Did you serve?

[redelicious]

It's the 11th day of the 11th month....

Today is an important day. I want to express my pride and gratitude to our veterans. Let us know who you are please. Where did you serve and in what capacity?

 

[The Plunger]

The vets are the bravest and most honorable. They deserve much respect and gratitude.

 

[1sexylady]

It's the 11th day of the 11th month....

Today is an important day. I want to express my pride and gratitude to our veterans. Let us know who you are please. Where did you serve and in what capacity?

Nice Thread... I didn't serve our country but my Father *army, Korean War* and brothers *two navy and one airforce, Vietnam War* did. I was/am proud of all of them....
http://www.uselessgraphics.com/copy_of_america.gif

God Bless all our vets...

 

[~Dream~]

yes I agree they deserve our respect , My father was in the Army ,Ex was in the navy , My Master was also, My grandfathers were both in the AirForce.. And my cousin is in the Marines .. May God bless them all

 

[kikmosa]

Though I myslef have not served, there are those in my family that have. My father, my uncles, my cousin in the navy now. I have a deep respect for those who have and still do serve our country. They made many sacrifices in their lives for all of us. Godd bless them all.

(I have written a poem on this and would like to post it but only with your permission)

 

[redelicious]

Thank you plunger, I agree with you.

Thank you all for telling me about your family and loved ones who are vets. We are so lucky to know people who care for their country so much.

Kiki, I would be honored to have you post your poetry.

 

[DreamOfSun]

Thank You, Veterans

The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key, 1814

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

 

[kikmosa]

Thank you Red.

Freedom's Soldiers

In this world there are many
Who would take from those
Who are weak and helpless
Enslave those who are different

They fill this world with anger
Hatred drives their souls
Bitterness fills their hearts
And they would spread this to all

Yet in the world there are also
Those who feel driven to protect
Who wish to serve, not be served
Those who stand up for what's right

They feel a kinship with others
Even those they have not met
They have a drive, a need
To uphold the morals of their beliefs

They place their selves between
The evil and their world
They face the agonies of death
Pain and exhaustion of the soul

They leave behind their loved ones
The lives that they hold dear
Travel to places they would not go
Do things which rend their souls

Many will never recover
Others will end their lives
Some will go on to greatness
While some will withdraw

But all have a common trait
The willingness to sacrifice
All that they are, all that they will be
To preserve our right to freedom

As we pass through on our
Daily lives, let us take a moment
To remember these men and women
Who gave their all for our freedom

 

[Ukin]

It's the 11th day of the 11th month....

Today is an important day. I want to express my pride and gratitude to our veterans. Let us know who you are please. Where did you serve and in what capacity?

I spent 25 years (from age 15 to age 40) in Her Majesties Armed Forces (The British Army)..serving all over the world, some in peace, some not.

I have lost numerous friends, pals, drinking partners, fellow rugby players in conflicts.

It is for them, and the others that gave their today's so we can have our tomorrow's.

RIP lads...we won and we will keep on winning to rid this world of evil and fanatics.

 

[redelicious]

DOS, Kiki, thank you.

Bless you Ukin.

 

[kikmosa]

I'm hoping you won't mind me posting another. If you do, say so and I'll take it off. And DoS, I've always wondered if there was more then one verse to that song. Now I know. Thanks.

Freedom's Symbol

Billowing folds
Of silken color
Flow gently in
The morning breeze

The snap as corners
Whip in gusty sigh
The ringing of the
Chain against the pole

Sights and sounds
Of our nation's symbol
Freedom's emblem
Flying high and proud

Once more the
Rising sun shines
Upon a land still
Free and hopeful

Our nation looks
To see this sight
Easing the fears
Of the darkness

For all know
In their hearts
That all is well
While fly's our flag

 

[redelicious]

(((((Kiki)))))

Thank you for giving your words to help us honor our vets.

 

[thump]

Well said Ukin, I was lucky enough to spend 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and have had the honor of serving with the British miltary several times...It is comforting to know that if nothing else our country can always depend on our brothers and sisters from Great Britiain.

To all those who gave all, I thank them and will always remember them in my prayers..

