Take a minute today and tell a vet thanks for the service.

Also, Bert Bank will be honored in Birmingham as the recipient of the National Veterans' Award. RTR :rokk:

Also, my dad sent me this via email this morning and I wanted to share,
-----------
I don't know if you saw this in the news,
but it really impressed me.
Because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC,
our US Senate/House took 2 days off
as they couldn't work.

The military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.

They refused. "No way, Sir!"

Soaked to the skin, marching in the
pelting rain of a tropical storm,
they said that guarding the Tomb
was not just an assignment,
it was the highest honor
that can be afforded
a service person.

The tomb has been patrolled
continuously, 24/7, since 1930.


TO all the vets past, present and future..............GOD BLESS YOU ALL and Semper fi
:salute:

I rememebr seeing the story on the guard of the Tomb. Amazing dedication. Of course what our soldiers have done around the world for over 200 years is even more impressive.

:salute:

I will have to virtually hug the vets today.

{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}

:salute:

:salute: :salute: :salute: :salute: :salute:

{{{{{{Fellow Veterans}}}}}}}

:salute: :salute: :salute: :salute: :salute:

My old Base Commander, Colonel Troth at Ft. Devens said this at our graduation speech.

You are the few that protect our country's freedom. You, as sailors, marines, airmen, and soldiers, willingly give away some of your freedoms to protect those of American Citizens.

Be proud of what you have accomplished here, and what you will in the future.

I went to Magic Mountain this past sunday to watch my daughter compete in a cheerleading contest (They got 1st place). Last time I was there at that park, I was 19 years old. Young, dumb, and full of cum, as the Navy saying goes. 14 years later, I'm walking through the old rides and new ones, having to go through which one of my twins gets to sit with me and which ones sits with their mother. Serving your country isn't mandatory, it is volunteer. Some of us join for economic, some for patriotic, some because we had nothing else to do (Me). If I didn't join, I wouldn't have had my twins, since I met their mother in Navy Boot Camp, Orlando.

Here's to all the veterans, past, present, and future. May your service affect your life as it did mine.

Lucky bastards.

Respect to veterans though. :okthumb:

I remember, as a kid, going to the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis with my grandfather for the annual reunion of his unit from WWI. They had graves dating back to the revolution, the civil war (both sides), and just about every other conflict including Indian wars. The ones that still give me chills to think about were the mass graves for entire aircrews lost in the 2nd World War and in Korea.

It was always hard to imagine my pipefitter grandfather and his cronies as soldiers - after all, they were old. It was almost as hard to imagine my salesman father as a gunner on a Coast Guard Destroyer Escort, or my structural engineer Uncle a Marine on Guadacanal. To hear my dad and my uncle tell war stories, all they did was get drunk on liberty. I have absolutely no doubt that they did so, but my dad ended up with a Navy Cross for convoy duty to Russia after the Germans occupied the northern Norwegian airfields, and my uncle two bronze stars.

Last week I was at the VA for an appointment, and I found myself in the radiology waiting room with an 80-year old vet who fought his way across France with Patton, a 60 year old who'd been to Vietnam, another guy, like me, who lucked into service during a time of relative peace, and a 20 year old reservist back home from Iraq with some shrapnel souveniers he'll carry for the rest of his life.

When did they get so friggin' young?

Lets not forget those that fought in wars some of you may have disagreed with, but nonetheless died for what they believed.

<img src=http://www.fletchxxx.com/images/rebel.gif>

I always find it funny people think the civil war was ONLY about slavery, when even the whites that liostened to Abe give his last speech vowed to kill him because he was 'to free the niggers' - as the Northeners put it.

That war wasnt just about slavery. It was based on the same crap these wars are today.

So in the name of my own bloodline that fought and died.

Salud.

Robert Lee and his brave men fought with honor and died with it, and then did as he suggested and accepted the change.



Last edited by Fletch XXX at Nov 11 2003, 11:05 AM

Also, lets remember the Baratarians who alongside Jean Lafitte fough for New Orleans, and the brits who we slaughtered in the Battle Of Chalmette, folks dont even know or realize that the war was OVER when the Brits were outside New Orleans, and 3000+ Brits died that day for no reason.

War is terrible, and most of the time history doesnt even record it properly.

to all that have fallen, no matter the side.

cheers.

:hic:



Last edited by Fletch XXX at Nov 11 2003, 11:13 AM

ditto fletch, I had 1 great grandfather and 2 uncles (that I know of) fought for the 3rd mississippi(again I think that's the correct unit) both uncles died in tenn and my GF walked back to miss from va after the war......They were all HEROS on both sides :rokk:

Salute to those who served their country.. :salute:

DBtry 1/41st ,56th FA
My unit during Vietnam

I haven't gotten a single hug :(

Don't any of you have wives or girlfriends to thank me with?

I was under the impression that Billy had your hug :yowsa:

I was under the impression that Billy had your hug :yowsa:[/b][/quote]
I think, under the new rules, you aren't supposed to ask and he's not supposed to tell.

I think, under the new rules, you aren't supposed to ask and he's not supposed to tell.[/b][/quote]
hahahaha

What am I - chopped liver??!!! :angry:

I went to the Remembrance Day Ceremonies today with a friend here. It was a great feeling to stand and honour those who gave their lives so that we my enjoy the freedoms that we take so much for granted on a daily basis. Almost choked me up when the entire crowd sang the national anthem. What a great day to be a Canadian!

Here is to all military people everywhere and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice!

Thank you!

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.