Veterans Day

mrbigbluelight

Some gave all. All gave some.

Do your part. Find and hug a Vet tomorrow. Hell, start early. Do it today.

goofyGAguy

Great post. I wonder how many of them are rolling in their graves at what they died to protect has become. :sad:

George Grand

They died for your right to become anything you want, or do just about anything you want. Burn a flag, call the dead **** at their funerals, have a **** march downtown, complain about others. Just about anything you like.

THAT, is the big picture.

hochpt21

Thank you to all who have served, and are serving.

Thank you for the opportunity to live my dream every day.

littlewoodboats

hochpt21 wrote: »

Thank you to all who have served, and are serving.

Thank you for the opportunity to live my dream every day.

For me it was an honor and privilege to serve. It is nice when someone notices.

Oldfatdogs

To all the Veterans out there,THANK YOU.

gimpod

goofyGAguy wrote: »

Great post. I wonder how many of them are rolling in their graves at what they died to protect has become. :sad:

Nice way to thread crap and show your total disrespect for those who've made the ultimate sacrifice so you could make your totally inappropriate post. So keep your political views to yourself, as a mater of fact STFU and just go away. It is people like you that really piss me off and keep this country from becoming all that it can be.

~ A disabled Vet.

dorokusai

I agree with George, it's simple about the right to be an **** or a remarkable citizen. Your choice and from one vet to another, you rule and have made the world a better place. I was able to serve with my brother at Ft. Bragg and party, do things we'll never reveal and just be on the same soil with one another. I'll never forget him.

Mark
US Army 18th Airborne Corp & Desert Storm
92-98

My Brother
Cliff Raymond Bosley
US Army 7th Group Special Forces
RIP 2010

Humanity has many levels and we're not defined by what we do but how we live and love.

goofyGAguy

gimpod wrote: »

Nice way to thread crap and show your total disrespect for those who've made the ultimate sacrifice so you could make your totally inappropriate post. So keep your political views to yourself, as a mater of fact STFU and just go away. It is people like you that really piss me off and keep this country from becoming all that it can be.

~ A disabled Vet.

No disrespect intended whatsoever. Thank you for serving.

gimpod

dorokusai wrote: »

I agree with George, it's simple about the right to be an **** or a remarkable citizen. Your choice and from one vet to another, you rule and have made the world a better place.

Mark
US Army
92-98

I don't how know if this was directed at me but even if it wasn't I say thanks to you, George and all the others who get it.

I enlisted in the Navy in the early 70's (not a really good time to be in the service) and was proud to serve. So I tend to get a little pissed when I see or read anything that's even comes a little close to being disrespectful of veterans.

cnh

Thanks to everyone for their service. George, doro, gimpod, etc. My father served in the big one, WWII, and was part of that generation. No longer with us, but we remember!

George is right, above. It doesn't matter where you are on the spectrum, what these guys and gals have done and are doing is all that does matter, it's one of the "few" things that binds us together as a nation.

cnh

oldmodman

My annual tradition is to take flowers up to the VA Cemetery in Westwood and put the flowers on two relatives gravesites. They both died before I was born, but I will remember them as long as I'm still kicking.

Many of the graves go back to the Spanish and American War in 1898.

George Grand

cnh wrote: »

it's one of the "few" things that binds us together as a nation.cnh

If you're talking about military experience or service being something that binds present day America, you're nuts.

It's getting to be a fairly exclusive club.

Systems

George Grand wrote: »

If you're talking about military experience or service being something that binds present day America, you're nuts.

It's getting to be a fairly exclusive club.

1 mans opinion, nothing more.

jon1redleg

Thanks to all vets and to those still serving today.

Jon
U.S. ARMY 1/27TH F.A. GRIDSMASHERS
DESERT STORM
1988-1997

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Systems

I happened to be at the WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT in Oklahoma City about 3 years ago with my sister to
pick up her daughter flying in from Florida.

About 30-50 camo military fatigues started pouring out into the airport, US Army.
No one knew they were flying in as far as I could tell.

The whole airport erupted into applause, that went on for sometime, no one running to greet them, no family to greet them, they simply where connecting to another flight.

I knew 0 people there, and not sure anyone knew anyone else.

Great display of appreciation these humble folks felt for the simple soldier serving.

My whole family is Army and god bless all that have served!

jon1redleg

Letter from an airline pilot:
He writes:








My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R. On this flight." (H.R. Stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck. You can board him early," I said..

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our pre-flight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .

The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a
Secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I
Saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.
The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans.. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.' I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told
that all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the co-pilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to
make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was
clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.
Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA

Foot note:

I know everyone who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.



Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women.

Don't break it!

They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us..bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.. In Jesus Name, Amen.'
Prayer Request:

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.. There is nothing attached. Just send this to people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!

