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To: The Mayor; All
Thank you to those who are serving or have served.



A Soldier's Story
by Cpl. Shaun Sanders, USMC


In July of 2005, I was shipped home from Al Asad, Iraq. Along the way, we had layovers in Kuwait, ireland, and Dallas. There were only about 20 of us on the flight home. When we arrived in Dallas, we were tired and weary from being overseas for seven months (this time), flying literally across the globe (again), and then having to go through the long and tedious line and inspection that is U.S. Customs.

We were irritated and exhausted, and wanted nothing to do with one another or another or anyone else. Mostly, all we really wanted was a hot shower and a decent bed. Upon completion of customs, we began walking to our next gate through a tunnel that opened up into a larger walkway, and that's when we saw them.

There were people everywhere, dressed in patriotic red, white and blue, holding signs, cheering and clapping. We were absolutely overwhelmed. There were other veterans from previous wars, as well, and one of them I will never forget. He was wearing a "Vietnam Veteran" baseball cap with the dates he'd served. I walked directly up to him and we shook hands and hugged one another.

He said, "Thank you, Marine", and I said the same. I then whispered into his ear, "Sir, I want you to know that our generation understands that you guys didn't get this kind of treatment when you came home from Vietnam. Thank you for being the better man." He cried, and I moved on through the rest of the people wanting to say thank you.

That's what it feels to be a veteran: when two complete strangers from two very different generations can shake one another's hand with a connection of experience and understanding.

Needless to say, all of the weariness and fatigue we'd been feeling had subsided. Hundreds of people had organized a welcome home ceremony in an airport for 20 Marines none of them even knew. Nowhere else in the world can you find people so supportive and caring. That's what it feels like, to me, to be a veteran. Semper Fidelis. "To those who've fought for it, Freedom has a taste that the rest will never know."




80 posted on 08/21/2007 2:11:00 PM PDT by Billie
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To: Billie

Billie, Enjoyed the story a lot. Breaks your heart but then makes you feel better~~~~I have had to be gone again today~


81 posted on 08/21/2007 3:33:10 PM PDT by jaycee ("God's love still stands when all else has fallen.")
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To: All

U.S. Air Force Airmen from 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard simulate working on injured patients in the back of a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft during a training flight from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota Aug. 15, 2007.

DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

Photo by: TECH. SGT. ERIK GUDMUNDSON, 133RD AIRLIFT WING

83 posted on 08/21/2007 3:46:13 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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