| Nov 10, 2006 @ 9:40 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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CrackerJackPat
Posts: 794
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I would like to take time and space to not only say "Thank You" to those who have fought for our freedom, but to those families who have given so much through their gift of the life they lost. I would like to see this thread extended allowing time and space for others to do the same.
my nephew, Stephen, who gave his life in Iraq.
my nephews who fought in Iraq: Michael, Andrew, & Robert
my brother who fought as a medic in Viet Nam, Richard
my brother Don, a CB in Laos
my niece & nephew in Germany
my cousin Jackie who survived a sinking sub in WWII
and everyone else's husbands, sons, brothers, and the boys who seem to have no family... please allow America to "be your family"
Thank you!
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 10:05 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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unluckyinlofe
Posts: 61
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From a vet....Thanks!
Also Semper Fi and Happy Birthday Marines, we be 231 years old.
We else can claim that, born in a bar, (Tun Tabern, Phila. PA), and have fought in every clime and place were we could take a gun.
Semper Fi to my brother and sister s in arms.
God Bless.
Ed
MSgt/USMC (Ret)
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 10:58 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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countryboy69995
Posts: 653
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From a Veteran Army Combat Engineer, Desert Strom, to all other Veterans and familys
I want to thank all of the U.S. military for protecting us for the ability to still wake up in the morning and be able to breath in the fresh air of freedom.
Also the Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Wives, Children, Grandparents and all familys that have given their loved ones for our freedom.
Welcome home to all of those from every War and all those that have not been to War. We love you all.  
Oh have fun this Veteran's Day fellow Americans. Aint it great to be FREE? 
LET FREEDOM RING!!!!!!! 
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 11:04 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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countryboy69995
Posts: 653
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Storm oops.
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 11:12 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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luvshorses644
Posts: 1,571
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I would also like to add my thanks to all who have fought for this country (uncle Mike, Mick, and so many others) and our freedom.. THANK YOU MORE THAN I CAN CONVEY IN MERE WORDS!!! 
[Edited on 11/10/2006 11:13 AM]
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 11:13 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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twotall911
Posts: 13,048
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People say freedom isn't free, yet everyday most enjoy freedom at no cost to themselves. But for the American Soldier and their families the cost is great.
Some bear physical wounds and scars while others bear emotional wounds that never heal.
Some lose irreplaceable time with their children for events like birth, each birthday, winning homerun, first place at band competition and many other daily events can't be adequately captured by video, even in real time.
Some come home so changed, that they can't re-adapt to what they left, nor can those at home adapt to the person who came home.
Some face grave financial hardship which alters family prosperity for a lifetime.
In the end, all who serve and their families pay a price for freedom.
I have been asked what I thought the real cost of the fight for freedom was.John Smith would have made a great dad, granddad, and uncle, for he was a great husband, son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin. 144 years and six generations before John Smith's death, Bob Smith died as a prisoner of war in the Civil War. There will be no 144 years and six generations from Bob Smith, for he had no children. The sound at Christmas, birthdays, vacations, and holidays will not hear the happy cries of children saying watch me daddy or hey uncle John. John Smith will never be asked "who gives this woman in marriage"? will not even get to grieve and shed a tear at the grave of his parents. For John and our family, the cost of freedom is a lifetime of love.
Soldiers do not serve for money, fame, or future. Soldiers are the few who care enough to sacrifice some or all of their life so that the majority do not have to.
Remembering them one day a year is little enough to give back. To the Veterans who lived to come home, thank you for serving and thank you for living. To the fallen, especially my son, I can never thank you enough for what you have given and the best I can do is to remember and honor your sacrifice.
A winter warrior
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 11:55 AM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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EyesofBlue72660
Posts: 13,047
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Twotall....that was absolutely beautiful 
Soldiers do not serve for money, fame, or future. Soldiers are the few who care enough to sacrifice some or all of their life so that the majority do not have to.
There can't be a truer statement!!!!!!! I come from a family that has served in the military for our country throughout it's history. Both sides of my family have been fortunate through the generations in that our "Boys" made it back home. I was never more proud than about a year ago, when my son discovered how many relatives/ancestors have willingly enlisted, made the comment, "Wow, Mom, so I REALLY come from a military family! You can be sure if I have any sons, they will join the service too!" To me, that comment meant he understood and took pride in the importance of patriotism! Yes, we can all learn something from a Veteran!!!!
Words cannot express the love and gratitude I have for any individual that has served America!!!!! In my book, there is no greater deed!
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 12:18 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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wislowrider
Posts: 85
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Twotall,
I agree with what ya just said, up above, except for this part.......
People say freedom isn't free, yet everyday most enjoy freedom at no cost to themselves.
The way I see it is that everyone, to some extent, pays a price for freedom. One example....those who don't or can't serve pay the price of never having the possibility of meeting those soldiers who have given their life in battle.
The reason I think the saying "Freedom is not free" is used is because it's a generalization. Someone has to pay for the freedom. Therefore, freedom is not free.
I tried every possible angle to enlist in the Marine Corps the same time my brother did, but no matter my argument with the recruiter I wasn't allowed due to having diabetes. Hopefully I'll get an "A" for effort when my time comes.
To all who have served and are serving I say, "Thank you for your gift."
To my brother (disabled vet 2nd Recon), "OOOOOOO RAH!!!!!! Semper Fi"
To anyone who bad mouths the soldiers, I have to quote a General (who's name I can't remember) from WW2......."You can hate the war, but don't hate the warrior."