 

[Linedrive]

Raising a pint in honor

My great-grandfather (x5) who served in the Colonial Army during the American Revolutionary War.

My great-great uncles, who both left the farm in Western Massachusetts to enlist in the Union Army during the Civil War. The younger of the two, 19 years old, was killed in 1864 in Virginia. A total of 12 cousins served the Federal Army, with 4 or 5 of them being killed in action.

My great-grandfather, who served in the US Army during World War I, and was hospitalized as a result of a gas attack.

My grandfather and his three brothers, who all fought during World War II. One of them was killed on 23 June 1944 in France, just weeks after the D-Day invasion.

My dad, served 26 years in the United States Airforce, including Vietnam.



I can't recall the exact quote, but George Washington said something like, "The way we treat our vets today, will determine the way that serving is viewed later."

 

[navarre]

Still serving.
Though inactive.

 

[manofsteel52]

It's the 11th day of the 11th month....

Today is an important day. I want to express my pride and gratitude to our veterans. Let us know who you are please. Where did you serve and in what capacity?

USAF, 1971 - 75
Wanted to see the world, never got out of the USA...

 

[Ukin]

Well said Ukin, I was lucky enough to spend 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and have had the honor of serving with the British miltary several times...It is comforting to know that if nothing else our country can always depend on our brothers and sisters from Great Britiain.

To all those who gave all, I thank them and will always remember them in my prayers..

Thump.....I salute you Brother In Arms.

Our two great Countries have stood side by side..and we will continue to do so for a long, long time yet. We, and only we, are on your side and with you all the way.

 

[redelicious]

Gunner, thank you for telling us about your family memebers who served.

Thump, MOS, and Nav, thank you for giving to your country.

 

[Soron]

thanks red...

U.S. Army 1972-1974

I lost an uncle I never knew in the prison camps of Bataan...

In 1967 I joined my first band at age 14. I was asked to join a bunch of guys much older than I was because I had so much energy, and they needed a drummer. Two years later, the bass player and the keyboard player were killed in Vietnam...

I may have served, but they gave the ultimate sacrifice...




Brothers In Arms ~ Dire Straits
(Mark Knopfler)

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds
So many differents suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

 

[redelicious]

Ty Soron for your contribution to the thread and to our country.


Thank you to those who gave their all.

 

[tonitits]

Ty Soron for your contribution to the thread and to our country.


Thank you to those who gave their all.

My dad's brother was killed in WW11, Army.

My dad was Marine,during Korean War, I do not believe he was actually on the front lines, but it was towards the end of the war. I have lots of relatives that were in all the branches of military, I believe. Some still are in the service. However, my dad's brother is the only one that got killed in action.

Working for USPS there are lots of Vets that I work with, both men and women. Some served in peaceful time. Lots got injured in Vietnam.

As a mother - when I see the movies and see exactly what happened I hope and pray that my son will not have to go when he gets grown. I know that that is selfish, but being a mom I just can't bear the thought of my son having to go through such torture and the nerve gas, etc.....

As an Amerian citizen - I wish to thank all the vets for their service to make our country free, strong and a great country. I know if it were for mother's sons and women's husband going to fight and to make the ultimate sacrifice our country it would not be the great country that it is. So if my son does have to go some day. I will be very proud and hope and pray everyday for his safe return. I think my biggest fear is of him going and serving his country and getting killed in a foreign country and not knowing how he would be treated. Again thanks to all who serve both in the American services and also Great Britain for their continual help.

I also pray for all people in service. Even our "enemies" for they are just like our sons, fighting for their countries and what they feel is right. I just pray that someday the world could just get along with each other. But I know that that will never happen.

Sorry this is so long. Just wanted to put in my two cents worth.

 

[greybeard]

yes I did..............

it's funny.....I have this thing about being called a veteran.......I was in the Navy in the early seventies.....shore duty, never went to sea, worked nights, lived at the beach.....pretty good duty........but not because I wanted to.....was drafted, had lost my student deferment............and to be lumped together with those "real" veterans, those who really cared about it, so many who died doing it.........I just don't feel comfortable being considered a part of that...........but I do think appreciativly of all those who have served................thank you all................

greybeard