Veterans Day: 2013

Monday, November 11 is Veterans Day in the USA. Regardless of your political leanings, this day honors the people who chose to answer America's call for support and the American ideal of freedom.

In 1967 I had a 2-S military deferment. I was against the war in Viet Nam, but to this day I respect and honor those who were drafted or enlisted into the military. Here we are 45 years later and America still finds itself immersed in war. And somewhere in the world war continues. Someday I hope there are no veterans.

A few years ago a friend of mine lost his son to the war in Iraq. A couple of years later, I visited a place in Cape May, NJ - Sunset Beach - where a flag is flown that once covered the casket of a soldier who died in a war to support the cause of freedom. Those two experiences compelled me to write a song and make a video. The quality of the recording is not professional, but I present it here to honor those who sacrificed their life for freedom.

Flag of Freedom

My father was in the Army I(before I was born) in approximately 1944 -1946 and his brother (my Uncle was in at the same time. My ex husband was in Viet Nam for a year in 68. Boy, he told me a few stories.


Happy Veteran's Day to ALL of our wonderful Vets




TIS

Very touching. Thanks for sharing it, MC.

MC,

What a nice tribute. Good work!!!!




TIS

One of my students wrote this for me based on his service in Afghanistan:

Freedom, it is a word that it used so loosely. We all know that men go and fight for freedom but do Americans really know the cost. Yes, I am sure that if you have a loved one who has been overseas, you may understand. For the most, they see us march to an airplane, climb aboard, and then return months later with smiles on our faces. Do they really know what it is like to give up everything you have and leave?
Each day we wake up and stroll into our bathrooms to relieve ourselves and wash our faces. Never doubting that the light switch will work and water will flow from the faucet. We get ready to leave, walk out the door and stop. We start to curse the day because we forget our phone and have to go back inside to retrieve it. These are just simple chores…effortless routines of our daily life. As we walk thru our day and wait in drive thru’s for lunch, it never crosses your minds that someone, somewhere is in a hell hole for you. You go on each hour of the day expecting the school to be cool with air conditioning, a police officer at the corner watching for speeders, and the lady at the Krogers scanning your groceries. As you take this for granted we are there to insure you do not have to think about it.
My life is a ritual of mind numbing boredom until that boredom is broken. A daily concern is hoping for running water somewhere in my near future. I am not surprised if there is no electricity when I turn on a light switch. I do not fret over a meaningless item such as a phone. The funny thing is, my biggest fear is to accidently leave my weapon behind after relieving myself in the morning. I hope for a boring day because the opposite of that could mean for a real bad day. During these boring days I often wonder what is going on back home.
January 5, I get word that Bell from our home base was killed by an IED. It is 2am and it is still dark out. The sun will be rising in a few hours and I think, this will be the first time in 23 years that he will not be here to see it rise. My second thought is that his parents and family right now are going on with their daily routines, not aware that bad news is heading their way. I haven’t been here a month and reality has already slapped me in the face.
I am sleeping and awaken to hear the rocket attack. I lay motionless on the floor for a few minutes and then dart off to a bunker until all clear is broadcasted over the radio. I am cold, half dressed and freaking dirty from the bunker dust. There is no running water in my tent so I need to brush off as much dirt and dust as I can before climbing back into my sleeping bag. Oh how I wish it was just a neighbor’s dog barking that was keeping me up.
Six Marines killed last night. I was notified of it this morning when I reported into work at 2 am. The sobering fact that I am in a war zone is very real. The same thoughts run through my head as they did before. Are these Marine’s dads ordering something at Wendy’s right now? Are their mothers sliding their debit card at Old Navy?
I miss a little kid’s laugh at Chucky E. Cheese and the playing of a guitar. Why? I just noticed that it is something I can’t have for quite some time. Maybe when I get home I will appreciate these little bits of peaceful noise.
Lying in my bunk at night I find myself wandering off into deep thought of why I am here. It’s not the money and definitely not the scenery. Anyone in their right mind would rather be anywhere but in this dustbowl. It’s hard to explain why I am here. Unless you have that desire to serve, it cannot be understood. I am not here because I want to kill someone. I am not here because I hate someone. I am here because this is where my country needs me. I am a small piece of the puzzle but without me, the puzzle is not complete.
Now I am home and I dreamt everyday to get back to this place. Why is it that I am not comfortable being here. It’s hard to go though my daily routine without wonder who and what is over there right this moment. The weirdest thing is that… I feel more stressed at home than I did most of the time over there. I find myself missing it.

Here in the UK we have the same day, but we call it Remembrance Day. Always with a thought for my father who did national service back in the '50's and fought in Malaya.

Honour and respect to all our soldiers and veterans, those living and those who made the ultimate sacrifice!

Thank you to all those who served, are serving and those who paid the price to give us our freedoms.

And a big thank you for my hubby Ray who served is the US Navy for 20 years.

May we never forget..

Thank to all who served.

A big thanks to our BB Veterans

You are welcome and thanks to all others who have served. What a great day for all Americans

I was almost a 4th generation Army man myself but bailed after the recruiter wouldn't quit calling me at work, almost getting me fired (I was just 16 at the time). Always wanted to be a sniper.

Have family as far back as the Revolutionary War to now serving, always remember our Vets!

Did anyone watch the Veteran's Day ceremony in which the President honored one of the oldest living veterans who is 107 years old. Wow!!!! Richard Overton, who served in World War looked to be in good shape at that age. God Bless him!!!!

TIS

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/richard-ove...--politics.html

God bless those that have served and those fighting for our freedoms every day. MC and Oli, thank you for sharing!

My dad served in the Pacific on the USS Bennington. His was the only ship in his fleet that returned from the war unscathed.

My Grandfather wasn't far from your Dad, he served on the USS Savannah (CL-42) a destroyer, they helped Patton invade North Africa and Sicily until they were the only ship to be hit by a German radio controlled bomb. Went back to the U.S. for all the major repairs then went to the Pacific where they stationed on Guadalcanal. Most thought the Navy was where everyone wanted to be to get away from the action, but it just wasn't so. There is actually footage of the Savannah on deck after the RC bomb hit. Went through 3 decks before it exploded.

Almost all of my family members are in the military, and most have served in some sort of war. I myself have thought of joining but am just indecisive. Veterans day is always such a special day in my family. It always makes you look back at all the heroes we have had over the years.

I hope all of our vets on the board took advantage of some of the well deserved freebies offered by some of the restaurants and food chains.

I was of draft age during the Viet Nam war. I knew 4 young men who died there. Many years ago I visited the Viet Nam memorial in Washington DC. A very emotional experience. I found the names of the four. Lt. Heinz Ahlmeyer was a friend of my older brother. Died early in the war; maybe 1964. His remains were not found (identified) until maybe 40 years later (2004). Lt Robert Bauer was the older brother of one of my high school friends. Tom Kernan lived in my neighborhood, but I didn't know him well. Paul LaFrieri (sp.) was in my sister's class in high school.

When you know someone who sacrificed their life for their country - no matter if you believe in the cause or not - it is a sobering thought.

My cousin's husband was an air force pilot killed in Viet Namwhen I was five. He left a son he never got to meet.

Another cousin of mine has a son, a lance corporal in the Marine Corps, who was recently deployed to Afghanistan. We're waiting for his safe return.

I never do. Sometimes some others might want to talk about their experiences and I don't always want to be reminded. I have recent vets in my classes, some with PTSD and once in a great while we'll compare our service then with now.