Happy Veteran's Day

[sandy]

To all the fine people who serve/served our country: THANK YOU!

I admire you. I respect you. I appreciate you.

Thank you so very, very much for your selfless service to our country. You are heroes.

Thank a vet today.

[cosmictraveler]

Why thank you.

[sandy]

You are a vet?

[cosmictraveler]

Yes, Vietnam era.

[sandy]

Well then, thank YOU so very much for serving our country. You are a hero.

[cosmictraveler]

Just doing my duty as are all of the other fine comrades out there.

[listeria_m]

Thank you cosmictraveller and all the fine comrades out there!Thank you!

[peta9]

Why aren't you enlisting? You could volunteer for the front lines.

[Till Eulenspiegel]

Thank you for the good wishes.

My wife and I recently went to Branson, Missouri and at every show we attended and we went to a lot of them, they asked all the veterans to stand and be recognized. It was really quite moving and enlightening to know that at least in Middle America they still respect veterans.

[sandy]

Thank you, Til, for serving.

[cosmictraveler]

Eulogy for a Veteran

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the Gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.





I WENT TO SEE THE SOLDIERS

I went to see the soldiers, row on row on row,
And wondered about each so still, their badges all on show.
What brought them here, what life before
Was like for each of them?
What made them angry, laugh, or cry,
These soldiers, boys and men.

Some so young, some older still, a bond more close than brothers
These men have earned and shared a love, that's not like any others
They trained as one, they fought as one
They shared their last together
That bond endures, that love is true
And will be, now and ever.

I could not know, how could I guess, what choices each had made,
Of how they came to soldiering, what part each one had played?
But here they are and here they'll stay,
Each one silent and in place,
Their headstones line up row on row
They guard this hallowed place.

Kenny Martin
© 2003




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.

[draqon]

its so sad...but in my city so many veterans are homeless people

[Orleander]

We have a cardboard sign in the car that says "Thank You Vet!!" that the kids made. Every time we see a car with a vet plate, they hold up the sign as we pass and honk/wave. We have yet to see a Medal of Honor plate, but we have seen several purple heart ones.

[sandy]

That's pretty awesome, O. You have great kids.

[Orleander]

Yeah, well the 16 yr old is a bit more bored with it than the 9 yr old after all these years. Its like a hunting expedition for her. She sees one, shrieks and starts hitting him in the head with the sign so he'll hold it up.

[sandy]

LOL!
Do you have any pics? FOX would LOVE that!

[Orleander]

The drive by 'thank you' or him getting hit with the sign? lol

[sandy]

Probably the kids in the car holding up the sign. If you have any, email them to Hannity or O'Reilly. They LOVE this kind of stuff. Especially Hannity.

[USS Exeter]

its so sad...but in my city so many veterans are homeless people

In Chicago, most of the homeless vets are from the vietnam war. Just recenly, I saw a man with no legs, begging for money. It is really sad.

[sandy]

I've counseled/advised vets. Some of them are now working computer jobs and have very happy, productive lives.