Happy Veterans Day

[realist]

To all those who have served I thank you, for allowing me to have the life I do today. My family is precious to me and what you have done big and small allows that to be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[ElevenBravo]

I never fired a round in anger, but still... I thank you for your thank you.

EB

[Sniper-T]

I thank you all too.


Lest we forget...

[bacpacker]

I to thank you each and every one for your service. We couldn't have the greatest country in the world without you.

[Sniper-T]

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Joe has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Veteran died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Veteran died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Veteran
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Veteran,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever-waffling stand?

Or would you want a Veteran
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Veteran,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Veteran,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Veteran's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A VETERAN DIED TODAY."

[Domeguy]

I wanted to write something on Veterians Day. I watched "Saving Private Ryan" on that honored day to remember all the Veterians, but to be honest, I was crying to hard, and kept thinking of my father all day, who served 21 years in the Air Force, and served a tour in Vietnam. Although he never saw the combat other veterans saw, he non the less did his part. I am honored to be his son. It is still with tears I say thank you Dad, and thank you to all who have served to make this the greatest nation on earth, and to say thank you for all the freedoms we all enjoy so much. THANK YOU.