Posted on 11/11/2024 4:23:28 AM PST by Feckless
Yes, I am a worn out, broken down, fat ass and well past my Sell By date. There are many like me. I call them Brother and Sister. Together, we kept the Wolf at bay. We plugged the Fulda Gap to deter the Soviet Bear. We stood freezing at the DMZ to contain the North Korean maniac of the day. We destroyed the 4th largest standing army in the world and liberated a nation. Like those before us we kept the peace where we could and brought the fires of hell to our enemies when peace failed.
To those that went before, our eternal gratitude. Often outnumbered and saddled with inferior weapons and equipment, not to mention Politicians, Press and a Public that was apathetic at best, and hostile at worst, you fought, suffered, and died but you did not fail. Failure was not an option. Your Nation, the whole Free World, depended on you and you responded as American Military men and women always do. Decisively, bravely, honorably, compassionately, spectacularly.
To those now serving, you only have to look to many of your civilian contemporaries to see how superb your generation of warriors are. You are on the front lines, engaged in or ready for battle. Now, more than ever, your sense of duty and patriotism are needed.
To those who come after, who knows the fate of our great Republic? Will it end up on the ash heap of history like so many before it? I don’t know the answer but I know in my heart of hearts it will not fall from the lack of brave warriors giving their all, making the greatest, most terrible sacrifices in Her defense. Failure is not an option. In the words of General Douglas MacArthur “Were you to do so, a million ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray, would rise from their white crosses thundering those magic words – Duty – Honor – Country.”
Shakespeare stated it most eloquently:
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Happy Veteran’s Day my Brothers and Sisters.
Thanks to all who have served, all who are serving and all who will serve in the future.
And as of last Tuesday, all who are or have served have a leader to be proud of.
You’re welcome.
Thanks for starting this thread and your post. Thank you and all for your service.
Amen.
Amen to that too.
Thank you to the all the women and men that have ever pledged to lay down their life defending me and mine. It means more than you could ever know. Carry on.
Thank You.
I know Veterans’ Day isn’t about freebies, but I’ll post this link anyway.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/11/10/veterans-day-deals-2024/76072069007/
The listed restaurants offer anything from free coffee (Dunkin Donuts) to free buffet dinners (Golden Corral) or something in between. Nothing on the list is anywhere near me now except Chipoltle and I don’t care fore their food so we’ll likely have a quiet night at home as usual. I have gone to Golden Corral, but if you go, expect a wait.
THIS WAS WRITTEN BY HOWARD SCHNAUBER, A FOUR TIME PURPLE HEART WINNER IN KOREA AND WAS PERFORMED BY US ARMY RETIRED SGM JAMES MCGRUDER FOR CONGRESS AND THE RED CROSS HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON D.C.:
I AM THE FLAG
I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY.
I FLY ATOP THE WORLDS TALLEST BUILDINGS.
I STAND WATCH IN AMERICA’S HALLS OF JUSTICE.
I FLY MAJESTICALLY OVER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.
I STAND GUARD WITH POWER IN THE WORLD.
LOOK UP AND SEE ME. I STAND FOR PEACE, HONOR, TRUTH, AND JUSTICE. I STAND FOR FREEDOM. I AM CONFIDENT, I AM ARROGANT, I AM PROUD.
WHEN I AM FLOWN WITH MY FELLOW BANNERS MY HEAD IS A LITTLE HIGHER, MY COLORS A LITTLE TRUER. I BOW TO NO ONE.
I AM RECOGNIZED ALL OVER THE WORLD. I AM WORSHIPPED, SALUTED, RESPECTED, AND FEARED. I HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS.
I WAS FLOWN AT VALLEY FORGE, GETTYSBURG, SHILOH AND APPOMATIZ. I WAS THERE AT SAN JUAN HILL, THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE, IN THE ARGONNE FOREST, ANZIO, ROME, AND THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, GUAM, OKINAWA, KOREA AND KEYSAN SAIGON VIETNAM KNEW ME. I WAS THERE. I LED MY TROOPS. I WAS DIRTY, BATTLE WORN, AND TIRED. BUT MY SOLDIERS CHEERED ME AND I WAS PROUD.
