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Veterans Day - Nov. 11
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Author | Message |
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Dominique Send message Joined: 3 Mar 05 Posts: 1628 Credit: 74,745 RAC: 0 |
My Ziggy asked if he could post this. ================================================== I'm a Vietnam veteran and I went to an awards ceremony recently at New Jersey National Guard headquarters at Fort Dix. Gov. Jon Corzine was there and he announced the deployment of New Jersey Guardsmen to Iraq and Afghanistan. Three memorable things happened to me besides the recognition of my own service in Vietnam nearly 40 years ago. First I met Col. Jack Jacobs, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in Vietnam around the time I was there. This was an honor for me since I had never met anyone who had earned the Medal of Honor before. This, I was sure, would be the highlight of my day. I was wrong. As I sat near the side waiting for the governor and his party to leave, a young guardsman came up to me and shook my hand. He was among those scheduled for deployment. "Sir," he said, "I'm Sgt. Jones. I just wanted to thank you for your service." I said, "Thank you sergeant and thank you for what you are doing." As I was recovering from that, another guardsman came up, took my hand and said, "I'm Sgt. Cotter, welcome home, sir." I will always remember meeting Jacobs but meeting those two sergeants made my day. Other than family and a few close friends no one had ever said "Welcome home!" those almost 40 years ago. Ziggy =================================================== |
Dune_Finkleberry Send message Joined: 25 Feb 06 Posts: 6454 Credit: 198,656 RAC: 0 |
Those were bad times back then. I remember them well, though I was not drafted myself. I was declared unfit for service due to a seizure disorder. I was against the war, but not against those who fought in the war. To this day though, I cannot remember one person I can remember welcoming back. So Ziggy I want you to be my first. Welcome Back Ziggy! Account frozen... |
Beethoven Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 15274 Credit: 8,546 RAC: 0 |
My Hat's Off to you, Ziggy! Thank you for what you have done for all of us in North America with putting yourself in harm's way on behalf of our freedom. God Bless! |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24879 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Yes, welcome home Ziggy. I grew up through those times & the images were constantly in the news. As I got older & maybe wiser, & could understand better, I genuinely felt sorry for all the American Service Personnel with the treatment they received on their arrival home. Over this side of the pond, we are beginning to see similar attitudes towards our Service Personnal serving in combat. But, this November 11th, let's not forget the fallen who never came home - the family & friends who forever lie in a foreign field. .....Lest We Forget |
Dr. C.E.T.I. Send message Joined: 29 Feb 00 Posts: 16019 Credit: 794,685 RAC: 0 |
Semper Fidelis . . . Remember(ance) Sunday / Monday November 11, 2007 BOINC Wiki . . . Science Status Page . . . |
Stealth Eagle* Send message Joined: 7 Sep 00 Posts: 5971 Credit: 367,640 RAC: 0 |
I think this says it all.IF I DIE. This I think covers all wars no matter where or when. Maybe I was lucky I never got to Viet Nam. I did have orders, but I was pending discharge due to an accident I was in before the orders were cut. A lot of my friends were over there though and none of them told me they had been welcomed back either. SO WELCOME BACK ZIGGY What you do today you will have to live with tonight |
Fuzzy Hollynoodles Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 9659 Credit: 251,998 RAC: 0 |
My Ziggy asked if he could post this. I'm happy that you are home again, Ziggy, also after the last time. :-) "I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me |
Blurf Send message Joined: 2 Sep 06 Posts: 8962 Credit: 12,678,685 RAC: 0 |
Welcome home Ziggy... I work with a couple of wives of currently deployed soldiers and I will be giving each of them a rose on Monday to thank them for their husband's service to the country |
cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
'Veterans Day' in the US and 'Remembrance Day' around the world have the same roots. (We remember the sacrifices given by those who died in war or conflict.) You made me stop and think though Ziggy: We often forget the sacrifice made by those who returned alive. They took the same risks, had their whole lives turned around, faced fear day after day and yet get little thanks. They also often returned to a completely different home or country that they left. When I see rememberance days on the TV I see those in the services supporting veterans who survived but we as the general population tend to just commemorate the dead or fallen. No one in the 'services' or in war can choose what battles they fight. That is decided for them by circumstance or by their government or people. This 11th of November I'll be giving thanks for all those veterans who survived war and came back to us. We owe a great deal to each and every one of them. |
