Salute to Veterans

The salute at the junior high where my daughter attends was Wednesday. It was incredibly moving.

I think this was the 6th Veteran's Day ceremony that the school district had, instead of the day off to go shopping....

One of the things that they do is to invite veterans who are family members or friends of the students as honored guests who are introduced, the band plays patriotic songs, the choir sings and then there is a video presentation.....It has been my privilege to attend each year....I think five years ago there were about 10 World War II veterans who came, as well as the Color Guard from the VFW. The numbers have dwindled to 2 this year. No men from the VFW, either. That alone, what it represents on a large scale, brought tears to my eyes. The passage of time, I guess.

Although I always choke up with a color guard and just reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, this year I was literally sobbing...good thing I was standing at the back of the auditorium....between realizing and understanding that this may be the last year for any WW2 vets and knowing that a number of posters' children and spouses are in Iraq, and all the others in this VOLUNTEER military, along with the civilian contractors in the Middle East...I was a wreck.....and then during the video presentation the choir sang all of the songs from each of the military branches....oh my God....

All I can say is Thank you. From not only the bottom of my heart, but with my whole heart.



trojan-skipper, thanks for starting this thread.

Playbaseball -
I think I know what you are saying and feeling. My sons best friend chose the military as my son chose college. Recently I found myself in a Brighton store and ordered a "PEACE" bracelet for myself - it was so beautiful. When it was delivered to the house, I couldn't even open it. Thinking of my sons best friend and his parents, and the committment they were taking on. I took it directly to the home of by sons best friend's parents, who was just graduating from basic in Ft. Benning, on his way to Ranger School. I left it by the front door with a note, praying for peace, and that in my good conciennce I could not wear this bracelet before she did. When I save up a little more, I too will get one, and wear it in my sons best friends honor. I am so proud of him and his decision to honor our country. Good luck and God Bless to all those serving...

iheartbb:--I agree with the applause.

This was sent to me via email last week and thought it appropriate to share with all of you as a tribute to our vets.

By the way this was put together by a 15 year old named Lizzie Palmer and has had over 3,000,000 hits so far.

Remember Me

Thank you for sharing that with us jerseydad.

We are so very blessed to have these brave and courageous souls among us who will give the ultimate, their lives, for our freedom...they all deserve what Lizzie has so powerfully displayed for us in that clip.

freedom isn't free,and without those giving their lives for our country. we wouldn't be able to enjoy those freedoms. thank you for all you do.one day isn't enough.

The video just got another hit....I understand that it now has had over 19,0000,000 views....It is worth worth watching...but make sure you have a tissue handy.....It is powerful.

19,000,001


To all veterans and current service members:

God Bless You

and

Thank you.

Thanks for sharing the link, tremendous

Prayers and praise for those that are veterans and those that will be one day. May they know they're loved and appreciated.

**** AMEN ****

Same here.

AMEN - to every single veteran and their families - (and especially to my dad - my uncles and my cousins for what you have sacrificed for all of us.)

Amen again.

Yes, thanks to all who have served. We have a proud history of fighting men who have not only helped America but also have served the world.

Bluedog, I'm reading for the 4th time, We Were Soldiers Once and Young. If you haven't read it, PLEASE DO SO. I'm absolutely amazed at what they did.

I teach history and so, I've often wondered what drive was in these men who have served in all of our confrontations to enable them to continue to endure. Then, my nephew went and did 2 tours of Iraq in the Marine Corp. I'm very proud of Joshua Darrell Butler, my nephew.

A special salute to the Vietnam Vets.....

A year in-Country......Then you're back home with people you didn't understand.....You wanted to go back, but you couldn't....Your tour was over.....Now, you had to fit in.....You took off your uniform and put it in a closet.....You went to school or to work and stayed quiet about your service to your Country......No parades for you, Bro.......Nobody wanted to hear your stories.......Nobody cared about your medals....

Some have their names on the wall, some are still there and unaccounted for.......For them, I can only hope they know there are those who care.......

To the others who were there......Thank you, Bro...

quote:

Bluedog, I'm reading for the 4th time, We Were Soldiers Once and Young.

Coach, is it about Colonel Hal Moore?

There were two books close to that title..

http://www.weweresoldiers.net/

I have a "did you know" STATISTICAL FACT answer to a question that many here may find alarming.

Here ya go, but sit down first. One out of every four homeless citizens in the USA are veterans of the Armed Forces. Many Gulf War veterans, as well as soldiers from our current Iraq war, find themselves, or have found themselves, in very similiar situations and conditions of post Vietnam veterans. Like Yogi Berra would say, "it's deja vu all over again!"

May God prepare a special place for our soldiers in heaven for the sacrifice and commitment to keep our country safe and most importantly, "FREE". peace RS

Bluedog-

There were always people who cared then, and still care now. My parents (dad Navy) made sure we as a family (6 kids) knew what was going on to the best of their ability. We discussed the war in Vietnam on a daily basis, they constantly had it on the tv and followed and corresponded with any soliders we knew, my mom sent packages and we all wrote letters, even the tiniest ones drew pictures. We did not personally lose a family member in Vietnam, but we were all very aware of the loss of life including one sisters boyfriend - all american jock, surfer type, survived the war, only to return home and commit suicide not long after.
We always cared, will always care and we teach our kids to care.

