Veteran's Day. Say thanks.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

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Mar 5, 1999
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My neighbor is a 77 year old ex-Marine who fought all the way through the South Pacific at places like Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima when he was just a kid. He's a little crippled now, walks with a walker, and a little forgetful. Wife's been dead for several years and he lives alone in a little tin house here in this senior park. I think I'll go over and say hello tomorrow, take him a six pack of Keystone beer (that's what he likes) and thank him for the great service he offered up for this country and for me.

If you have the opportunity to mimic me I'd highly suggest that you do. It's the old guys like him who laid it on the line when things were very, very tough who have made it possible for us to live in this great and wonderful country in the manner we do.

Lest we forget.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino .......thank him for the great service he offered up for this country and for me.
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Thanks for the reminder.

The only Veterans I know (however remotely) are right here.

Are the active military personnel also considered veterans?

Whether or not.......

We're in your debt, whether we know it or not.

Thanks to all.
 
For the reminder. I know a Medal of Honor winner that live just over a couple of hills from me. If I remember right a six of Miller Light should be very welcome at his house. He can still walk around pretty good but, there are still pieces of him on a couple of different Islands in the Pacific. We both fought but, I still owe guys like him a lot.:)
 
Every time I think of the Vets and what they did in the world wars and other battles in other lands I think of my Uncle Lewis holding my very young hand and crying and eventually smiling as he came out of another one of his nightmares that was apt to strike anytime.

There are not enough words or actions to thank all of them for all they did and what they have had to live with since doing it. Not their fault, but the fault of those who spit on them and called them baby killers and other vile names.
The sub humans doing such actions would have been reduced to a babbleing lump of flesh had they had of had to endure such miseries as our men and women who served that we could be free.
 
To all I served with, to the family members who made the ultimate sacrifice, We salute you.

Floyd O`Leary
 
To the memory of those, the living and the dead, who served in whatever capacity.

And to those who returned, yet had to struggle once back to leave it behind.

And my gratitude to the ones who crawled their way out of their hell but stayed to showed me the way out of my own hell when I couldn't live with what I saw happening to abused and neglected children and numbed myself into alcoholic oblivion to be able to sleep at night.

You've given of yourselve and continue to serve as a reminder to us all what the price of freedom is, and what may again be called for to keep those freedoms. God bless you all.
 
happy veterans day everybody.
" Good Morning America" was just here. they filmed our morning formation and did other th-ppl stuff. this afternoon we will have a parade for all the veterans. i wish there was somthing better ppl could come up with to thank them. more importantly, i wish more ppl cared.
 
I will not have time to pay tribute to any living veterans today...:(

But, I will be performing in a concert tonight honoring the men who fought to make this country free. It's a 2 hour production based on the "Prelude to Glory" books by Ron Carter telling the story of the Revolutionary war.

Does this count?

;)

Technically, we gave the first performance last night, and will have a third performance on Saturday at the National Building Museum in Washington DC.

85 member choir + 25 member orchestra.

The music and narration are quite impressive and very moving.
 
Thanks all for good thoughts.

Back in 1942 when things were looking very dark for us (and I realized that my prediction of a 6 week war with Japan was greatly flawed) and we all entertained the possibility of Japanese troops landing on the beaches of California the view of the men in the military who were the only thing between us and invading troops was much different than the way we have viewed the miltary since. This is one of the reasons I say that people who remember WWII are different.

Blessings and thanks to every man who has ever served and to those who serve now. A lot of folks just don't get it -- especially those freeriders who have never done a damned thing.
 
Every year somewhere in the US there's a combined gathering for all the past crewmembers of my ship and for the crewmembers of its WWII namesake.

Now I have not attended any of the past events, but this year's is scheduled to coincide with the US Submarine Vets of WWII and US Submarine Vets Association's joint convention. That means several thousand bubbleheads of all ages will be descending on Reno this September. :eek:

The WWII submariners are my personal heroes and were the reason I enlisted in 1982. I'd make the trip just to shake one of their hands.
 
I have a set of dress blues filed somewhere. Maybe I'll lose fifty pounds, put them on and head for the convention and see what happens. I might be the oldest old salt of the lot!!!
 
In memory of an older shipmate (written years ago).

Bobby's dream

If only Bob could sleep tonight
We all could sleep as well.
He thrashed and yelled, but we're his friends;
He woke the whole damn place.
Somebody go turn on the light
To banish Bobby's hell,
We'll shake him hard and all pretend
There ain't no tears on Bobby's face.

Bob spends his nights beneath the waves
Of Haiphong, Vietnam.
He was an Army UDT, his memories are official lies.
But a thousand victims in their graves
Don't give an official damn.
They were sleeping in their ships, you see,
And Bob could hear their drowning cries.

We smoke a pack and really try
To comprehend his fear.
Bob knows one day he'll meet the souls
Of those he killed, who made those screams;
He'll never have to fry.
His punishment is crystal clear
Not for our friend are Hell's bright coals,
For every night our Bobby dreams!

Stephen

PS After 27 years combined active and Reserve, I still feel awe for those who served before and gratitude for those who continue to stand their watch.
 
A big salute to all who have served. My life is the better because of your service and sacrifice. I thank you all.
 
My sincerest thanks to all who have and are safeguarding the freedom enjoyed by all Americans. I've known men who've endured hellishness I can't imagine who say that, if they had it to do over again, they wouldn't change a thing. They unswervingly did what was asked of them regardless of personal cost.

Is "Thank you" enough?

-Craig
 
Great thoughts, everyone. I am stilled awed to think of all the heroism, valour, and honor that was and is still displayed by our folks in uniform. The best of the best, the best of us all.
 
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