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"A VETERAN DIED TODAY"

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling out, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies: they were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes. to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Mike has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a VETERAN died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a VETERAN goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate, to the service he gives. While the ordinary VETERAN, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago, that our Bobs & Jims & Johnnys, went to battle, but we know. It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his ever-waffling stand? Or would you want a VETERAN who has sworn to defend, his home, his kin, and country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common VETERAN, and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us, we may need his likes again. For when countries are in conflict, then we find the military's part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor, while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A VETERAN DIED TODAY

"A Veteran Died Today" That was beautiful. My dad was a WWII marine and was seriously injured in Saipan. Most of his unit were killed (he was part of the red wave) and he rarely talked about it or participated in veteran activities as I was growing up. I think the memories were always so painful for him.

This past Memorial Day some of his vet. friends convinced him to participate in a tribute to veterans ceremony at the homeowners association they belong to. The tribute was awesome, many WWII vets wore their uniforms...and there were military personnel of all ages including some who were currently on leave. I'm so glad I was able to be there and watch dad and all the other military personnel with tears and pride.

Since that time Billie has added him to the wall...and Billie...I showed it to him again this weekend...he was very proud.

Now I can't see my monitor.
Thank you so very much.
That goes in a Word file of it's own.

Thanks for the "A VETERAN DIED TODAY" message.

It seems those announcements are only found on the obits pages.

As a matter of fact, yesterday's paper listed Johnnie Bonavia, 86, of Sonora, CA. The headline read, J. Bonavia, won Medal of Honor in WWII

Salute to Johnnie.

Thank you, Dubya. I remember another that is along these same lines..... Dave Dilegge posted it on another thread last December.

MAY I SALUTE YOU?
By Patricia Salwei

I approached the entrance to Ft. Belvoir's medical facility last year as an old veteran puttered towards me. Easily over 80 year old, stooped and slow, I barely gave him a second glance because right behind him, on his heels, was a full bird colonel. As they approached, I rendered a sharp salute and barked, "Good morning, Sir!" Because they were heal to toe, I began my salute as the old veteran was about two paces from me. He immediately came to life! Transformed by my greeting, he rose to his full height, returned my salute with pride, and exclaimed, "Good morning Captain!" I was startled, but the full bird behind him was flabbergasted. The colonel stopped mid-salute, smiled at me and quietly moved on. As I entered the clinic, the utter beauty of the encounter preoccupied me. What prompted the old man to assume that I was saluting him? Perhaps he just thought, "It's about time!" After all, doesn't a WWII vet outrank us all?

I turned my attention to the waiting room taking a moment to survey the veterans there. Service people rushed around, loudspeakers blared, the bell for the prescription window kept ringing. It was a whir of activity and the older veterans sat quietly on the outside seemingly out of step, patiently waiting to be seen. Nobody was seeing.

My old friend stayed on my mind. I began to pay attention to the military's attitude towards its veterans. Predominately, I witnessed indifference: Impatient soldiers and airmen plowing over little old ladies at the commissary; I noticed my own agitation as an older couple cornered me at the Officer's Club and began reminiscing about their tour in Germany. To our disgrace, I have also witnessed disdain: At Ramstein AB terminal, an airman was condescending and borderline cruel with a deaf veteran flying Space A; An ancient woman wearing a WACS button was shoved aside by a cadet at the Women's Memorial dedication in DC; A member of the Color Guard turned away in disgust from a drunk Vietnam vet trying to talk to him before the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Vietnam Wall.

Have you been to a ceremony at the Wall lately? How about a Veteran's Day Parade in a small town? The crowds are growing faint. Why do we expect the general public to care if we don't? We are getting comfortable again. Not many of us around have been forced to consider making the ultimate sacrifice. Roughly 60% of today's active duty Air Force did not even participate in Desert Storm. I always lament about the public's disregard for the military. I do not count all the days I stayed in bed instead of going to a ceremony or parade. It was my day to be honored and I deserved to sleep in.

It's just like a 28-year-old, whose weapon was "Microsoft PowerPoint Slide Presentation" during the last conflict, to complain about recognition. Sometimes I wonder who is going to come to our parades in 20 years; will anybody look me up in the Women's Memorial Registry?

The answer lies in the present. We will be honored as we honor those who have gone before us. The next generation is watching. It is not my intention to minimize the selfless service of our modern military; my comrades are the greatest people I know (and frankly should be treated better). But, lately I'm wondering if the public's attitude towards the military isn't just a reflection of the active duty military's attitude towards its own veterans. It's time to ask - do we regard them, do we consider them at all? How does our attitude change when the hero is no longer wearing a uniform?

I was proud to wear my uniform. Can I admit that I thought I was cool? There is no denying that there is something about our profession, combined with youth, that feeds the ego a little. We have all seen a young pilot strut into the Officer's Club with his flight suit on. He matters; he takes on the room; he knows he can take on the world. But, one day he will leave his jet for a desk, and eventually he will have to hang up that flight suit. A super hero hanging up his cape. How will we measure his value then? He will no longer look like a pilot, an officer, a colonel. He'll just look like an old man coming out of the clinic with his prescription. But, is he less of a hero? Will anybody remember or care about all the months he spent away from his newborn daughter while making peace a possibility in the Balkans? Probably not.

Our society has a short memory. Maybe it is not for the protected to understand. Rather, it is my hope that when a young lieutenant walks by him they will each see themselves reflected in the other - one's future, the other's past. In that moment, perhaps, the lieutenant will also see the hero, now disguised as an old man, and thank him. The truth is there are heroes in disguise everywhere. I used to wonder why people would want to chat with me when I was in uniform - telling me about their four years as a radio operator in Korea. So what? I wasn't impressed relative to my own experiences. Now I understand that they were telling me because nobody else cared. Proud of their service, no matter how limited, and still in love with our country, they were trying to stay connected. Their stories were code for: "I understand and appreciate you, can you appreciate me?" The answer is, yes.

I separated from the Air Force in February. I'm out of the club. Still, I want you to know that I'll attend the parades, visit the memorials, and honor you. All this while my kids and your kids are watching. Then, maybe, someday when I'm an old woman riding the metro, a young airman will take a moment of her time to listen to one of my war stories. I, in turn, will soak in her beauty and strength, and remember.

Today as I reflect on my adventures in the Air Force, I'm thinking of that ancient warrior I collided with at Ft. Belvoir. I'm wondering where he is, if he's still alive, if it's too late to thank him.

I want to start a campaign in his honor - Salute A Veteran. What a great world this would be if all our elderly veterans wore recognition pins, and we would salute them even if we were out of uniform and saw them coming out of a Seven Eleven.

Yes, this started out as a misunderstanding on my part. But, now I get it. That day was the first time in my life that I really understood what it meant to salute someone.

Dear Veteran, I recognize and hail you! I do understand what I have and what you have given to make it possible. So I'm wondering if we meet on the street again may I salute you?