Fellow Veterans

[njnomad]

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~José Narosky

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~Maya Angelou

Best wishes to all of you. :)

[jamesdunn]

Veteran's Day is a special day. I will pause and reflect and give thanks to those who have served, past and present. Some of whom gave all. I celebrate all my fellow veterans.

[Semper_Fi]

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/Semper_Fi_LR/salute_flag_alt.jpg

[martinPH]

Today is Remembrance Day around the world, Please stop at the 11th hour to give thanks to all those who gave their lives so that we can live as we so please.
Martin.
:ca

[sddaniel]

To my fellow brothers,

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." Winston Churchill

2 are my Son a Marine, and my future son in law also a Marine.

My thanks to all who have served.

[Motor31]

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made so and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873


Happy Veterans Day to all my Brothers and Sisters in arms, past and present. :usa

[Statdawg]

Thank you to all those that served their country and the families and loved ones that supported them.

:ca:usa

[knary]

Thank you

[KGT1200]

Twice this week, I have walked up to two different vets; one who is one of our new business owners who rents an office space for his company, and the other a vet of the Korean War, and had that declaration on his bumper sticker.

I said thanks with all my heart in doing what they did in my name and in essence by "our" signature, and shook their hands. These guys fought, risked their lives for us, regardless of the politcal, regardless of was the war "right"or "wrong" their service and millions like them deserve our utmost respect, especially on this day.

Thank you!

[Brown71]

I offer a salute to all my Brother's and Sister's in uniform and to all that have served before me!

Have a quiet Veteran's Day! :usa

Scott

[MCMXCIVRS]

Today is Remembrance Day around the world, Please stop at the 11th hour to give thanks to all those who gave their lives so that we can live as we so please.
Martin.
:ca

Just home from laying a wreath at the ceremony at the Memorial Cenotaph dowtown. Vey good turnout, both civilian and uniformed. Good to see that. :ca

[womanridge]

I posted this awhile back, but thought it appropriate again today. It is taken from my fathers WWII diary, as he sat offshore waiting, On D-Day.

The night of June 5-6th, 1944, English Channel:
"We are now on the Liberty ship and are packed like sardines. The only food is K-rations consisting of hard tack and one can of meat, gum, cigarettes and coffee. There seems to be thousands of boats awaiting the signal"
June 6th, 1944
"The invasion started at 4:30 this morning. We are just off the beach about 10 miles - the noise is terrifying and the flack very heavy. The resistance is strong. May not get in tomorrow as planned".
June 7th, 1944
"My birthday and also the day we were suppose to hit shore but the fighting is still going strong. We have been shelling the gun emplacements all night. The Jerry (Germans) have been strafing and it’s a helpless feeling to sit in the hold while they take pokes on us".
June 8th, 1944
"Some of us got off the boat and had to wade in water waist deep to get to shore. There are dozens of vehicles that broke down or were hit in the water."*

Never saw this journal until he died in 1972 and never really thanked him for what he did for our country, when he was alive.

[Muriel]

A lot of our citizens have given a lot over the past 233 years while serving our country; some gave their all. Thank you to all who served. It is sad that so many people take your gifts for granted, but reassuring that some gratefully realize what you've done.

Muriel

[dancogan]

... It is taken from my fathers WWII diary, as he sat offshore waiting, On D-Day...
Karen, that's incredible stuff. I'd love to hear more of what he wrote, if you don't mind sharing. You've got to be proud of a father was part of that generation!

[tourunigo]

After talking with my parents, who live in Maine, I was struck by the differences experienced by them and me on this day. We call it Rememberance Day while the U.S. calls it Veterans Day. I told them that I have been wearing the traditional poppie (a Flanders Field symbol) in the days leading up to this special day. They only found pathetic examples of the same State-Side. I flipped around the news stations: In Canada we see various rememberance ceremonies, parades, memorials and discussions/stories. The U.S. stations have the same every day dribble. Of course, I have no direct link to the many U.S. links that could provide information contrary to my observation but I can't help but conclude that this day seems to have a particular reverance in both Canada and Britain that the U.S. public media does not replicate.

Thanks for this thread. It is a departure from my broader observation. - Bob

[rblethen]

Have a peaceful Veterans day. Semper-Fi.

[womanridge]

Karen, that's incredible stuff. I'd love to hear more of what he wrote, if you don't mind sharing. You've got to be proud of a father was part of that generation!

PM sent

[Brownie]

Thanks to all who posted on this Veterans' Day thread, Semper Fi to my Marine Brothers!!

Shep Brown , USMC 1970-90

[njnomad]

Thanks to all of you who posted on this Veteran's Day thread. I got teary eyed reading a couple of posts. Now that this one day to commemorate our veterans is over, just something to keep in mind....

"it should be noted that veterans constitute as much as 25 percent of America's homeless population. The Veterans Administration has recently announced a $3 billion plan to help the more than 100,000 homeless veterans. For those who have served since September 2001, the unemployment rate is nearly double that of other veterans." AOL News - Veteran's Day

[bunkyone]

Hey all; Saw something neat on Veterans day: We had attended a Veterans day ceremony at the local cemetery and had stopped at a local fast food place for lunch. We had just sat down to pray, when in walked the color guard that had been at the ceremony. These young men were Marines, in their dress blues and not one was over 25. They were greeted by a round of applause that went on for over a minute, and were treated like the hero's that they are. Turns out that they were local men, home on pre-deployment leave and were asked to fill in for the usual VFW color guard that was committed elsewhere. Very heart warming and moving. We need to realize that this country is only free because of kids (I use that term only because I am a border line curmudgeon) are willing to put it all on the line for us. Remember the men and women who serve and have served. Vaya con Dios, Dutch

[jamesdunn]

Hey all; Saw something neat on Veterans day: We had attended a Veterans day ceremony at the local cemetery and had stopped at a local fast food place for lunch. We had just sat down to pray, when in walked the color guard that had been at the ceremony. These young men were Marines, in their dress blues and not one was over 25. They were greeted by a round of applause that went on for over a minute, and were treated like the hero's that they are. Turns out that they were local men, home on pre-deployment leave and were asked to fill in for the usual VFW color guard that was committed elsewhere. Very heart warming and moving. We need to realize that this country is only free because of kids (I use that term only because I am a border line curmudgeon) are willing to put it all on the line for us. Remember the men and women who serve and have served. Vaya con Dios, Dutch

We were all young men when we served. I was 17 when I entered boot camp. 21 when I was discharged as a grizzled veteran. Imagine that ,"grizzled" at 21. Wars are fought by young men. Some who never grow old. As you note, we owe them all a debt of gratitude. (The women too!)

[njnomad]

We were all young men when we served. I was 17 when I entered boot camp. 21 when I was discharged as a grizzled veteran. Imagine that ,"grizzled" at 21. Wars are fought by young men. Some who never grow old. As you note, we owe them all a debt of gratitude. (The women too!)

We were young once...in battle.

Another time...another world.

So sad.