Monday Send message Joined: 24 Sep 05 Posts: 9676 Credit: 20,067,888 RAC: 12 |
"LEST WE FORGET" |
Pawly Send message Joined: 13 Jan 07 Posts: 2694 Credit: 1,049,945 RAC: 0 |
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Captain Avatar Send message Joined: 17 May 99 Posts: 15133 Credit: 529,088 RAC: 0 |
This is the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, Dc The Moving wall came to my hometown 3 yrs ago. I did this comp In honor of those who gave their Lives for our country and for those who came Home..... Welcome Home Brothers and Sisters We Will Never Forget. 11/11/07 |
Stealth Eagle* Send message Joined: 7 Sep 00 Posts: 5971 Credit: 367,640 RAC: 0 |
Very nice Ratava. I have been to the wall in D.C. it was a very moving experience. What you do today you will have to live with tonight |
Es99 Send message Joined: 23 Aug 05 Posts: 10874 Credit: 350,402 RAC: 0 |
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, May 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Reality Internet Personality |
Jeffrey Send message Joined: 21 Nov 03 Posts: 4793 Credit: 26,029 RAC: 0 |
We owe a great deal to each and every one of them. <--- 'cept for this one... ;) It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . . |
Monday Send message Joined: 24 Sep 05 Posts: 9676 Credit: 20,067,888 RAC: 12 |
We owe a great deal to each and every one of them. What do you mean Jeffrey [edit..added comment}Did you serve and were you forgotten? |
Daniel Michel Send message Joined: 2 Feb 04 Posts: 14925 Credit: 1,378,607 RAC: 6 |
Veteran's day brings as sad and melancholy feeling to me...As i see the men from the local American Legion setting up the "Avenue of Flags" that runs for more than a mile through town...I see the WWII veterans...seeming much older now...their numbers diminished with the passing of time...I have attended many Veteran's day ceremonies in my town...and every year there are fewer Vets present...When they ring the bell for those who have passed in the previous year...the bell seems to go on ringing forever...These men and women remember what they had to do for us...It was a greater sacrifice than they could possibly explain...We should remember them...all of them...while we still can...And be thankful they remembered us when the call to service came in that time of their lives. PROUD TO BE TFFE! |
Beethoven Send message Joined: 19 Jun 06 Posts: 15274 Credit: 8,546 RAC: 0 |
In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. |
Monday Send message Joined: 24 Sep 05 Posts: 9676 Credit: 20,067,888 RAC: 12 |
To all of my America friends ,and all Americans, I share with you your feelings on this day. I also wish to "HONOUR" the service men and women of the US armed forces , past and and present, who have given us this present way of life.To the UNITED STATES military forces à SALUTE YOU. And I thank you all. |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24879 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
While watching the Rememberance Day Parade on TV earlier, it brought to mind an event I experienced several years ago. I was a lorry driver covering both sides of the A14 in Cambridge (UK). I enjoyed doing this run as it covered all the little villages surrounding Cambridge. On this particular day I was close to running out of driving time before I was legally required to take a break & managed to find a nice spot to park. As I had to take a 45 minute break & did not want to spend in the the cab, I went walking. I came across a beautiful entrance & decided to look around. On entering, the quiet was unbelievable, & when I looked around, I was shocked. When I started looking at the ages - Honestly & truly - I cried. Me, 47 years old at that time, crying & feeling ashamed because up to that time I think that I only paid lip service to the past. Since that day, I have always & will continue to do so, show respect whenever I meet a serviceman, past or present, because without them, I don't think that we would be so free today. Where was I? The American Cemetery, Madingley, Cambridge. Those rows of white crosses & in all the ones that I looked at, the oldest was 22. Would I have had the courage to do what they did? I'll never know! THEY DID! To all serving personnel - I SALUTE YOU. |
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