Today is Veterans Day - a day of tribute, contemplation, and gratitude for the service and sacrifice of those who have served our nation in uniform.
It is our ongoing duty to protect the freedoms that these men and women have won for us at high personal cost. And our very great privilege to say "thank you for your service."
28 comments:
Wonderful video, Stilt. Thanks for that! And to all the veterans here, thank you for your service.
As a US Army vet, let me say you're very welcome. It was my pleasure. I'm thankful to have been of service to the greatest country ever.
Salute - my brothers and sisters ...... and a heartfelt thanks to all who support us.
It truly was my honor to serve y'all.
USMC - USN- US Army ...... on and off from 1971- 1996 Retired HMC (FMF) (CPO)
A-fragging-men. ❤️
Fleeting Freedom
The freedoms we have and enjoy today didn't just come about on their own.
They were fought for, bought and paid for with people's lives and with the many
sacrifices made by non-combatants who supported the war(s) effort.
Society constantly needs to be reminded that the freedom and privileges they
take for granted (every day in America) are owed to brave patriots and their blood.
But, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day,
Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor Day are nothing but a notation on the calendar to
most folks today, unless they get a holiday, in which case the fact of it being a
holiday is celebrated rather than the reason for the day.
And yet, the freedoms that were paid for with blood in both domestic and foreign
wars, on the ground, in the air and on and under the seas are being given away
with unmindful and reckless abandon at the ballot box.
This old veteran finds it more than a little offensive to see what is happening to
the America I love. And I find the 'autumn of my life' a little easier to accept while knowing that I wouldn't really enjoy living in what was once a great free nation.
Those who support socialism, wide open borders, free everything, gun control,
etc. will find out that there are other societies in the world who are watching and
waiting for the right time to take over America, knowing that there is nothing
to stop them. What an insult and slap in the face that would be to all of America's
patriots and veterans. What a terrible waste of lives and sacrifice!
GOD Bless our VETERANS & PATRIOTS and GOD Help AMERICA....
JRMD
You're quite welcome. It was my pleasure.
And thank you, Joe Dan and readers, for your support.
Thanks for the video, Stilt. And to each and every one of the veterans who congregate here...thank you for your service and thank you for my freedom.
Heartfelt thanks to all Vets. You are the glue that holds this country together.
Written by my late father, a four time decorated veteran who served with honor in Korea, the forgotten war.
IT COMES AND GOES
It comes and goes. Sometimes it stays for a while.
Most often it is but for a fleeting moment.
And then again - sometimes it stays for a while.
Why?
What is it that brings it to mind?
A word? Perhaps an object.
And sometimes - The playing of taps.
Why was it that, of the millions who were called upon to step forward in that duty,
that I should have been spared the hardship that some knew?
Why did another stand in my place - to endure the tragedies from which I was spared?
What is this thing that comes and goes?
This that has been with me for so long, does another also experience this?
This - this vague feeling of guilt?
While others, called upon to soldier, lost their life in a conflict forced upon them,
I, somehow escaped that end.
It comes and goes - this vague feeling of guilt.
My Dad loved our country so much that at 17 he enlisted in the navy to fight in WW2. He loved our country so much that after having 2 children, he reenlisted to fight in the Korean action. He loved our country so much that he taught his children to love the USA too. God bless all who have fought for our country and who are fighting now to keep America free.
Thanks to all military vets. I also thank the animal doctor kind of vets as my dog was struck by a truck Saturday and, after x-rays and some meds, I was told he will be just fine.
I'll just copy and paste from today's Johnny Optimism comment:
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
All quiet on the western front.
If only it had been the War To End All Wars...............
My unending gratitude to all those who have answered the call.
American Cowboy's father hit the nail on the head. I served for four years in the Air Force, starting when I was just 17. In January, 1955 I was flunking out of my first semester in college (no goal; no motivation) and was given the chance to start anew. Ended up at a SAC radar site in Texas, where I spent the remainder of my AF life. It was peacetime, and nothing going on militarily.
I never experienced the horrors of war and missed Viet Nam by several years. My only contribution to that war or any other war that followed was that I helped train bomber crews to optimize their bomb-dropping accuracy. Hopefully, it helped our troops on the ground during the dark days of Nam.
I too feel that "vague guilt" when I hear of the deaths, and the physical and mental maiming of troops who didn't share my peacetime service. It was the "luck of the draw" that allowed me to be here....unharmed, alive and in good health. I can only thank those who paid a far higher price than I did for that to happen.
Bless 'Em All....