God bless all who serve, past, present and future.

quote:

Originally posted by iheartbb:
God bless all who serve, past, present and future.

Amen.

quote:

There were always people who cared then, and still care now.

Don't know how old you are, but, the Vietnam Vets came home to an ambush....There's no other way to put it...It was tough for them.......They were treated badly back home.......The Colleges were anti-war and so were the social circles.......They were treated as outcasts.....Those are facts, not heresay.....

Our Country lost it's will to fight in Vietnam......But, Our soldiers were still there fighting....

The war was still going on after our troops returned home.....It never ended for them.......It still hasn't for many......

I suppose, most people could never understand......

It's history, now......I'm just saying they deserve a special thank you they never properly got, that's all........

http://www.lzxray.com/misc_pages/mikepatterson.htm

quote:

Originally posted by BlueDog:

quote:

Bluedog, I'm reading for the 4th time, We Were Soldiers Once and Young.

Coach, is it about Colonel Hal Moore?

There were two books close to that title..

http://www.weweresoldiers.net/

Yes, it was co-written by Galloway and Moore

Here's more then..........

http://www.lzxray.com/xray_misc.htm

An excerpt from We Were Soldiers Once and Young page 117.

This paragraph follows one where a soldier has just turned his friend over and that friend's helmet has a hole dead center. That soldier is still alive but his brains are starting to come out and so screams for a medic. Next paragraph:

"Bill Beck, thirsty, exhaused, and shocked by his friends terrible wound, now heard screams from the other machine-gun position. He says, Ladner cried out to me, horror in his voice, 'Rodriguez is hit! Help! His guts are on the gound!' ..."

As I mentioned, this is my 4th time reading this book. We can't even imagine in our worst nightmare what it was like for them. Roughly 350 men dropped right in the middle of 1,600 NVA Regulars with reinforcements on the way. Later in the book another soldier is going to write that here he was in the jungle of Vietnam and 20 years old. He was alone and then a Captain came up from behind him and tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was with this Captain's squad. He mentioned that he almost broke down and cried overjoyed that his own men had found him. This is some powerful stuff. Again, if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.

I had a few hours today to sit and think as I drove my fiance back to meet her friends. You see, I'm living the dream. I'm an assistant ball coach. That's my job, it's all I do. She's still in school (a 5 hour drive away)and had a friend visiting a friend at a school that's close by. After I dropped her off I had the ride back to my house to think about today and what it means to me.

When the Tim McGraw song "If You're Readin' This" came on, I couldn't help but think of one of my best friends growing up. I want to cry every time I hear this song, because it makes me think of him, and quite frankly, it scares the **** out of me. He's finishing up his second tour in Iraq with the Army's first infantry division.

Why does it get me so much? I think about the things I have been able to do during the time that he's been in hell. While he was in boot camp, I was attending my first college classes. He was stationed in Germany, I was playing my first spring of college ball. He was sent to Iraq and getting shot at while I was able to earn all-conference recognition my second spring of college. He was still there the second time I received an all conference award. Then, as I went off to Latin America to play summer ball, he went back to Germany for a summer. By the time I started my senior spring, he was heading back to Iraq. He's been there since the spring of 2006. Since then I've moved onto coaching at a level I never thought possible. He's had his stay in Iraq, and time in the Army, extended by a full year.

It's funny that our freshman year of high school, we both had the dream of playing college ball. I went to school, graduated, and moved on with my life, while he has been in fire fights, seen things I'd never want to see, and had to get over one of his best friends dying in his arms.

During this time, his parents have dealt with him serving in Iraq, and his younger brother serving in Afghanistan with the Rangers (The Army, not Texas) at the same time. Truly amazing people, who, believe it or not, have been a great place of comfort for me whenever I've seen them over the last 4 years.

He is finally off the front lines, so I've talked to him quite a bit the last week or so. He leaves Iraq sometime between now and December 1. Heads back to Germany for 2 or 3 weeks, then leave for 3 weeks before finishing his final 2 to 3 weeks in the service back in Germany before his discharge and moving onto a career with a business he started 3 years ago with another buddy who's been running it since his first stint in Iraq.

My grandfather was my first war hero. My buddy Dan and his family are down right amazing to me, and I can't thank them enough for their sacrifices. They've been added to my list of heroes for a while now.

Thank you to all of our veterans. You are all what makes our country so great.

Coach, here's an account of part of the battle.......

http://www.mishalov.com/death_ia_drang_valley.html

Bluedog-
Just wanted to let you know I care. I was 3 years old when the war in Vietnam began and I was 18 as it came to an end. The war was present in my life as a child nearly everyday. So, please accept my limited understanding, but my complete appreciation.

CoachCCKnights--That was a very moving and touching post. Thanks for sharing it.

I wish your friend and all of those oversea Godspeed....Please thank him and his parents for us....

Thank you to our soldiers, our sailors, our marines and air force, past and present ... and all of those who put their lives on the line to protect us. We owe a debt we can never repay. Sometimes I feel guilty that we are here, talking about baseball, while they are so far away and in danger every day. God Bless each one of these brave men and women, and bring them home safely.

What a touching video. Thanks to all that serve us. Especially my dad, who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam!!