Veterans Day

[Mike n NC]

This long haired old man had to go in town (kilted as usual) yesterday to collect for some work I have been doing for one of the local shops. I intentionally went the long-way round to avoid the traffic from the (we do it a week early here) parade. As luck would have it, the parade was still going on as I left the shop but I was asked by a lady "were you part of the parade?". No I explained to the chuckles and snickers of a couple of young Marines standing nearby. Hearing their laughter prompted me to go on to say, "I don't want to detract from the heros in the parade, I had my parade in 1991 when I got back from Iraq on the first go round. It was great, a parade and shortly afterward my retirement and ever so much better than being spat on during Viet Nam". The youngsters left with their heads a little lower than they had been.

Shortly after that I took my wife to buy an American Defense Ribbon with a bronze star so that she could display it on her name tag during her school's vet spirit week. (she is a teacher) As we purchased it I explained to her the significance of the star, an additional war or act of combat, and it caused me to pause for a minute and remember being in the Military during Viet Nam...A pretty thankless task.

Then I thought about the homecoming we got when we returned from Desert Storm, a whole different ballgame...

What is the purpose of all this rambling? Other than an old man sharing memories I guess the first would be you truly can't tell a vet by the way they look. Second, I guess would be that the thank yous mean so very, very much.

My Dad is 84, a surviving member of the generation that fought WWII and still gets a smile every time someone thanks him for it.

Mike, a bit battlescared but not bitter :smile:

Another thought just came to me so a PS is in order. A lot of the young men I cross paths with every day, I'm talking 19, 20 and 21, are getting ready to leave for their 2nd or 3rd tour. I hate it for them, wish it were me instead but as I was told by a young Marine some time ago, "you rest, it's our turn to serve you now". Out of the mouths of babes...

[AckZel]

In Finland we have national veteran day 27th April. The day when Lapland War ended (1945). Guns silenced and Finland exited WWII for good.

Other day we have if the day of the fallen. It is 3rd sunday of May. Connects to the day our independence war (civil war) ended. (16.5.1918 The official day it ended. Some local small scale battles around after that, that's why the day of fallen is not on exact date)

[GMan]

Well said Dave. Often times we do forget such things and get wrapped up in life, and forget the true meaning.

[starbkjrus]

I can't say much here as I was born in between. I'm crying just now.

Thanks to all...

[Riverkilt]

Our little town has a Veteran's Day Parade and my agency is closed in honor of the day. Every year to date I've marched in Union Army regalia in honor of two great great grandfathers who served.

This year, I have a replica Royal Air Force battle jacket and am marching in honor of my father, a Montana boy, who volunteered for the RAF and was a flying sergeant until the US got their act together and he was transferred to the Army Air Corps as a 2nd Lt. and finished War 2 as a Captain.

He earned his bones at Dieppe and Kassarine Pass. After a couple years of combat they shipped him home to be an instructor of instructors. He seldom spoke of the war. He did sometimes brag when he was drunk that he'd get respect from his instructor students by taking them up and getting them airsick.

Me? Just a gentle cold warrior from the mid 60s who remembers a little bit about the M-14 Rifle...

Semper Fi,

Ron

[F16WarBird]

Lest we forget...

[mkmound]

Dave,

Thanks so much for your reminder. My heartfelt thanks to all who have served.

Mark