Saw a nice tribute on Patriot Post:
https://patriotpost.us/articles/66690-veterans-day-2019-2019-11-11
It was my honor and Privilege to serve. (USN 68-74; VietNam class of 72.) I thank all who served and are now serving, including especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Great video. Dad, grandpa, uncle & brother are Veterans. Dad is Commander of the VFW post & it was fitting that his first grandchild was born on Veteran's Day. He is now part of the Post's Auxiliary. Very proud of my Veteran family and thank you to the Veterans that are here.
@Readers- Wonderful and moving comments above. I can't take any credit for the video - I saw it online and thought that it was more powerful and eloquent than anything I could say or make.
Thanks to ALL who stood in the gap so I could live free, especially my Father, who was an infantryman in many S. Pacific battles including Luzon, and my Father in Law who was a gunner on the USS Massachusetts, also in the S. Pacific. Both have passed on, and I never really got the chance to properly thank them for getting shot at on my behalf, even though I was not even born yet!
I can not fathom their courage in the face of death, and pray today's generation will somehow see it, and see that it trumps just about every "problem" we may experience today. I was cussing my irritating commute to work this morning when it hit me. I should be thanking God and the Greatest Generation for my commute, my job, and mostly my freedom to complain about it!
GOD BLESS THE USA, R Deny USN - 3711120 1961-64 USS COONTZ IC3 62-64.
Two thumbs up, Cousin Stilton. Two thumbs up.
Thank you for this wonderful Tribute. There is nothing more profound than to receive a reminder of what was traded for the safety of the U.S. and its' people. I am watching a NETFLIX special series of the Great Events of WW II. I am 73 and have never been shown the reality of this war. The allies and what they did and overcame. Usually you just see the fighting and dying and bombing. It is much more eye opening to be shown the pain, hardship of our soldiers but to also understand the military plans on all sides. In schol we learned dates, dates, dates with not much understanding. If only history was taught with hardhitting pictures not just remembering thedates. I am learning things I have not even had an inkling of. Everytime I hear a soldier talk like these men, I get a pressure on my chest, an intake of breath and tears. I NEVER FORGET. Every male in my family back to the Revolutionary war has served this country in every war. Be they German, English or the Irish side. I have photo's and letters and the family bibles that tell stories. I am proud that all of them protected the land they loved Bless the U S Military!
This is what I posted at Johnny's place:
I joined the Navy because I thought I was going to be drafted (my lottery number was 61--even in Feb. '72, we still thought any number under 200 was an instant ticket to Saigon). My job was uncomfortable but not dangerous. Those who have been shot at are the ones I need to thank; nobody needs to thank me.
I cannot begin to express the admiration I have for my fellow Vets, living and dead. Perhaps the best movie I have seen lately about this was the "They Shall not Grow Old", about the WWI soldiers.
When I think of the Ultimate Sacrifice that my friends gave in Vietnam, I feel sad and proud of them, I was glad to know them. As a Vet, I understand the dedication that we ALL gave to get the job done - it was a pity I was in during the Vietnam War. It made for a lot of slackers, but even though I was behind (CONUS) keeping the US safe from Russia and others by keeping the missiles ready to go, I did my best to do my job properly and well.
I come from a line of Service Veterans as well, and am proud to have served. But I am even more proud of all those selfless Brothers and Sisters who served in combat, and sacrificed for me and my fellow Americans.
If not for us, this God-blessed Country would have fallen.
SALUTE to all you Veterans on this day!!
I too, have been blessed to come from a serving family. My mother's dad, a member of the Kanza Tribe, was a blacksmith in WW1 in France. He took care of the horses and mules that pulled the field artillery and the ambulances. He was gassed twice. In WW2, my mom and dad worked in defense at Kansas City. He worked at Pratt & Whitney making aircraft engines, she worked at Remington Arms, Lake City Plant, making .30 caliber ammunition. In the 50's and 60's one of my brothers served in the Army. My second brother served in the Navy. I served in the Marines. As I was growing up, there was no doubt that I would serve. The only choice was which branch.
God bless America.
Thanks for posting that video, Stilt.
(US Army, Regular and Reserve, back in the previous century.)
@Alfonso Bedoya
Did you have the "privilege" of working with the AN/MSQ-66, or were you working on the newer model (can't remember the designation)? My brother, stationed in the RBS in Bismarck ND said they were light years ahead of the -66. He did two TDY's in the jungle, Udorn/Ubon and NKP.
Small world!
@JustaJeepGuy,
Yes, the guys who actually dodged bullets deserve our undying gratitude, but when you signed on that dotted line, you were saying that you were willing to be shot at for my sake. That's good enough for me. So...
Thank you too!
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