11/11/2008 8:37:55 AM From: mercury Yes... Thank you  |  |
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| 11/11/2008 8:43:03 AM From: Feckless Wench Today is remembrance day in the UK, we have 2 minutes silence at 11am for our veterans. As countries, we owe them so much. I am proud to say that EVERY child in the school stood in total silence for those 2 minutes today. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 8:45:51 AM From: Rani Here, Today is a day to honor veterans, all of them. We also have a Memorial day as a day of remembrance of slain soldiers. Tracy, his brother, and his father all are having a free lunch today at Applebee's. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 8:54:33 AM From: BCAR I'm buying my own lunch. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 9:02:29 AM From: Jez thank you for your loyal service. now go get your free bloomin onion. |  |
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11/11/2008 9:15:46 AM From: Ali God bless the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our liberties.
I'm buying my pops lunch today.  |  |
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| 11/11/2008 9:20:30 AM From: eddo Thank you to all have served our country! |  |
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11/11/2008 9:22:12 AM From: Hack http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
I get goosebumps hearing this poem, it was a school assembly recital all through grade-school here in Canada, not sure if you all know of it.
thank you all veterans.
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| 11/11/2008 9:32:04 AM From: Rani I have a long list ofthings to do today to spoil my man rotten. Meh, it is the least I can do. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:17:51 AM From: BCAR I'm going to the VFW after work. We buy ourselves free beer |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:21:23 AM From: Ali Have a beer on me today, B. |  |
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11/11/2008 10:25:07 AM From: mercury have 2 on me... as long as they're free  |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:25:55 AM From: BCAR Allright! I'm up to three. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:27:23 AM From: mercury 6 or 8 more and you might have a respectable buzz :P |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:27:28 AM From: Rani What they heck, toss back 3 for Tracy, Joel, and Fred, your fellow veterans. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:28:16 AM From: Ali Do they serve up happy hour appetizers like free chili and chips at your VFW? If so, I'd like to buy you supper, too. |  |
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11/11/2008 10:34:07 AM From: timesjoke I am a veteran myself and thanks for the recognition.
No Nation can allow it's people to enjoy any freedoms or prosperity without the ability to defend themselves, or share protection from firnds. America has been the prime reason for freeom all over the world. All of Europe today has freedom because of direct American involvement, but all soldiers who have fought and died to defend freedoms deserve to be remembered and honored.
My own family has had our men join for at least one term of service for as far back as we can trace. My 19 year old son is now a United States Marine and is serving his Country. Our way of life could not exist without men and women like my son who are willing to serve and protect.
Thanks to all who serve. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 10:51:45 AM From: mercury up to 6! I'd be hugging the toilet 3 beers ago. |  |
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11/11/2008 11:04:08 AM From: Rani TJ, last year in my post, I gave mention to all my family members who has served in the Military, past and present.
I can't say I can make the same claim that there has been a family member in the military every generation, but pretty close.
You guys deserve all the honor us civilians can give you. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 11:05:48 AM From: Rani My post title was a spoof off Ocean's 12. Rani's 12 |  |
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| 11/11/2008 11:15:56 AM From: BCAR They are usually cooking something, some of the guys eat there and no where else. As of last week they were also selling "Nobama" bumper stickers for a buck. So it's safe to say that the Carrollton Ga. VFW is not a liberal stronghold. However they also wouldn't consider a Republican prisoner of war to be something less than a Democratic one. |  |
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11/11/2008 1:08:06 PM From: Ali Do they cook roadkill stew?
There is a bar about 1/2 an hour from here that serves up the best prime rib and cheesy hashbrowns money can buy. If you can be here by 8:00, I'll take you out for supper and all the beer/Crown/other you can drink.
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| 11/11/2008 2:46:16 PM From: beags Thanks, guys! | |
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11/11/2008 8:13:43 PM From: Peanuts We just received a message from a U.S. Marine that was so compelling, we had to share it with you.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
I sat in a movie theatre watching "Schindler's List," and asked myself, "Why didn't the Jews fight back?"
I sat in a movie theatre watching "Pearl Harbor," and asked myself, "Why weren't we prepared?"
Now I know why.
Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil people.
On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered because too many Americans naively rejected the reality that some nations are dedicated to the dominance of others.
Many political pundits, pacifists and media personnel want us to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the bravery of the rescuers and ignore the cowardice of the killers. They implore us to understand the motivation of the perpetrators...
I will not be manipulated. I will not pretend to understand. I will not forget.
