Memorial Day (2011)

Actors: Charles Hubbell (actor), James Cromwell (actor), Joel Thingvall (miscellaneous crew), Jonathan Bennett (actor), Punnavith Koy (actor), Punnavith Koy (miscellaneous crew), Emily Fradenburgh (actress), Brianna Deihl (miscellaneous crew), Joel Edwards (actor), Aaron Courteau (actor), Paul Hartwig (composer), Luis John Soria (actor), John Cromwell (actor), Steven Luke (actor), Jasper Morgan (actor),

Plot: Memorial Day, 1993. When 13-year-old Kyle Vogel discovers the World War II footlocker belonging to his grandfather, Bud, everyone tells Kyle to put it back. Luckily, he ignores them. Although Bud has never talked about the war, he finds himself striking a deal with his grandson: Kyle can pick any three souvenirs, and Bud will tell him the stories behind each one. Memorial Day not only takes us on a journey into Bud's complicated wartime past, but also into Kyle's wartime future. As the two men share parallel experiences in combat, they come to realize how that magical day on the porch shaped both of their lives.

Keywords: 1944, 82nd-airborne, army, army-national-guard, farmhouse, germany, helicopter, infantry, insurgent, iraq
Genres: Action, Drama, History, War,
Taglines: Two generations. Two wars. One story.

Quotes:

Young Kyle Vogel: It's Memorial Day.::Bud Vogel: You're damn straight it is.::Young Kyle Vogel: What am I supposed to remember?

Bud Vogel: You know, some people say we're different from other animals. I didn't used to believe it. Now I do. Wanna know why?::Young Kyle Vogel: Yeah.::Bud Vogel: Because we can do one thing they can't. Kill at a distance.

Lt. Kelly Tripp: The strictest rules in any family are the ones never spoken, right?::SSGT. Kyle Vogel: Yes ma'am.::Lt. Kelly Tripp: So why push it?::SSGT. Kyle Vogel: You gotta know the rules in order to break 'em, right ma'am?

Moises Aguilar: You think migraines are a sign of weakness, don't want anyone to know, right? Ibuprofen, Sergeant, won't kill you.::SSGT. Kyle Vogel: [accepts pills] Figured that our on your own, huh?::Moises Aguilar: I used to get them too.::SSGT. Kyle Vogel: What stopped it?::Moises Aguilar: You feel pain, means you're still alive. Once I figured that out, I stopped feeling pain.

Lieutenant Bud Vogel: [letter to parents] Although it's a danger we all willing face, so soldier wishes to meet his end on the field of battle. Yet offered two paths, would gladly choose death in the name of justice on the last day before victory, over life in the grip of tyranny. Your son could not choose his time to die, but rest assured on his life, he chose to server the cause of justice. Justice will prevail.

Bud Vogel: People wonder if leaders are born, or made. All I know is, you can see it in a man's eyes. The problem is, leaders end up where they're needed most, and eventually, that's war.

Bud Vogel: Stories live forever. But only if you tell them.

[last lines]::Bud Vogel: You know why I like birds so much? They don't just talk the stories, they sing them.

Bud Vogel: Fogel.::Young Kyle Vogel: Pardon?::Bud Vogel: [in German] Fogel bedeutet Vogel auf Deutsch. [translating] Fogel means bird in German. Bet you didn't know that.::Young Kyle Vogel: Oh... Is that Why you hate them so much?::Bud Vogel: I expect.

Bud Vogel: Dear Kylie, my old head can't hold too much anymore but, today, a whole lot came flooding back into it. You might remember this afternoon as just another Saturday at Opa's farmhouse. It wasn't. I've never liked the word "souvenirs", but I guess that's what they are. Shards of memory, shrapnel. You take them to help you remember. What you don't count on is they don't let you forget. Pain. Happiness. Friendship. Death. Smells of diesel and dead animals. Eating meals within arm's length of corpses. Men you laughed with a day before. People wonder if leaders are born or made. All I know is, you can see it in a man's eyes. Problem is, leaders end up where they're needed most. And eventually, that's war. You're special Kylie. I hope you know that. I always have. But I need you to stay strong. People look to guys like us to make decisions. If you do wear the uniform one day, remember something, when you put it on, you don't get to choose the war or what happens when you get there. There's no right or wrong in combat. Here's only what you did. You do your best, and you try to live with it. Some day they'll take me off this porch for good. When that happens, what's left that matters? Photographs, letters, empty clothes? No. It's the stories behind them, those are what matter. Stories live forever, but only if you tell them. I may sound like I've known this a long time. I didn't know it until today. I just wanted to say thank you for teaching me that. It was one hell of a souvenir. Love, Opa. P.S. Know why I like birds so much? They don't just talk their stories, they sing them.