I'll start with a couple of mine. I cried at the WW-II Memorial when I saw a very young, black NPS Ranger crying over her grandfathers service and death. I was so proud to represent the US Navy Submarine Service at the flag lowering at Mount Rushmore when the Ranger conducting the ceremony called us to the stage to lower our National Flag. I was so proud of my fraternal brother from the Masonic Family when I visited the Modern Graveyard at Gettysburg and saw the Masonic Memorial to the Brothers who served and died there and the improvements made to the graveyard by my Brother Masons. I blushed when I visited the Submarine Memorial for those of us who served in the Submarine Missile Forces during the Cold War.I blush, cry and my heart swells every time I salute with pride at my Grandsons BSA Troop Flag Ceremony.

The dignity that I witnessed when my father, a WWII veteran who served in the South Pacific on Guadalcanal, was laid to rest at Fort Logan still wells me up. I do not remember much after hearing the words spoken by the Lieutenant Colonel of the Honor Guard: "On behalf of a grateful nation..." Still tough to reminisce about it, let alone type it.I was never in combat in my time with the Corp, but my heartfelt respect goes out to all persons who saw battle. My dad spoke very little of what he saw and the only time I ever saw him tear up was the one time when I asked him if he ever had to kill. As serious as I have ever seen him was when he almost broke down stating that it "was either him or me."I am so proud of my father, a child of the Depression who served with honor and dignity makes me proud with tear filled eyes when I remember him.Any military cemetery, with is precision of markers wherever it may be makes me proud to be an American citizen....thanks for asking and letting me share this with you.

Blushing? A beach outside Oaks Bluff, MV. The memory involves my ex husband and am eternally content I'm no longer "dinged" for his behavior. Sorry his children can't say that though:). Cried as I threw a wreath of flowers in the water as I passed through the Panama Canal on a cruise ship. Both of my grandfathers worked to build it and lost friends and family members during the construction. My paternal grandfather lied about his age to get a job there and in the decades to come had no problem admitting he sobbed for his mother at the beginning of his employment. Pride? In my home. Currently proud that 2 members of the next generation have recently achieved personal goals that would make their ancestors happy.

The Law Enforcement Memorial in DC. Several names of friends and co-workers listed. Hard to keep it together when I am there... and even thinking about it.

Vietnam Veteran's Wall of Honor. It tears me up every time I see it. It really brings home the cost of war when you see the names of all those that died in service.

Watching the Parade of Ships and the Blue Angels during Fleet Week in San Francisco. It's an awesome sight and it makes me proud of our men and women in service to our nation.

What place has made you Blush, cry, make you proud...?

kickstart
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Choked up twice,I was the director of our local legion riders went to a town having a ceremony for vets lost in the last year,one lost was active duty k I A, DW has a business and one of the things she sells is names and their meanings, she made one up for the young man who was lost and his family requested I read it at the ceremony,had a hard time getting through it,
The other time about 15,000 bikers escorted beams and columns from the W T C from the Indiana Ohio state line to Indianapolis, the people lined up on the over passes and lined up on entrance ramps and pulled over on the freeway put a lump in my throat
tdiller
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Yesterday my son, my wife, my granddaughter, and I were at the Wisconsin State Fair. It was military appreciation day. They have a parade in the afternoon. We were sitting in the shade and my son and I and him carrying his 8 week old daughter were standing up to watch as a group of veterans walked by they called us out to join them. As this parade wandered through the state fair park we called other veterans to join us in the parade. A newly minted Marine in uniform joined us, a few older VietNam vets. Some guys in wheel chairs that we pushed others who couldn't walk much joined for a short while as they were able. Uniformed forces from the different branches in front and behind us. Crowds cheering as we went along. Probably about 100 veterans of all branches total. All of us with one thing in common. We all served.

Veterans Day at the local high school. You see they do not give the kids a day off by me. Instead they invite veterans to come into the auditorium and talk to the kids. Sometimes it is and open thing where the veterans tell of their time in service other times it is more formal with a panel of students interviewing the vets.
My wish was that I could get my dad (Korea), myself and my two kids both veterans, all on that stage together. Unfortunately my father passed before we could make that happen.
murphysranch
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
I've teared up reading these posts. Thank you to all of you and your families.

My Daddy: 30 years Air Force; WW2, Korean, Vietnam and many years of service.
Gjac
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2016
Cried, standing on the Arizona in HI watching the oil still coming out after all those years. Blushed, at the night ceremony at Mt Rushmore when they called all veterans up on stage to state name and years you served and branch of service. Sad, when I got out of the Navy in 1971 and a philosophy professor called me a baby killer on my first day of class. Mad, to think the universities still let these guys teach and influence our young kids.
JW_of_Opechee_S
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
The world War II Museum in New Orleans is so moving it is hard to not be emotionally moved. I would have to say the same for Gettysburg, Jamestown, Vicksburg, Washington DC's War Memorials or any of the other battlefields we haw had the opportunity to visit. After all of those though I would say that I could not be moved more than I have been by the 911 Memorial where innocent citizens lost there life's in the name of Freedom.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2016
Blush
Visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial & Museum
AT the time we had to go ashore in Dress Blues
Several Grade Schools where also touring at the time.......

Proud
Night time ceremony at Mount Rushmore on stage representing US NAVY

Erie
Standing at the simple memorial at Custer's Last Stand and looking down across the battlefield.

Sad
Visiting Camp Sumter (Andersonville) in addition to the National POW Museum

Cry/tear up
Those heart felt interactions between Dad/Son, Mom/child, toddler/pet, stranger/stranger ----anytime someone gives of themselves w/o expecting anything
Marine_By_Choic
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Ground Zero at the Twin Towers, and any time the national anthem or the Marine's Hymn is played. All make my eyes leak a little.

When I won a national sales contest over about 10,000 other sales reps made me proud.
AJBert
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
The first time I re-enlisted one of my Sailors and her husband on the Arizona Memorial with my wife in attendance.

It was an honor to be the re-enlisting officer, proud of the two Sailors, blushed when I saw the way my wife was looking at me and let a tear or two go knowing the place we were in.
WishWeWereCampi
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
Watching the Parade of Ships and the Blue Angels during Fleet Week in San Francisco. It's an awesome sight and it makes me proud of our men and women in service to our nation.
Bob_Shaw
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
Vietnam Veteran's Wall of Honor. It tears me up every time I see it. It really brings home the cost of war when you see the names of all those that died in service.