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".

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you my wonderful brother and thank you for all your help doing the thread!!!!

(((( hug )))

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

>Just Click on the graphic to visit this site.

The estimate most frequently given is that
a total of 7,500 served in the military in Vietnam.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Please visit this thread also. It will open in a new window.

Never Forget our POW's MIA's by Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you, you are so special Tonkin, I am truly honored that you are my brother.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

BUMP

[redhead]

Snow Bunny, I agree with you so heartily that I STILL can't stand to look at pictures of the Viet Nam memorial without crying. When the replica came through our county, we went to see it, and as I approached that black monument, I felt my heart begin to break. Before I could even see the names engraved on the half-size replica, the sobs welled up. My 18-year-old brother-in-law's name was there, and I remembered the grief my baby sister suffered when she received his flag, flanked by her two little daughters. I will never forget what these MEN and WOMEN gave to keep us free, and never questioned; they all did their DUTY.

This wasn't enough, of course. I remember the foul treatment many of these shattered men and women received when they returned to America, met by noisy, smelly, deluded demonstrators who spat upon these heroes and called them "baby-killers." God be with ALL of you wonderful Vets. Take courage from the fact that there are still more of us who LOVE and HONOR you than there are those fools who deride you.
From the heart,
Redhead

[redhead]

Snow Bunny, I agree with you so heartily that I STILL can't stand to look at pictures of the Viet Nam memorial without crying. When the replica came through our county, we went to see it, and as I approached that black monument, I felt my heart begin to break. Before I could even see the names engraved on the half-size replica, the sobs welled up. My 18-year-old brother-in-law's name was there, and I remembered the grief my baby sister suffered when she received his flag, flanked by her two little daughters. I will never forget what these MEN and WOMEN gave to keep us free, and never questioned; they all did their DUTY.

This wasn't enough, of course. I remember the foul treatment many of these shattered men and women received when they returned to America, met by noisy, smelly, deluded demonstrators who spat upon these heroes and called them "baby-killers." God be with ALL of you wonderful Vets. Take courage from the fact that there are still more of us who LOVE and HONOR you than there are those fools who deride you. From the heart,
Redhead (If this appears twice, please forgive the mistake)

[SLB]

We made a family trip to Bardstown, KY yesterday evening to see the Wall being displayed there for the weekend. My children were awestruck at the immense size of even the 1/2 scale version. Even more emotional was my pointing out the names of those I knew; those I went to high school with, those I went to basic training with, those I served with in Viet Nam.

Few know the story behind the Bardstown, KY National Guard unit and the toll exacted on this small town in central Kentucky. Go to the local library and check out The Sons of Bardstown and read it. Better take a box of tissues, you will need them.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thanks friend.. and here is a story I recieved today. Thanks Bunny, Billie, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and all the rest I'm forgetting to mention, for getting WET for all of us,.. for getting wet so the Flag could still stand for so many of our fellow Vets,.. read on to understand what I'm saying.

"Stop to salute on Memorial Day"

by Capt. John Rasmussen

EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Army News Service, May 22, 2002) --

It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training.

Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.

The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.

My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time.

All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped.

A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove.

I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking.

I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late.

He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again.

Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off.

I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures.

That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag -- encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier."

I thank God for examples like that.

And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.

[chiefqc]

I'm 63 years old, never been in the miltary (not my choice) and have not yet worked up enough nerve to allow myself to visit "THE WALL".

Each time I see The Wall, I am filled with such sadness that it still brings tears to my eyes. I can't understand how the people of this great nation could treat our military personnel with such contempt.

I just want you Vets to know that I for one am proud of all of you and your efforts to keep us free.

God bless you all and keep you safe in his arms.

[nimc]

For all who cannot respond, and those who deserve your praise far more than I, I'll say: "Thank-you, brother."

[swampfox98]

As always, Snow Bunny -- just wonderful. Thanks.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Mega-ping, and thank you for making my day.
Brothers: Welcome home.
Please remember Larry Silver, Jeff Elson, and Tom Teague, KIA Vietnam, friends, comrades in arms, brothers.
God Bless this great country and people like Snow Bunny who make it great.

[Sundog]

Thank you, Snow Bun,

What a totally awesome home page you have here on Free Republic.

Cheers.