Happy Veteran's Day

Terry St.James_2

I like to thanks the vets from my country too. Vimy Ridge was a major battle of WW 1. Where over 3000 Canadians fell and over 7000 wounded. I could not see myself at 18 doing what these men and women did. But they did it. A Canadian wrote "Flanders Field"..."If ye break faith with us who die,we will not sleep". They are ,to this day still finding remains of soldiers and bombs from that war in Europe.May God bless these men of men

Joannie

Thanks To The Veterans!

Happy Veteran's Day and a VERY big THANK YOU to all of you who have served our country!

Dale

Thanks, and to all the other vets

Thanks for serving and let us all not forget those on the road today in Iraq and Afganistan and hundreds of other places.

jerryb

Vets Day

If you love FREEDOM then kiss a Vet!!Been there and Back!!GOD BLESS ALL WHO BEEN THERE!!!

George_10

Oldest Vet on Wall

I was standing alert/flying B-52 when the Cuban crisis broke out and also the day Kennedy was killed.

Serious mind games, but no shooting thank God.

I am sure others on here have even better stories.

My service time did make me appreciate the freedom we enjoy and its price.

heretic

11:00 11/11/1918

11:00 11/11/1918
I'm several hours late (11:00 GMT), but a special thanks should be extended on this day to the few surviving Great War vets. I know but one at this time.

"the war to end all wars..."

Henry_9

Iwo Jima

My two oldest boys asked me what Veterans Day is all about and I told them the story of Iwo Jima. I consider myself fortunate to be able to relate that story to my kids. Although I have not served in the arm forces, I am so grateful for what those men, men like my grandfather did for this country.

While telling the story, and considering what those men went through, the sheer brutality of the fighting and the hell that was a small volcanic island, I had an overwhemlming feeling of gratitude and pride surge through me. If any service men read this, I just want to say thanks, God bless and Semper fi.


Thanks to all who have served


Henry Nichols
VI midwest

bruce pirger

Thanks to all and their families for the sacrifice.

> I like to thanks the vets from my country too.

> Vimy Ridge was a major battle of WW 1. Where over

> 3000 Canadians fell and over 7000 wounded. I

> could not see myself at 18 doing what these men

> and women did. But they did it. A Canadian wrote

> "Flanders Field"..."If ye break faith with us who

> die,we will not sleep". They are ,to this day

> still finding remains of soldiers and bombs from

> that war in Europe.May God bless these men of men

bruce pirger

Thanks to all and their families for the sacrifice.

It makes me sad to hear so many people, especially young people and my generation (34) seem to blow off the serivce and sacrifice people give to this nation. While we no doubt will never all agree on the politics and the decisions, we should all agree on the sacrifice that has, and is, being made every day. I have never served, I could not imagine being in Iraq today. I can not stand to hear how children are being orphaned everyday.

I do have a small story...which I think brings great hope to humanity. I had to travel to Hawaii once for work and had the time to go out on the Arizona memorial. Extremely moving. Out on the floating memorial, over 50% of the people were Japanese. There were three older guys in their 70's or so looking at some of the plackards indicating were the various waves of zero's came in, were all the ships were, etc. One of the guys was zipping along with great enthusiasm, pointing, looking, turning all around. I am not certain, but I'd bet my retirement that that fellow was one of the pilots. I stood there in a very weird state...in tears thinking of the entombed, thinking of the families and the suffering, thinking of the war, the victory, the atomic bomb. Thinking of how Japan today is indeed a world leader and friend to this nation. Part of me wanted to pick him up (he's maybe 5'3" and 140 and I'm 6'3" and 290) and toss him into the sea...part of me wanted to go and talk to him and ask questions. I just stood and listened, although I speak NO Japanese, I could hear much of his "enthusiam" to tell the story. Finally, I just thought it was wonderful that not 50 years ago had we been in such a fight, and yet today we stand side by side, on this sacred place. It made me feel hope for this human race, that someday we will lay down our ways of hate, and pick up more tools for growth. Whether it is fantasticism in religion, in nationalism, or racism, slowly we seem to be moving in the proper direction.

When I think of those that have died to provide me the ability to go to school for 10 years to follow pursuits that interest me, I think of how much we have lost in these fine people will to sacrifice EVERYTHING for this nation. I do hope we move in the right direction...bringing peace to the world and to all its inhabitants.

Terry St.James_2

In Flanders Field by Lt Col John McCrae(1872-1918)Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses,row on row,
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.

Firedragon_2

It's my birthday and I'm a veteran,

brother to two more and son of another. Although we always think of WWI and later it still makes me wonder that the Holiday didn't come sooner.

Ponder this: Antietam. The battle claimed more than 23,000 men killed, wounded, and missing in one single day, September 17,1862, and led to Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. More Americans were killed on that day then any day since, FACT!

bob eck_2

if you love your freedom thank a vet!
next time you go by a cemetery look over a check out all the american flags on the vets graves. they are the ones who protected us from evel and keept this country free for over 227 years. say thanks to them to.
this is the greatest country in the world to live in and we are the lucky ones to live here.
i even stopped at my uncles grave today to say thanks for all he did in ww2. there aren't many left from ww2.
i am praying that our current military will win the long hard war against terrorism no matter how long it takes to keep this country free!!!!

Mad Dog

Unfortunately, in a town of 18,000..............................

only a few hundred people showed up on monday...hey...its a big shopping day you know.....I guess its gonna take an invasion of our mainland to wake up most Americans.....Mad Dog

Dave DeFord

better late than never..

Just something that my buddy ET Sharp posted over at arcaracing.com I think it says a lot!

November 11th was Veterans Day. Articles about soldiers come to this column regularly. Mike O'Banion sends in the following poem, which originally came from www.terrymeiners.com

"Just an Old Soldier," from a partially disabled Vietnam-era vet

JUST AN OLD SOLDIER

He was getting old and paunchy

And his hair was falling fast

He sat around the legion

Telling stories of the past..

Of a war that he once fought in,

And the deeds that he had done

In his exploits with his buddies

They were heroes, every one.

'Tho sometimes to his neighbors

His tales became a joke

All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer

For Ol' Bob has passed away

The world's a little poorer

For a Soldier Died Today

He won't be mourned by many

Just his children and his wife

For he lived an ordinary

Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family

Going quietly on his way

The world won't note his passing

'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth

Their bodies lie in state

While thousands note their passing

And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories

>From the time that they were young.

But the passing of a Soldier

Goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution

To the welfare of our land

Some jerk who breaks his promise

And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow

Who in times of war and strife

Goes off to serve his country

And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend

And the style in which he lives

Are often disproportionate

To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier

Who offered up his all

Is paid off with a medal

And perhaps a pension, small

It's so easy to forget them

For it is so many times

That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys

Went to battle and died before their time.

We know it is not the politicians

With their compromise and ploys

Who won for us the freedom

That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger

With your enemies at hand

Would you really want some cop-out

With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier

His home, his country, his kin,

just a common Soldier

Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier

And his ranks are growing thin

But his presence should remind us

We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict

We find the Soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles

That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor

While he's here to hear the praise

Then at least let's give him homage

At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING;

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

frank s

I am still 101st ABN , Air Assault Ranger

though retired from the military this is still the way I feel

The Code of Conduct

I am an American fighting man, I serve in the forces that guard my country and our way of life, I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

Should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies.

I will never forget that I am an American fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
Nough said, And you guys wonder why I got peeved when I heard these teenie boppers talking of evading the draft should it come when we went into Iraq. To all my fellow soldiers who did their time, thank you. Air Assault and First strike