Tribute To Vietnam Veterans....Welcome Home.......March 5, 2002

Self and Various web sites for graphics and friends

[Snow Bunny]

Even though we all were in Vietnam at different times, at different places our hearts were united and our lives they were intertwined.
After Vietnam there were no parades, not many people wanted to hear our stories, and if they did listen, they didn't really understand. I know this is a small thank you for all each of you did , but I want to thank you for serving and for being the person you were then and now.
I appreciated what you were did ,and would do in the future to secure the freedom and liberty of this nation and other nations.

A man has not lived until he has almost died…….

For those who have fought life has a flavor……..

The protected will never know.

…….. author Unknown Vietnam Veteran

THE EYES OF A WARRIOR
(A tribute to the Vietnam Veterans, and the Veterans of our past)

In the eyes of a warrior we see strength, loyalty, honor ~ we see pain, horror, and loneliness. When you look into their eyes you see the stony strength of one who has the courage to take on the world so that we may choose. You see the will that stands between fear and a belief that freedom is the most valuable gift that one can give to another. And, you see the heart ~ with its granite-hard conviction that the soul cannot survive without honor. Personal honor cannot be lost or thrown away. It is embedded in the soul of the warrior beyond this earth ~ beyond eternity, and beyond his or her own ability to survive without it.

When you look into the eyes of a warrior, you also see the dead pool of pain. It surrounds and envelopes the inner soul ~ it is a natural by-product of the prize, freedom. One cannot win this prize unless they are willing to endure the pain ~ for this is the price. No one pays this price like the warrior. The horror that is endured....remembered....is the cause of the pain but is also the means by which the warrior wins for us, the freedom and the life that we enjoy. So oblivious are we to the price they pay. The tears they shed somewhere inside where we cannot see unless we look for the brothers they were forced to leave behind, and for the loss ~ the never ending loss of war. In their eyes one will see the deepest most internal ~ and most eternal loneliness we shall ever witness. It comes from the deepest part within them, that part which suffers still, the battle.

If you look deep into the eyes of a warrior, you will see the collage of the human spirit. If you cannot envy this ~ if you cannot love, respect and honor this, then you have no right to the freedom they so willingly won, and then simply gave to you.

Have we ever stopped to think what our world would be like if we had no warriors? How would we have the right to determine for ourselves what we will do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? How would we determine for ourselves what our children will learn and how they will be raised? And the most important question of all ~~ how dare we forget these things are true?

To All Veterans:

"With all my heart I embrace you....
with all my soul I wrap you in
the protective shroud of my pride
in you and my gratitude for what
you have given me".

[The Thin Man]

A big THANK YOU to all our Vietnam Vets.

[Barnacle]

Dear Vietnam Vet,

Thank you for your patriotic service to America and welcome home.

Sincerely,
Bill

[Snow Bunny]

HI .30Carbine, I thank you and thank you for your post and for serving.

(( hug ))

[daisyscarlett]

I would like to post a tribute to the USS Bonhomme Richard CVA-31 (aka the "Bonnie Dick"). My BIL served on this ship and was deployed to Viet Nam. He spent his years from age 17-21 there and he, like so many others, saw and did things that no young man should ever have to see or do.

USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA 31) 1952-1971

In the mid 1960's CVA 31 completed multiple combat deployments to "Yankee Station," off the coast of Vietnam. During the ships 1967 deployment, BONHOMME RICHARD launched a record 73 major strikes.

She completed her last cruise in Southeast Asia in October 1970, and returned home for decommissioning on July 2, 1971.

CV/CVA 31 received three battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation in Vietnam.

[daisyscarlett]

I wondered where Flag's breakfast was...LOL...he got up and fixed his own...he did not do a self search...

[JoeSixPack1]

The years and the tears have humbled and mellowed my memories.
As we may hang up our uniforms for civies, we never lose the understanding of why we served.
God Bless Our GIs.
Thanks SB, for all that you do.

Semper Fi

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good morning, everyone!

What a beautiful tribute, Bunny. Good job!

[BRO68]

Are you thinking, perhaps, of Bernard Fall, the French journalist and author of Street Without Joy and Hell in a Very Small Place , about the siege of Dien Bien Phu?

He was killed on the very Street he wrote about in the French Vietnam war while covering the second (American) war - by a land mine, I believe.

[Snow Bunny]

HI and thank you for your post . FallGuy and I live in Nevada, but if we lived anywhere near the D.C. area we would be there for sure. Our hearts are there with all of you wonderful D.C. freepers with every FReep you all do too.

Thanks again so much for all you do.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you rebel, FallGuy and I saw it last Friday and you are so right. The movie was excellent !!!!

I am so glad you posted about it too so that others that read your post will know to go too.

"We Were Soldiers" is a must see if at all possible. I agree.

Thanks again.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi and thank you for the link.

[cibco]

Thanks SB. Once again you have come through with a heart warming tribute to Veterans of the USA.

I hope some talented FReeper will put together a tribute to "our" Snow Bunny some day. Her efforts and dedication to the morale and feelings of all our Veterans is above and beyond the call of duty.

And she wasn't even drafted...

[BigBlueJon]

Thanks for the welcome. Hello and good mornin' everyone, Freepers, Vets and family. It's a beautiful day here in the High Desert. Hope it's nice where y'all are at.

[oldvike]

Thank you so much for starting this thread, Snow Bunny. The reverance I hold for our Vietnam vets cannot be described in words. They are truly noble people and I am eternally grateful for their service to our country.

A big hearty BUMP to all those brave men! Thank you for your sacrifices.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Cagey, good to see you. Thank you so much and thank you too for serving our country and for your friendship.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Race, thank you for sharing in your post. Thank you for serving our country !

[rockfish59]

funny how they hi-lite the commie flag, ey?

[Mustard]

[rockfish59]

The Wall

My brother (on the right) and buds at Cu-Chi, 1966

[Snow Bunny]

HI Cory, thank you soooooo much for the link to your web site. It is wonderful. I signed your guest book and really love what you did.

Cory, thank you for serving our country. Thank you for helping to keep me safe and living in a Free land.