Veterans' Day

[Sir_Winston54]

As a vet and the son of a vet, this coming day (11/11) is important to me personally, but I know that many who have no ties to the military also remember.

Let all of us remember, too, at least in this thread, that our thoughts on the necessity or wisdom of a particular war or engagement promulgated by our civilian leadership (President, Congress) should prevent us from offering our military personnel all the strength and love we have, for they are the ones who fought and died, and who still fight and die, to win and maintain our freedoms. And while nations other than the U.S. may not celebrate *this* Veterans' Day, please include all those who fight for freedom in your thoughts, regardless of nation, color or creed.

Thank you.

Before You Go, a song written and performed by a small local (Florida) band in honor of those who have gone before.

 

[Homburg]

My father
My mother
My father-in-law
Three of my uncles
My paternal grandfather
viv's grandfather
MIS grandfather (who is in the hospital right now)
Both of my paternal great grandfathers (one was in WWI and WWII)
Two great uncles that both hit the beaches on D-day and left pieces of themselves there
And more good friends than I can count over the years.

A whole lot of veterans are on my mind.

 

[BiBunny]

Thank you, vets. All of you.

 

[Keroin]

And Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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.

 

[goodgirlfl]

Amen SW, we are all very blessed because of these people that have served and are serving. Who gave their lives so we can enjoy our freedom. God bless them and their families.

I salute all of you on Veteran's Day!

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

It's called Remembrance Day here

I work in a shopping centre, and they played the Last Post over the speakers before asking for a minutes silence.. and it was eerie how quiet it got.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.​

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

My Uncle John~Army~Vietnam~ passed from this Earth in May of 2005
My Stepfather Ralph~Army~Vietnam~still here...still kicking
My mum's first Husband~Navy~ still here...still kicking
My ex Sir Moe~Marine~Desert Storm
My best Friend John~Marine
My best Girl Dawn~Army~ten years...
My ex Girl DebeeJo~Army~four years...

I salute you~all of you...those I know and those I have yet to meet. May God keep you in His care...and Uncle John? I love you.

 

[chy_girl]

Five cousins.
Two uncles.
One father.
Two brothers.
One Sir.
Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Army National Guard.
Four VFW's.

And let's not forget our own Lit-types... sb and her hubby come to mind, as well as gracie's hubby.

 

[Ravenwind]

My dad (Vietnam/Korea), my late grandfather and my late great-uncle (WWII) (both recently passed), my uncle-in-law (Korea), about 10 cousins (everywhere from Korea to Desert Storm), and a good portion of my friends (Iraq/Afghanistan).

<^_^

 

[PertPerth]

My Dad didn't meet his father until he was 4 years old. He was fortunate.


Lest we forget

 

[culloden]

My father and uncles: WWII
My stepfather: Korea
My great uncle: WWI


Thank you.

 

[FloggingMolly]

In remembrance always.

 

[rekane]

In memory and in gratitude for all those who selflessly serve their country.

 

[redslady]

I come from a long line of Army Veterans and this has been my long time favourite piece. I know it's long but very worth the read. The author is unknown, maybe someone might recognize it? Thank you to all who really keep us free.

poem in light of Rememberance Day


~ Author unknown ~

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And 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.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And 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;
And 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,
Someone 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, though small.

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."
__________________

 

[Homburg]

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.

I've read this piece before. The part that always struck me was this passage. I've known a LOT of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and even marines. Very, very few ever bored me with their stories. More often than not, they wouldn't tell them. As an army brat, I got to listen in on more than a few conversations, and later take part. I miss those stories, but more, I miss a lot of those old soldiers that have passed on.

One that has been on my mind today was Dick J. He was the father of one of my best friends in the world, and he passed away a coupla years ago. He was a goofy old coot, and told some brilliantly funny, absurd stories. I miss him. I really miss him. I don't think I've ever laughed more at a funeral though, as my buddy and I, and a lot of our friends, stood around in the parking lot telling Dick stories, and, yeah, Dick jokes ("Don't you call me Richard. Call me Dick like you mean it!"). It helped, but I wish he'd been there.

 

[ecstaticsub]

My husband --20 years, just recently retired. Deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan along with various TDY's.

We have many friends who are still active duty and who today are separated from their families due to deployments.

Many thanks and much appreciation to all military members and their families--past and present.

 

[WriterDom]

And a thanks to the cadets at North Georgia College & State University and the other five Senior Military Colleges and of course the service academies.

 

[graceanne]

My husband.