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 12:28 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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julia143
Posts: 1,696
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To all the vet's
Thank you! Without your courageous deeds, I would not be as spoiled and as lucky to have a great place to live as I am today ...........
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 12:28 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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julia143
Posts: 1,696
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To all the vet's
Thank you! Without your courageous deeds, I would not be as spoiled and as lucky to have a great place to live as I am today ...........
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 12:29 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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julia143
Posts: 1,696
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ooops,
did not mean to post twice...but I guess in this case it might be warranted ?
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 1:05 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,912
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People say freedom isn't free, yet everyday most enjoy freedom at no cost to themselves.
There is definatly a cost for freedom Twotall for those of us that arent American soldiers.
I'd like to honor all of those that wore the stars and stripes for our country but today in particular I'd like to honor my childhood fishing buddy who lost his life saving another soldier in Viet Nam.
That cost me the freedom of no longer having a friend.
That cost his mother the freedom of having a son.
That cost us all.
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 1:16 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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twotall911
Posts: 13,048
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jankia thats very true but i had said most not the ones that pay the cost
aka family, friends, etc
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 2:19 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,708
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amen.. god bless the usa and thank you all...... Sweet N Louisiana
http://amor_diosa.webs.bikers-engine.com/veterans.html
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 2:21 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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george3
Posts: 271
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A big thanks to all my fellow vets. I remember you all with honor and dignity.
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 2:24 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,708
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i am sure many have seen this page but its always worth a repost.. Sweet N Louisiana
http://www.ishaah.com/index.cfm?action=Wall
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 3:06 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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Mysterious_URS
Posts: 2,017
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My sincere heartfelt THANK YOU to all our vets...past and present...
Found this interesting and touching enough to share:
A Marine Responds to John Kerry
This is a very well written letter from a Marine to his wife.
Note: This was written by my husband, Aaron, who is currently deployed to Iraq , in defense of a recent comment made by Senator John Kerry. Please feel at liberty to pass it along, as it might inspire someone else to speak up! Michelle
Yesterday John Kerry said, "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq "
So I wrote him a letter:
I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently on my second tour in Iraq , a tour in which I volunteered for. I speak Arabic and Spanish and I plan to tackle Persian Farsi soon. I have a Bachelors and an Associates Degree and between deployments I am pursuing an M.B.A. In college I was a member of several academic honor societies, including the Golden Key Honor Society. I am not unique among the enlisted troops.
Many of my enlisted colleagues include lawyers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, musicians and artists just to name a few. You say that your comments were directed towards the President and not us. If we were stupid Senator Kerry, we might have believed you.
I am not a victim of President Bush. I proudly serve him because he is my Commander and Chief. If it was you who was President, I would serve you just as faithfully. I serve America Senator Kerry, and I am also providing a service to the good people of Iraq . I have not terrorized them in the middle of the night, raped them or murdered them as you have accused me of before. I am doing my part to help them rebuild. My role is a simple one, but important. You see Senator Kerry, like it or not, we came here and removed a tyrant (who terrorized Iraqis in the middle of the night, and raped them and murdered them). And we have a responsibility to see to it that another one doesn't take his place. The people of Iraq are recovering from an abusive relationship with a terrible government and it's going to take some time to help them recover from that. We can't treat this conflict like a microwave dinner and throw a temper tantrum because we feel like it's taking too long.
Senator Kerry, you don't have to agree with this war. You don't have to say nice things about those of us who choose to make sacrifices for the rights of every American rather than sit back and simply feel entitled to it.
But please Senator Kerry, if you're going to call me a stupid murdering rapist, stick by what you say. Don't tell me that I misunderstood or that you would never insult a veteran because you're one too. Having been there and done that does not give you a free pass to insult me.
My suggestion for you, Senator Kerry, is to remember that your speeches are recorded, and broadcast to us simpletons over here. You may want to write down what you want to say before you say it, maybe have somebody look at it before you say it and tell you what others might hear. Remember that we can't read your mind, if there are any misinterpretations in what you say, it's because you didn't communicate clearly.
Good luck to you Senator Kerry, if nothing else, it's always entertaining to watch you try and climb out of the holes that you constantly dig for yourself.
Sincerely,
Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him.
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 3:49 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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CrackerJackPat
Posts: 794
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Twotall -- I very much appreciated your post.
A Favorite Movie the younger set may not be aware of:
The Best Years of Our Lives
Also I posted a blog this morning re "supporting our troops".
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 8:26 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom...
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carpediem48
Posts: 3,372
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Wislowrider....reading your comment reminded me of that 'other' kind of pain and suffering experienced by some of those ''left behind''..... against their will.
The boy 'left behind
Sits hunched before the t.v.
Looking for his friends
He stands shivering at a graveside
Feeling sad and guilty
His finger traces the letters on the wall
The letters spell his name......
his 'little' brother's name
He turns to leave...and then turns back
He searches for friends
He finds them
As the years go by
He searches for himself
It's not easy
There is no organization
No support group
He comes to terms.....with his own 'personal' war wounds........but....
Will he 'always' feel
Left behind?????
[Edited on 11/10/2006 8:35 PM]
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| Nov 10, 2006 @ 10:55 PM |
Veteran's Day..... Honoring those who have fought for our Freedom... |
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twotall911
Posts: 13,048
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carp---Left behind?????
some will never know
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