Veterans Day 2007
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What he said :thmbsp:
draftingmonkey
AK Monkey
Veterans / Rememberance Day
Lest We Forget (a little history)
November 11 is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World War I after four years of conflict. At 5:00 AM on Monday, November 11, 1918, an order was issued for all firing to cease and the hostilities of the First World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of whistles, impromptu parades, and celebrations around the world.
Each year since, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause to remember the veterans and soldiers who have served, and who continue to serve, the United States and Canada in times of war during the 20th century--the men and women who have died or risked their lives while serving in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marines Corps, the Merchant Navy, the National Guard or Reserves, or with peacekeeping forces.
This year Remembrance/Veterans Day occurs on the weekend. To honor those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom, I encourage you to observe a minute of silence at 11:00 AM Sunday morning.
What Is A Vet?
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg.
- or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She or he is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never saw combat but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket-palsied now and aggravatingly slow who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU."
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
A big thank you to all my fellow vets on both sides of the border for their service
James (USMC 1981-87)
Lest We Forget (a little history)
November 11 is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World War I after four years of conflict. At 5:00 AM on Monday, November 11, 1918, an order was issued for all firing to cease and the hostilities of the First World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of whistles, impromptu parades, and celebrations around the world.
Each year since, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause to remember the veterans and soldiers who have served, and who continue to serve, the United States and Canada in times of war during the 20th century--the men and women who have died or risked their lives while serving in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marines Corps, the Merchant Navy, the National Guard or Reserves, or with peacekeeping forces.
This year Remembrance/Veterans Day occurs on the weekend. To honor those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom, I encourage you to observe a minute of silence at 11:00 AM Sunday morning.
What Is A Vet?
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg.
- or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She or he is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never saw combat but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket-palsied now and aggravatingly slow who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU."
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
A big thank you to all my fellow vets on both sides of the border for their service
James (USMC 1981-87)
jami w.
just being me thats all
this jus brought a tear to my eye
thanks for that, it means alot to me.an would to alot of other veterans also
i didnt serve over seas in ww1 or ww2 but i did serve during operation desert shield
desert storm, during the whole time, i was proud but at the same time scared
wondering if i would ever make it back to the states. i lost my battle buddy,
i was discharged medically, the back of my knee still has shrapnel in it.
it is a reminder of my freedom! i joined up right outta h.s. in 93 served this country proud. all my training an ait was in fort lennardwood mo, i was a very well trained combat enginer.
thanks for that, it means alot to me.an would to alot of other veterans also
i didnt serve over seas in ww1 or ww2 but i did serve during operation desert shield
desert storm, during the whole time, i was proud but at the same time scared
wondering if i would ever make it back to the states. i lost my battle buddy,
i was discharged medically, the back of my knee still has shrapnel in it.
it is a reminder of my freedom! i joined up right outta h.s. in 93 served this country proud. all my training an ait was in fort lennardwood mo, i was a very well trained combat enginer.
Lest We Forget.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae
merrylander
AK Member
Having lived in both Canada and now in the United States I can honestly say that we are honored in having two of the finest fighting forces in this world. God keep you all.
"To honor those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom, I encourage you to observe a minute of silence at 11:00 AM Sunday morning. "
We should also honor those American soldiers who died taking territory from Britian, Mexico, Spain and the Indians. What those soldiers did was every bit as important as "fighting for freedom", nasty wars that needed fighting (well, most of them anyway).
We should also honor those American soldiers who died taking territory from Britian, Mexico, Spain and the Indians. What those soldiers did was every bit as important as "fighting for freedom", nasty wars that needed fighting (well, most of them anyway).
Sandy G
Retired Member
Sitting here sobbing, reading this...Thank You, all Vets & current armed forces, wherever they may be...To guys like George, who was a flying gas jockey for 30 years...To Terry, who fixed radios...To my Lauriann, who served as a nurse, & is still serving vets at the VA now...To all the other AKers who served...Doing little, but VITALLY important things...THANK YOU !!
bigstereo
Super Member
To those that have served.........
Thank you, along with a giant "OOHRAH!!!" to those who gave all, those who gave some, and to my stepson, Marine Sgt. Chris L. wounded in Afghanistan, wounded and received commendation for his heroic action in the Battle for Fallujah. Afterwards, chomping at the bit to go back for more. You are a Marine's Marine Chris. Semper Fi.
Rj
USMC 1976-1984
Thank you, along with a giant "OOHRAH!!!" to those who gave all, those who gave some, and to my stepson, Marine Sgt. Chris L. wounded in Afghanistan, wounded and received commendation for his heroic action in the Battle for Fallujah. Afterwards, chomping at the bit to go back for more. You are a Marine's Marine Chris. Semper Fi.
Rj
USMC 1976-1984
Couldn't have said it better.Remembering those before me and those after.America "Home of the Brave."Salute.:thmbsp:
Dave
draftingmonkey
AK Monkey
Just to lighten things up a bit, I'm a vet who did very little and nothing terribly important.
Though I did manage to train some people who accomplished a hell of a lot and are still serving.
Well, all I can say is BS. Your contribution was/is as important as any others. Without a peacetime military we would not be ready for the next conflict; and without people to train, cloth, cook, transport, resupply, etc., the men who are on the lines wouldn't be able to do their job. Most people don't realize that 90% of the military is the support for the 10% on the front lines.
So guess what, you done good, be proud that the training you offered help someone do their job right which in turns probably helped to save a few lives to.
usedto
Lunatic Member
This morning, I was looking at a few of the nearby towns on CL (all of the nearest ones are too small to have their own listings). For some reason, I clicked on the "free" category for a town about 20 miles from here, and there was an ad for 9 free bags of concrete mix in my town, and it had JUST been posted. We might be putting in a few fence posts that need concrete, so I figured , what the heck, and called the number. The guy who answered the phone was surprised that someone saw the ad that quick, and gave me directions. It was about three miles from me, in one of the newer subdivisions. I know concrete is cheap, and I don't really know why I did it. Well, we load the sacks up, and I notice he is wearing a Marine Corps sweatshirt. I asked, and he had just retired after 20 years of service, and moved here from the San Diego area (Camp Pendleton). The concrete was left over from a back yard project, and he just wanted it gone. His garage was IMMACULATE, and not conducive to storing bags of concrete. I told him that I bought and sold Military (government) surplus, and we had a nice chat about his service, military "stuff", etc. I got my concrete, and left him with my card, a few pairs of surplus hemostats, a flight deck helmet, and an open invitation to come scrounge through my warehouse for memorabilia any time he wants. He accepted the invitation.
Happy Veterans' Day to all past, present, and future vets. Thank You!:thmbsp:
Happy Veterans' Day to all past, present, and future vets. Thank You!:thmbsp:
