):
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:
The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as cir***stances may permit.
During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.
This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that had taken place in the three years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Miss.; Macon, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Boalsburg, Pa.; and Carbondale, Ill.
In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.
By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)
Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.
Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day.
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