Thank a veteran today

[RaceGrrl]

Too often we take for granted those who serve their country. If you know a vet, thank him or her today. Happy Veteran's Day.

http://rebelcherokee.labdiva.com/salute.jpg

[racer2c]

:thumbup:

I'm a member the Sons of the American Legion. Pop and I like to belly up at the legion bar and hear the amazing stories these brave Americans tell. I love listening to the WW2 vets. A huge thank you to all vets includling my Mom and Dad. Dad is a West Point grad, mom was sgt in the WACs.

[G.]

I'm going to buy Capt. R. a frosty mug of goodness right now.

2nd Marines, 2nd Batallion, Triangle of Death, Iraq. :thumbup:

[rabbit]

Late on the night of December 23rd, Sergeant John Banister of the 14th Cavalry Group found himself meandering through the village of Provedroux, southwest of Vielsalm. He'd been separated from his unit during the wild retreat of the first days and joined up with Task Force Jones, defending the southern side of the Fortified Goose Egg. Now they were in retreat again. The Germans were closing in on the village from three sides. American vehicles were pulling out, and Banister was once again separated from his new unit, with no ride out.

A tank destroyer rolled by; somebody waved him aboard and Banister eagerly climbed on. They roared out of the burning town. Somebody told Banister that he was riding with Lieutenant Bill Rogers. "Who's he?" Banister wanted to know. "Will Rogers' son," came the answer. It was a hell of a way to meet a celebrity.

An hour later they reached the main highway running west from Vielsalm. There they found a lone soldier digging a foxhole. Armed with bazooka and rifle, unshaven and filthy, he went about his business with a stoic nonchalance. They pulled up to him and stopped. He didn't seem to care about the refugees. "If yer lookin for a safe place," he said, "just pull that vehicle behind me. I'm the 82nd Airborne. This is as far as the bastards are going."

The men on the tank destroyer hesitated. After the constant retreats of the last week, they didn't have much fight left in them. But the paratrooper's determination was infectious. "You heard the man," declared Rogers. "Let's set up for business!" Twenty minutes later, two truckloads of GIs joined their little roadblock. All through the night, men trickled in, and their defenses grew stronger.

Around that single paratrooper was formed the nucleus of a major strongpoint. More stories like that here. (http://users.skynet.be/advocaat.depickere/Text/anecdotesbob.html)

[Anteater]

Thanks for posting, 'Grrl. :thumbup: I'm going have to visit the site that rabbit linked, too; the vets' stories of bravery, heroism and sacrifice should never be forgotten. But where is devilmaster's tribute? I always look forward to that every year.

~Ms. Anteater, daughter of a WWII vet, and granddaughter of a WWI vet

[devilmaster]

http://www.collinsphotography.co.uk/images/poppies.jpg

They shall not grow old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning

We shall remember them.

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/westfront/ypsalient/meningate/lastpost.mp3

http://www.legion.ca/asp/gfx/pix/im_rempoppy.gif

[skaven]

I'm glad this thread was here. I would've forgotten the day. This was a good excuse to call my grandfather yesterday. He was a bombadier in a B-24 Liberator. :thumbup:

[DjDrOmusic]

Thanks Dad....and of course my brother....and every other Vet! :) :thumbup:

[dando]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297263_176561582434457_168372346586714_344591_1344 35040_n.jpg

:thumbup:

[RaceGrrl]

Saying a prayer of thanks today for all of our vets.

[trauma1]

As a Vets that had 11 years active duty I was a Hospital Corpsman. As the years have went by i remeber the good times and the people who are still with us and the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice. I help various clubs, like the Korean vets, American Legion. They do amazing things hepling out all the vets. Raising $$ to help out vets, so buy a poppy. so volunteer any kind of help and if you get a chance to talk to the WWII vets you willbe in awe of them. Again THANK YOU everyone:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::):)

[TravelGal]

Our local city councilman posted this today. Some are national; some are applicable only to LA but I decided to leave them in because there may be similar programs in your area.

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. Help honor and thank our nation's Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice to the country. Our Veterans need our help and support. They are disproportionately represented among the homeless population, and many of them return from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with lasting physical and emotional wounds.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP: Donate or volunteer with Veterans Affairs of Greater Los Angeles.
http://www.losangeles.va.gov/giving/volunteer_or_donate.asp.

Support Ride with Pride's free Veteran's Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Program. (Valley based non-profit)
http://www.ridewithprideth.org/studentsPrograms.html

The National Coalition on Homeless Veterans offers these tips to support Veterans:
Volunteering at a shelter, be a mentor or offer legal aid. http://www.nchv.org/howtohelp.cfm

Organize a Stand Down program. http://www.nchv.org/standdownevents.cfm

Develop a Veteran burial program.
http://www.dignitymemorial.com/dm20/en_US/main/dm/veterans/homeless-burial.page

Volunteer or donate to community-based Veteran support organizations in your neighborhood. http://www.nchv.org/network.cfm

Advocate for homeless Veterans. http://www.nchv.org/page.cfm?id=121

Donate to the National Coalition on Homeless Veterans.
http://www.nchv.org/donate.cfm
Volunteer or Donate - VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
www.losangeles.va.gov
The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System depends on the goodwill of our benefactors and volunteers who wish to give something back to America's heroes. Learn more how you can help.

[trauma1]

Thanks travelgal for your post, you will have of the best experiences when you volunteer with those organizations:thumbup::thumbup:

[TravelGal]

You're welcome trauma1. And thank YOU for your service. :thumbup::thumbup:

[TravelGal]

And to thank all of your who care enough to read this thread, here's a little tidbit I just discovered:

Friday - Sunday, November 11 - 13

Looking for a weekend getaway that won't break the bank? This weekend the National Parks Service hosts Free Entrance Day at all the National Parks. So pack up the family and spend this 3-day weekend on an old-fashions road trip. Enjoy America's Best Idea - the national parks....for FREE.

[TravelGal]

Here's another. It's one of those apocryphal emails that goes around but it gets to me. I hope I have the chance to do it someday.

Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied,wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand.

With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

[mapguy]

Earlier this week I took a trip to the Royal Canadian Air Force Museum at CFB Trenton. There were a lot more service men and women touring the museum than when I last went. I made it a point to shake each one's hand and thank them.

Here are a few pics that I took.

http://i43.tinypic.com/9zx0ns.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/f255jm.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/217l6q.jpg