I will not forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the press to kick our country when it was vulnerable and hurting.
I will not forget that CBS news anchor Dan Rather preceded President Bush's address to the nation with the snide remark, "No matter how you feel about him, he is still our president."
And I will not forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if reporters weren't informed of every little detail of this war; they aren't likely-nor should they be expected-to show deference."
I will not forget the attack on the USS Cole...
I will not be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory strikes like those perfected by the previous administration.
I will not be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations like the silly, "Have your bags been under your control?" question at the airport.
I will not be influenced by so called, "anti-war demonstrators" who exploit the right of expression to chant anti-American obscenities.
I will not forget the moral victory handed the North Vietnamese by American war protesters who reviled and spat upon the returning soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines.
I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who chose reassurance over reality.
I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told the Labor Party conference, "They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter of the innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does anyone doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it?
There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be defeated. And defeat it we must!"
I will force myself to: hear the weeping. feel the helplessness. sense the panic. experience the loss. remember the hatred.
I sat in a movie theatre, watching "Saving Private Ryan," and asked myself, "Where did they find the courage?"
Now I know.
We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 8:17:10 PM From: Peanuts Thank a Vet every chance you get for the freedom people take for granted everyday. |  |
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| 11/11/2008 8:21:42 PM From: eddo right on Peanuts, right on. |  |
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| 11/12/2008 5:52:03 AM From: BCAR Very good Peanuts. Funny how so many of those who "care about peace" or "hate the idea of war" or even "support our troops" could care less about their mission and use every setback to make political points. Or worse deride veterans who have an opposing political view. These people disgust me, these people don't represent the America I served. They do however still need to be defended, so our warriors do just that. |  |
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| 11/12/2008 6:43:10 AM From: BCAR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Shughart By the way there has been a lot of hero talk around here lately. Here's a link to a real one. |  |
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11/12/2008 12:50:28 PM From: Peanuts I would like to share a local story that some of you can either relate to or know a similar story.
Quote: This year on Armed Forced Day may 21, 2005 the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Alaska chapter 593, was honored to celebrate the unveiling and dedication ceremony for the Purple Heart Monument at the Anchorage Deleney Park. Saluting all veterans, the Rolling Thunder was presented by Cdr. Fred "Bulldog" Becker and his Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club. These Veterans also presented the "Fallen Warrior Ceremony".
At this ceremony this story was brought to the attention of all
CHANCE MEETING (By. Jim Leva)
On March 30 1966 while I served with Company A 1/12th Cavalry Division (Airborne) in Vietnam. I was shot in the right upper leg by a tracer round (bullet). A tracer round heat is similar to branding irons. The bullet went through my upper leg, singeing my blood vessels which caused no bleeding. My platoon sergeant was hit in his abdomen. We filed-packed him as best we could then started to back track to out company that was about 1,000 meters away. When we got there, our medic, Larry Cockrum met us. Larry asked me if I was shot as I said "yes, I am Doc". He slit my pants and looked at my upper let that showed a big hole but no blood. He said he couldn't do anything and tagged me and put me on the medivac. He packed up the platoon sergeant; put him on the medivac and we went off on the last trip into the night. I had not seen Larry since that fateful night of flares and light – March 30 1966
It was 37 years later that I received a call one late afternoon at work. A voice said "hello, Jim Leva. This is Doc. I said Doc who?" because I knew a few doctors. The Voice said, "Bon Son March 30". And I knew right then whom the voice belonged to. We spoke awhile and I asked him how he found me. Larry said he had gotten a computer and looked up the first Calvary Division and found a friend of ours, Lt Davis in Florida. He told him that I lived in Anchorage. I asked him where he lived and he said Wasilla AK. It really floored me. Larry told me that he had been living in Wasilla for a few years know. Then we found out that we work for the same company. We found out that we were working only ten minutes away from each other. Since that day of chance meeting, we have kept in touch with other.
Larry Cockrum is a 5 time Purple Heart recipient and a valiant, courageous Medic with a "heart of gold" – the bravest man I know.
I introduced Larry at the unveiling and offered my deepest respect and appreciation to all Medics around the world. Without these honorable heroes, we, Purple Heart recipients, would not have made it back to our loved ones, families and homes. I humbly asked Larry Cockrum to help me present the Purple Heart wreath for the Purple Heart Monument dedication.
This really hit home as I worked with both of them at one time or another. Jim has a valid point. Without the heroic Medic’s in all theaters of war, most would not have come home. We need to honor and remember the heroic Medics!
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