Thank You Vets for our Freedom from your sacrifice!!!
Slammer!!!

I always appreciate being appreciated.

Same sentiment here.

Bobby

God bless our veterans! Brad

Here’s a 110 year old veteran,, I’ll bet he’s seen a few things in his day.

also , a photo of my Pa back in the 1920's, with writeup by my older brother.

We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an
unknown adventure.

We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives.

We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew.

We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth.

We found new friends and new family.

We became brothers and sisters regardless of color, race or creed.

We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times.

We didn’t get enough sleep.

We smoked and drank too much.

We picked up both good and bad habits.

We worked hard and played harder.

We didn’t earn a great wage.

We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of
missing important events.

We didn’t know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home
again.

We grew up fast.

We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.

Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn’t.

Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn’t.

Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare.

We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can’t fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical.

We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie.

We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all.

We have dealt with victory and tragedy.

We have celebrated and mourned.

We lost a few along the way.

When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all.

We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.

We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don’t experience, and few will understand.

We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.

We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.

Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away.

It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift.

People see a Veteran and they thank them for their service.

When we see each other, we give that little upwards head nod, or a slight smile, knowing that we have shared and experienced things that most people have not.

So, from myself to the rest of the veterans out there, I commend and thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for your country.

Try to remember the good times and forget the bad times.

Thanks for all your dedication and sacrifice ..... and for your families sacrifices as well!

1969 - 1989 USMC 1302 Combat Engineer Officer

242 Combat Engineers...

Below is a link to an interesting story by George Will about a veteran.

George Retes

 

quote:

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Originally posted by steve davis

I always appreciate being appreciated.

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Me too, it is nice to be recognized. But I have to admit that Veterans Day and all the accolades that go with it is always a little awkward for me. It isn't like I made a decision to serve God and country, I didn't have any choice. If I had, it might have been different. 

Re. "....  all the accolades that go with it is always a little awkward for me."

Though my wife's father and grandfather both served, I've never been in the military .... but we've been thinking about that ^^ for a few years. We didn't "forget,"  but for the first time in a l-o-n-g time we didn't "go with the flow" .... we stayed home on the 11th. and didn't tune in to the broadcasts.