Each year at this weekend, I make a point of thanking those that I know and occasionaly strangers for their service. I travel to a war memorial either localy or afar and give a moment out of my life to remember veterans and service people.
Because of the many veterans past and present and those that have chosen to serve their country who are on this forum I would like to pass along to you my rememberance.
I want to take this time to remember those that have gone and sincerely thank those that have served, and are currently serving in the armed forces. Your sacrafice, courage and dedication are remembered and appreciated. Too often that honor, courage and sacrafice has been and is taken for granted and gets lost in those backyard BBQ’s, fishing trips, honey do projects, and extended weekends. We owe it to those men and women to pause and reflect during the weekend and take a moment to thankfuly remember someone we know or knew and reflect on those that have given up so much that we may be safe and live within a relatively free and safe society .
Thanks.
George Orwell said…“People sleep peacably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
While its authoring may not have been thought of in the terms I present it tonight, I certainly am appreciative for those men and women willing to do so.
A sincere heartfelt thank you from me and mine to those that are serving, have served and to the friends, loved ones and family of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service to their country … you shall not be forgotten.
Here’s a thought along those lines.
My father is a veteran of WW II…He recently turned 80 years old. Although I’m a “plane guy” I decided to build a model of a LST(Landing Ship Tank), the type of vessel he served on, and did a little diorama with it…I gave it to him as a Christmas gift.
Recently I’ve been thinking of how sad it is that soon all the vets of that era will be with us no more. Think about it. When the last one is gone, it will all be consigned to the history books.
It seems that a lot of these guys, many who were reluctant to talk about their experiences for all these years, now want to talk…I wish that I could listen to each and every one of them.
I’ll bet all you guys know a vet or two yourselves. Why don’t you do yourself a big favor and sit down and talk with them. Tell them you want to hear all they have to tell. Maybe write it down or even videotape it. And here’s an idea… Why not present them with a model of whatever piece of military hardware they were most closely associated with?
It will make you both feel good. But the time to do it is now, because soon it will be too late.
What do you guys think?.. I’d like to hear.
I agree.
Today I thank my father.
I also would like to thank all of those he fought with and all of their sacrafices that they have made.
Here’s one to you guys.
Great thread, guys! Thanks to all out there still serving, especially those still in harm’s way. Thanks to my two older brothers, Army & USMC who went to Vietnam, and my dad, Patton’s 3rd Army, 1944-45… Thanks to all veterans. You were there when the call came and it’s because of you our country is so great!
Way too many people only use the day to mark the “beginning” of summer…
From a person who served his country, thanks to those who have gone in service, thanks to those currently in, and thank you for remembering all that have served guys, we appreciate it.
Lee, former Spec.4, Co. A, 682 Engineers, Litchfield, MN. National Guard unit.
Here in Oz we have ANZAC Day, our version of Rememberance Day. All the veterans parade in their various capital cities (and small towns too) after the dawn Rememberance service and prayer .
Jus recently we suffered the loss of the very last surviving ANZAC (WWI veteran). His great granddaughter marched in the parade and wore his medals. She was immensely proud to have walked with others who wore uniforms for their country.
I’m a migrant to this country, and my gampa drove LST’s and LCM’s for the SeaBees in the Pacific during the 40’s. I still have his dress blues and undress blues (machinist mate first class) and they fit me (he said they must have shrunk). I also have the flag my grandma was presented with by the War Department when her first husband died over France in his B-17. 48 stars. It’s part of my history - treasured gifts from people who went in harms way for us.
Mike said it best using Orwell’s quote. The sentiment is there. We live in a country with incredible prosperity and opportunity because there are those who defend us. Mainly they go un-thanked and un-heralded.
Thank you - all of you - for your sacrifices and your commitment to duty, on our behalf.
There was a Marine Chaplain who said:
It was the soldier, not the reporter who gave us the right to freedom of the press,
It was the soldier, not the campus speaker who gave us the right to freedom of speech,
It was the soldier, who salutes his flag, serves beneath his flag, and whose coffin is draped with the flag, that gave the demonstrator the right to burn that flag.
“And when he gets to Heaven,
to Saint Peter he will tell:
Another Soldier reporting, sir,
I’ve served my time in Hell.”
I too would like to echo all that was said and add that I have great respect for all of our veterans. Having just finished reading a book written by a friend of a friend. It was about his time as Japanese prisoner after being captured on Corregidor.
Knowing what our veterans had to put up with is the reason why on a rainy Memorial Day like to day I still put on my OD’s and drive my jeep in a parade. They didn’t have the choice to stay inside like we do.
I’m also in a postion to honor veteran all year long which I do. I install grave memorials, and I take gread pride and go out of my way in making sure that all their flags are up and that their markers are able to be read.
I also would like to thank all veterans…both wartime and peacetime…for giving up precious time from their lives as protectors of our freedoms. I would also like to extend the same respect to the foreign veterans of all others represented here on the board. Thank you all and God bless!
I most definitely agree…it is sad when somebody is on 24-hour call and still have to draw welfare to help keep their families. I know that the politicians need to take a pay cut and give it to the military personnel. I can’t believe one of them actually had the gall to suggest firefighters and police officers work overtime with no compensation to help out the war effort. I wonder if he walked to work!
By the way…where all have you been stationed. I was at Loring for almost 2 winters 89-90.
Jerry - After basic training & tech school(Keesler AFB) - Fairchild AFB, WA (80-82), Ramstein AB, Germany(82-87) March AFB, CA (87-89), Balikesir, Turkey(89-90), RAF Alconbury, England (90-92), Ramstein AB (92-97), HQ Air Intelligence Agency, Kelly AFB, TX (97-01) Not to mention two deployments to Saudi(Earnest Will & Desert Storm), one each to Bosnia and Kosovo… I would have liked to been stationed at Loring. Visited Maine and fell in love with the place…
I built an old Tamiya M-5 Stuart for a member of my church that served with 3rd armored as a driver. Recently we were able to procure combat awards for him that had been forgotten during the war, including 2 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star. He was msot appreciative of the medals, but he really appreciated the model just as much. Never forget those that have served. It may be the only remembrance some of them ever have. Sine Patri- Ed -US Army (Ret.)