Veterans Day fast approaching

424newbie · Nov 11, 2011

Sorry bout your parade being cancelled due to outside factors. Personally I don't need a parade and the really small towns around here don't have the funds to put one on. Mostly towns of a few hundred people. But that's okay by me. I didn't put 20 in the Navy for a parade.

Today I got to watch my neice participate in a local grade school Veterans day program that was better than any parade.

The finale performed by the 1st and 2nd graders lined up in two lines with little flags in their hands singing and performing "I'm proud to be an American" in front of about 100 adults. Gotta tell ya it brought a tear to my eye watching and listening to those kids.

I heard a guy behind me say to his wife "There stands out future".

etcallhome · Nov 11, 2011

Thanks to all Veterans past and present,,, Dad ,2nd Ranger climbed the White Cliffs ,and all the way to the Arden Forrest.
I graduated 69-70 so never did get a draft notice, Dad didn't want my older brother and myself to be drafted so he suggested to join the Reserves or National Guard... Joined USAR spent almost 9yrs discharged E-6..

peavey · Nov 11, 2011

To all Veterans that have served to protect me and mine; Thank you. I met a elderly gentleman today in the dentist office waiting room, he appeared to be around 70 or so. I noticed he was wearing a baseball style hat that had the word Navy on it. I approached him and ask if he was a veteran? He replied yes, and began to tell me a brief story of his Naval career. This gentleman served three tours in the Korean war on naval aircraft carriers assisting the aircraft in take offs and landings. He informed me that most folks did not know how cold it was in the winter on the flight deck. He proceeded to tell me that it got minus 24 degrees many times. I gave this sailor my upmost attention and listened earnestly. I shook his hand for the second time and walked away realizing that with out his sacrifice and the sacrifice others like him I may have never been born into this great free country.
Now I ask all reading this post to do America a favor. Thank a vet, not just on veterans day, but when you encounter them throughout your life. As a Iraqi veteran myself, I am always humbled by shaking a vets hand and listening to their stories. It will make your life richer in more ways than one.

Ken · Nov 11, 2011

5 years ago in a church bible study a WWII veteran mentioned that on that day in Germany after living through the landing on Omaha Beach he was wounded Arden Forest area. Then another mentioned he also was on Omaha beach also wounded then 3rd man mentioned he also was on same beach. and even though lived in the same comunity did not know each others record of service. Sadly only one still alive.
Notice very few memtioned the Korean Police Action of Pres.Truman. The forgotten war.
I was headed for the area but had orders changed to Okinawa the 596th Engineers.
(We have done so much with so little for so long that now can do anything with nothing.)
Rebuilt repaired equipment shot up in Korea. then marked salvage by the army.
My first vote for Pres. was for Ike. Army '54-'57
Any person that went into the service I respect his Service Record .
Tens of thousand died so we can enjoy this freedom we have and so few seem to appreciate those who were willing to give up years of being in the military.and we reap the rewards.
Don't give one inch of Freedom it is being taken away to frequently by political groups.

bilboy · Nov 11, 2011

Having served in Nam (9th div.Mekong delta-69,70) I flew into oakland,outprocessed,and took a taxi round the bay for my flight home to Ohio. As I sat there waiting for my red-eye out, a group of hippie types came by and hasseled all of us sitting there in uniform. Babykillers, etc they called us - spitting on some of us.After they left we started talking about it. What the **** were we fightin for? So some sissyfied chickens--t pretending to have a cause can act up? Long story short - I make it my mission to make sure vets coming home get a handshake and a thank you!! If you know a vet dont think it hoky to walk up and do the same. TRULY, TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES WILL SAY ENOUGH.

phiferpharm · Nov 11, 2011

It is a special day for both those who served and those that understand the thanks they owe to our military from all eras. I spent almost 40 years, most of which was in the reserves, and my SIL is about to embark on his 3rd tour - this time as an Army officer to Afganistan after two tours with the Marines in Iraq.

I told him and my daughter at their wedding in October, to go to Washington and see the memorials, visit granddad in Arlington, and see the Marine Memorial - he has spent alot of time overseas, serving his country, but had never visited the capitol.

I just heard from them a few minutes ago and he said, "thank you for the suggestion, I can't explain my feelings, but this was important for me to do
". Tomorrow, their going to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. I think it will be another day of discovery for Josh.

I guess my point, if I can make sense of it, is that many of our "seasoned" veterans grew up living the evils of the world, and hearing it personally from our Dads, Granddads, etc. It was easier I think to see our enemies in a defined role, uniform, and fixed setting until Vietnam. Now the present day Soldier and newest vets face or faced a much less defined enemy in terms of who they are, how they look, and how they fight. What's the ingredient that bonds the old veteran and new military member together? The fact that they all put it on the line for what they believed in - the flag- the nation - and their freedom.

We all get to agree-disagree-or do nothing, thanks to those folks honored on that black wall, by those Soldiers on Patrol in Korea, those buried in Arlington known and unknown, and the ones that continue to say goodbye to their families multiple times in their careers to keep us safe.

Zork · Nov 11, 2011

Thank you all who are serving or have served. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service and your sacrifices. To those who are injured or maimed in some way I thank you and God Bless you all. To those who have lost a loved one during their time of service I say thank you they are not forgotten. I know my gratefulness will not replace your loss, pain, or suffering but I stand behind every one of you in agreement and with full support for our military for I know it is the sacrifices of everyone involved which permits me and others like me to have the life we choose to live and that is respectfully within the United States of America.

MarkF48 · Nov 11, 2011

Air Force here from 1968-1971. Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968.

Short clip of a few scanned slides from 43 years ago...
Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam 1968 - YouTube

Kodachrome 64 holds up well after 43 years. Will you still have your digital image files 43 years from now?

peavey · Nov 11, 2011

Your right Bilboy, I had it made compared to the vets who fought in the wars prior to Iraq, but it was still no pic nic. When ever someone gives me a heart felt thank you for serving, i get kinda tore up, and the same thing happens when I thank a vet. **** goes thru your mind, sometimes you remeber the good things, and sometimes the crappy stuff. And you know that the vet before you most likely went thru more than you did. It just tics me off to see anyone disrespect another vet. If they crap on me I can handle it, but don't do it to another vet, especially one that went to war. My ole saying "don't start nothing, won't be nothing. I'm pretty sure I would be getting a trip to jail if I seen someone spit on a vet. Hey Buddy, Thanks for your service.