Polkie2009

Thank you jon1redleg for this very moving story. God Bless all of our military veterans, past and present, We Will Remember Them.

shadowlight

Thank you to all the past, current and future veterans.

potee

From 1968 to 1985 some good some bad. But the new guys seem to have a much harder time rotating in and out alot. God Bless them them for the great job their doing.

mrbigbluelight

Our local paper had a story about a local retired Marine and his fight with PTSD. Story is too long to post, so I'll just give the link:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/the-fight-continues-for-retired-marine-with-ptsd/article_960113f3-5902-52d4-9d8d-7d6c8c16948e.html

Definitely worth a read, IMO, as it kind of puts a face on issues that most of us probably don't have a lot of familiarity with. So perhaps do a little something special for retired Marine James Sperry and his daughter Hannah, 6, (and, I suppose, their dog Sophie) this Veterans Day and have yourself a little read. The end of the article brings it home .

cnh

cnh wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for their service. George, doro, gimpod, etc. My father served in the big one, WWII, and was part of that generation. No longer with us, but we remember!

George is right, above. It doesn't matter where you are on the spectrum, what these guys and gals have done and are doing is all that does matter, it's one of the "few" things that binds us together as a nation.

cnh

George Grand wrote: »

If you're talking about military experience or service being something that binds present day America, you're nuts.

It's getting to be a fairly exclusive club.

Of course that is not my meaning. It is implied that "supporting" our troops, those who have served, is one of the few things that holds or rather signifies, defines what a NATION is. See the meaning of the words in red above. How could I possibly be saying what you are suggesting when it is "implied" that my father served but I have no military experience?

I may have to take more care with my words. But, in no way do I disagree with you. Everything above is meant to reiterate that, to argue for respecting those who have served, helping them transition back to civilian life, providing training and job opportunities for them and supporting Veterans' hospitals, benefits, etc.

Crazy? I might be trying to go mad sometimes but I haven't succeeded yet. lol

To our Veterans on "their" day because "they" represent and defend all of "us"! And in this way THEY help bind us together as one nation!

Don't disagree with you George, not one bit.

cnh

Polkersince85

Thanks to all who have served and are currently serving.

George Grand

I believe at one time there were three, distinct, and separate holidays honoring the armed forces.

Memorial Day - It was 30 May until someone changed it to a floater, I can't remember when, to give everybody a three-day weekend at the end of May. This is the day we honor and remember individuals who gave their lives while actively in service to the armed forces. I don't believe it need be during wartime for the individual to qualify.

Veteran's Day - 11 November is the day we honor "veterans" which I believe is correctly lengthened to Veteran's of Foreign Wars. I don't believe you attain "veteran's" status simply by serving on active-duty. You need to have served in certain areas during certain time-frames in order to receive "veteran's" status. I believe it is/was possible to have gone an entire 20 year military career, and not attain "veteran's" status.

Armed Forces Day - Can't remember exactly when this date was, or when it seemed to drift away as a holiday, but there used to be big parades. This was the day we saluted individuals who had, and were, currently serving.

BlueFox

George Grand wrote: »

Veteran's Day - 11 November is the day we honor "veterans" which I believe is correctly lengthened to Veteran's of Foreign Wars. I don't believe you attain "veteran's" status simply by serving on active-duty. You need to have served in certain areas during certain time-frames in order to receive "veteran's" status. I believe it is/was possible to have gone an entire 20 year military career, and not attain "veteran's" status.

It appears the holiday's meaning has evolved over time. It started out honoring WW1 veterans, was later amended to include WW2 veterans, and now appears to include all veterans. I was able to learn something from this thread. Thanks.

http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

dorokusai

I believe that as old as you are you cover all those bases George. At least your a dashing fellow otherwise I would not acknowledge you.

Armed Forces Day was created August 31....circa 1949 by the SecDef. It became May 19 for some reason that I do not know.

Serving in time of war creates the Veteran. You don't have to be on soil to attain this status. The American Legion is more open while the VFW has specific conflicts for membership. That has all changed since membership was essentially dying and you need members to keep a lodge open. Sons of the Legion and VFW was created many years ago and until recently was almost dead.

I'm a member of both and support my local chapters. My Father is Commander of the Cheyenne, WY American Legion and as much of a PITA as he was prior to becoming someone important. You two would get along famously.

Being a member of these organizations is not just to drink a cheap beer but to be a part of a large family. Yes, some suck, they vary in ideals but the point is to get involved and show your support. I had my wedding reception at my local post....in some year that I don't recall....dates don't mean much to guys. OCT6....is all I have to know.

If you are not a member, take some time to become one and stop by sometime. If your in my neck of the woods, the drink is on me.

Mark
American Legion Post #86

Polkie2009

I believe Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in May. Blue Fox is correct, November 11th was Armistice Day and has evolved to Remembrance Day in the UK and Commonweath countries and to Veteran's Day in the US.

dorokusai

May 19th 2012.

AudioGenics

To All those serving - past , present & future

THANK YOU !

obieone

If you haven't seen this movie, you're missing out:sad:.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MtmiLdzzgGE&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

HHStuart

+1 on the movie.
And thank you, jon1redleg for the story. It did bring tears to my eyes.

Regular U.S. Army 1968-1970 but I did not see combat. I was one of the lucky ones.

obieone wrote: »

If you haven't seen this movie, you're missing out:sad:.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MtmiLdzzgGE&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>