I HAVE BEEN BURNED, TORN, AND TRAMPLED ON THE STREETS OF COUNTRIES I HAVE SET FREE. IT DOES NOT HURT AS I AM INVINCIBLE.
I HAVE BEEN SOILED UPON, BURNED, TORN AND TRAMPLED IN THE STREETS OF MY OWN COUNTY. AND WHEN IT’S DONE BY THOSE WHOM I’VE SERVED WITH IN BATTLE – IT HURTS. BUT I SHALL OVERCOME – FOR I AM STRONG.
I HAVE SLIPPED THE BONDS OF EARTH AND STOOD WATCH OVER THE UNCHARTERED FRONTIERS OF SPACE FROM MY VANTAGE POINT ON THE MOON.
I HAVE BORN SILENT WITNESS TO ALL OF AMERICA’S FINEST HOURS. BUT MY FINEST HOURS ARE YET TO COME WHEN I AM TORN INTO STRIPS AND USED AS BANDAGES FOR MY WOUNDED COMRADES, WHEN I AM FLOWN AT HALF MAST TO HONOR MY SOLDIERS, AND WHEN I LIE IN THE TREMBLING ARMS OF A GRIEVING PARENT AT THE GRAVE OF THEIR FALLEN SON OR DAUGHTER.
I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. LONG MAY I WAVE, LONG MAY I WAVE.
I’m sure I join my fellow brothers and sisters in rememberance of those that came before us and to those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom. They are our warriors and we can’t ever forget them.
wm69
Msgt U.S. Air Force, Retired.
Johnny Cash: Rsgged Old Flag.
https://youtu.be/XfzJ8UBr-c0?si=1ORI7R8d5y4_-TEW
Words which, ironically, were stricken from the West Point Mission statement.
Wokeness in the military needs to die a quick death, proponents retired or discharged, civilians fired.
Happy Days Are Here Again--Sam Lanin & His Orchestra (1929)
Thank you for your service, to all Vets everywhere, and especially to FReeper Vets! God bless and keep you all!
Any Veteran/Active Duty out there, be sure, if so inclined, to get over to Applebee’s and Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, Chick Fil A, Trump’s fave McDs, and many other establishments for a free meal.
And in many places, veterans will celebrate with BBQ and beer.
The traditional “soldier’s grill” is made by splitting a 55 gallon drum lengthwise, and putting it on (often) a galvanized pipe stand. First time use is ‘seasoning’ it with a hot fire, to burn off contaminants in the drum or on the grill.
Only those ‘out of service’ will use commercial grills or outdoor brick grills.
In any event, as many living veterans show up, there are probably 10 times as many veteran spirits hanging out at such BBQs.
My 2nd boy, a newish Marine, is in town with me enjoying a bit of a rest, before he heads overseas for three years later this week to join the fleet. We watched most of the 2024 Netflix doc last night (I had already seen it earlier in the year with my oldest son), WWII on the Frontlines. Excellent restored footage in color. Gives a great broad overview of the conflict with some interesting human interest stories thrown in. My respect for the men and women in that time period is immense. And thank you to everyone who has committed themselves to join a service. My great grandfather, who I got to meet, was in WWI as well as my great uncle who died in France...both from England. Two Uncles in the Royal Navy during World War II. And their brother in the British Army. All made it back home. And my dad in the American Air Force who served in Vietnam and made a career in the AF and civil service, and three older brothers who all did a stint in the AF in the 70s. If I could go back in time, I think it would have probably been a good thing for me to join. But I’m proud of my family members that have served. And I’d like to encourage all young people to consider it as an option. Happy Veteran’s Day.
Thank you for your servie.
Thank you to all veterans. May God bless and keep you.
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