Today, November 11, as you all know, is Veterans Day. For us old farts, you may recall it as "Remembrance Day". If you would, please, in your own way, pay due respect, and honor, to those that serve, those that have served, and especially those that gave all, to enable all Americans to enjoy the freedoms we have. Thank you. I remember my brothers in arms, good men all. CMSgt, 1960-1988.
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, National Guard or Reserve - is someone who, at one point, in his or her 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.
- Author Unknown
Thank you
Followme
USN
For those who have served. I am grateful to have known some of you. I think you summed it up nicely Jersey boy. Honor, respect, brotherhood. and sacrifice. Enjoy your day!!! and thanks.
So many have sacrificed their lives so we can live free. It's important to remember and honor their memory. Those who don't understand should spend a day at Arlington.
Thanks jersey.
-- Modified on 11/11/2008 8:19:51 AM
There was a time when people in this country unofficially used the term Remembrance Day. It is also used in England. Nevertheless, it all stands for the same thing. I watched a program on TV last Sunday that honored some of those men awarded the Medal of Honor. They were ordinary men that performed unbelievable actions in the worst conditions imaginable. One that particularly struck me was a PFC Dodd, during the Battle for Okinawa. He was a very religious young man that refused to carry a rifle, and could have easily been given conscientious objector status, but refused that offer. His commanders tried several times to have him discharged, as unfit, but he fought it and won. He became a combat medic. Combat medics are unarmed, and the enemy specifically target them so as to prevent the wounded getting medical attention. During a particular fire fight with Japanese soldiers hiding in caves, he climbed an escarpment, and lowered by rope, one at a time, 57 men to safety that had been wounded. PFC Dodd was wounded 5 times while doing this heroic act. He survived the war and was presented his medal by President Truman. Where do we get such men? This country is truly blessed.
God of the ages,
We thank You for all who have served in the armed forces of this country.
We thank You for the freedom their sacrifice has earned and guarded for us. Help us to prize this freedom and use it well.
We ask You to bless all living veterans in a special way today, as well as the families of all veterans.
Comfort those who grieve for those who gave the last full measure of devotion.
Strengthen those who bear physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds.
Stand with those who provide care to them.
Move us to reach out to sisters and brothers who are veterans, or relatives of veterans, or who currently serve in the military.
We pray for the day when no one needs to serve in the military. Help us to live now in anticipation of that day, as people who long for peace, who pray for peace, and who seek to be peacemakers in this world.
We pray in God's name. Amen.