10,000 post giveaway...a free Tali-whacker-WINNERS ANNOUNCED

This is a great thing your doing, thank you for the chance.
September 11 was a turning point in my life, kinda long story but I will try to condense it.
I had always wanted to follow my parents lead and join the military, my dad was in the Army Air Corps in the '40s and my mom (25 years younger then my dad) joined the Army in 1983 and retired a E7 out of Fort Bragg. But unfortunetly I couldn't join because due to a illness I was left totaly deaf in my left ear and have partial hearing loss in my right. So since the military was out I got frustrated and dropped out of high school and eventualy settled on a career as a truck driver, I could hear well enough with a hearing aid to obtain my DOT medical card.
On 9/11 I was actually in New York state picking up a load of ice tea and watched on tv as the horror unfolded. I was in shock as was everyone else and no one had any idea at the time how big of a impact this was going to have, we also didn't know how far reaching this was going to be. My young family was back home in Arizona and I was stuck on the other side of the country and at the time my wife didn't have a cell phone or internet so trying to get info to her proved very frustrating. Also due to the immense security all commercial vehicle traffic was delayed and inspected so I wasn't going anywhere very fast. In the weeks and months following that tragic day as the nation pulled together to mourn I couldn't get my mind off how helpless I felt and I wanted to help in some way and wanted to be more prepared if it happened again, so I decided I was going to go back to school. I found a local driving job and my first step was getting my GED, something I had been putting off for years. After 8 weeks of classes I passed my GED test and enrolled in a EMT class and passed that class and went on to pass the national registry exam to become a EMT, since then I have taken various advanced PHC classes. Though today I still drive a truck because it pays much better then first respnders I do get to volunteer several times a year to keep my skills current and now I have the knowledge and skills to be able to help out if ever needed.
 
!! We will remember !!

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Thanks for the chance
 
My first Busse and my old military ID. I served from 99-03. I didn't do anything fancy or tough.

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I am not an American but I will tell you a story that hit home
My wife was working in a software support company and they had a couple of people come up from Florida to do training and launch the call center.
They were up for 5 or 6 weeks and my wife became pretty friendly with them
A couple of days before they headed home we took them out to dinner
During the conversation that night he talked about his days as a NYC firefighter
That night he pulled a picture out of his wallet taken his wedding day
In the picture was him, his 2 brothers and 3 best friends

He was the only one in that picture that was still alive, the rest were killed during 9/11
Hearing him talk about that day was heart wrenching
 
Awesome giveaway and I greatly admire the fact that you are giving bonus points to those in the line of duty. Should my post be selected, I request that a member of our military (past or present) be awarded the prize (your choice of whom that person is).

I vividly recall that day: I was in Cape May, NJ in a little Mom & Pop store when the news was conveyed on the television. I ended up staying there, watching as events unfolded, for a couple of hours. At first we thought the WTC had been struck by a small plane and had no idea of what had really happened. The news coverage was live when the 2nd plane came into view and we watched, completely horrified, as the second jet rammed into the WTC. It was at that moment that we knew something horrible was happening; although we still didn't have a clue as to the extent of the horror.

The next several days of no air traffic was rather unsettling as that alone spoke volumes about the impact of that awful day, but it wasn't long before the silence was broken by the seemingly constant stream of helicopters bringing the bodies back to Dover Air Force Base (they fly directly over my house). Once realization hit, those flights were always sobering; matched only by later flights bringing home the bodies of our fallen military men and women.

There are 4 major life-changing events (in my lifetime) that have seared my memory to the point that I recall exactly where I was at the moment the news broke:

1. JFK's assassination.
2. Moon landing
3. Shuttle disaster
4. 9/11

Of them all, 9/11 hit me the hardest.

The following year my son declared his intention to join the Navy - an action that made me very proud - and went on to serve our nation with his fellow heroes. Thankfully my son came home safely once his time was up, but I am deeply saddened by the fact that so many sons and daughters did not return home safely. In their memory and in the memory of all who have served this great nation, I shot the following picture as a tribute to their service and sacrifice.

 
Tahts-a-dats-ago,

Great story. Great Photo.
Thanks to your son for his service.
 
Ex USN Hospital Corpsman here. I was actually home and surfing one of my usual guitar forums online, when someone posted the news. I immediately went to the TV and couldn't believe my eyes. That evening my daughter-in-law and I were going to go into the city to volunteer (we're both RN's) but they then announced that they were not able to use anymore volunteers as they were being flooded with help. My wife organized a multi band concert at the local blues club, and we performed there with 6 other bands. Between the admission costs and the silent auctions we were able to raise over $6000 dollars for two local families whose fathers were killed in the attack, that between them had 12 kids. I truly wish we could have done more though....Please count my entry for a currently serving member of our armed forces. May they all return home to their loved ones.
 
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Count me in. I'd love to have one as a mid sized beater.

Thanks,

GregB
 
There are so many great pictures here, I'm really liking this thread! Such a great idea Trevor! :thumbup:
 
Need some extra credit

This was a MICLIC setting off some mines in front of the road. I was expecting a huge concussion but really the tank next to you firing is much stronger.

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Outside of the monument Iraq had for the Iran-Iraq war outside of Baghdad.

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I will say this again! This thread is an awesome idea and the stories I am reading are heart wrenching. Thank you to everyone who has served, regardless it be in the military or in your community. Tasks do not go unnoticed, no matter how big or small they are!
 
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Pokey1 said:
I will say this again! This thread is an awesome idea and the stories I am reading are heart wrenching. Thank you to everyone who has served, regardless it be in the military or in your community. Tasks do not go unnoticed, no matter how big or small they are!
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THank you. I agree. Must do this every year!:)
 
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Folks just want to thank all of for your kind words, but mostly want to thank all the men and women that have or still serve and protect us on daily basis especially those of you that were willing to share here.

I will be posting the recipients name Thursday or Friday of this week.



 
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