I’ll tell you how we felt. Parades suck. No thanks. I just retired from 24 years in the army. Every time I had to be part of one of these dog and pony shows it was a waste of time. They usually occur on a weekend or holiday and that’s time better spent with your family. I would estimate that at least 80% of my soldiers felt this way.
I commanded many units and always tried to keep things low key and quick. I gave soldiers the option of keeping promotion ceremonies or awards ceremonies small and private. I even disliked change of command ceremonies but realized they were necessary and traditional. We used to time the speeches. Anyone who talked more than one minute took some shit about it...
Sorry you had such a shitty experience! Despite being spat on in the late 60s and early 70s, mine was a lot better, but then, I wasn’t a chopper pilot, just an artilleryman.
It is funny, but every parade or ceremony filled me with pride, because I believed I was carrying on a proud tradition. My late maternal Grandfather was in a formal ceremony in France, where his rifle, out of the entire company, was inspected by General Pershing.
Different strokes for different folks. It sounds like you spent your career, either sitting on your ass with one hand between your legs, or trashing traditions of the service to be a “good guy”. But, that is my judgmental take on it. Full disclosure...I was nearly killed in June of 1980 due to the poor judgement of a chopper pilot in an OH-58.
Glad your gone....your a dick....and your troops knew you were a dick.
Thanks for ‘sacrificing yourself’ for 24 years...our nation and the Men who DIED for it....just shake their head in a sad confusion on why men like you even get into our once proud band of brothers.
My god man....it’s a PARADE....a fripin PARADE.... to HONOR the men and women who give (and will give) their lives for us and to set a HIGH BAR for the young men and women who want to MEET THAT BAR...by example!!
What’s wrong with you?
I can only think that sometimes you live so close to the forest....you no longer see the trees. I hope it the case for your idiocy.
Good day sir.
“I’ll tell you how we felt. Parades suck. No thanks. I just retired...”
Concur