Too ALL VET"S

[brier patch charlie]

To all how have served...........
                                          Thank You

[DonaCatalina]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jvcm83K2pQ

[Marietta Graziella]

Thank you and you're welcome.

[Synnovea]

To all who have served and who are currently serving as well as to their families for sacrificing time spent with their loved ones to preserve our safety and freedom ... THANK YOU!!!!  Words will never be enough to express my gratitude.

[LadyElizabeth]

I know that all the wonderful things the military does is so very important.  I also know I could never do it myself.  So THANK YOU so much for doing what all of us know is of upmost importance.  My mom was in the military, but she never went to a war.

[The Highland Rogue]

Thank you to all fellow veterans who we celebrate today...

DonaCatalina...  wow... very moving...  thank you too!!!

[Lady Amy of York]

Thankyou to all  our veterns  everywhere. Thankyou to all those  who are currently serving our country, and  for the scarifices  you make  each  day.

My dad was  a Korean war vet.  Thankyou   Dad   !

[brier patch charlie]

IN FLANDERS FIELD 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 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 field

By LTC J Mc Crae, MD.  Canadian Army   May 1915

[renfairephotog]

Thank you for serving.

[brier patch charlie]

Here is  something I have always thought was most fitting for Veterans Day, my, Battalion CO. had this posted out side the door to his office, he was at Dak To and was wounded there. It has always struck a cord with me and at time even brought tears.

If you are able,
case for them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that times
when men decide and feel safe
to call war insane,
wake one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.

Major M.D. O'Donnell
1 Jan 1970
Dak To Vietnam

[Ginette]

Words are never enough.  Thank you for serving. 

[Demetrius]

Bless you for your service- and may all future Vets return home safely!

[NoBill Lurker]

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

This poem was written by a Marine.

The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming
soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and
women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and
dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your
small part to plant this small seed

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

FYI:

The National Infantry Museum opens today! Hooah!

Colin Powell will be the guest speaker at the opening ceremonies.

This all takes place right outside of Fort Benning, Georgia (Home of the Infantry)

[Tom]

It is with great gratitude that I give thanks to everyone that is serving and has served!

PS - I've always loved the Marine Christmas poem, Semper Fi!