Thank YOU to all Veterans

[MMR]

Let's get it started right here. I want to THANK each and every one of you that has given of themselves to serve this country as a Veteran of one or more of our Military Services.

To all the Men and Women that have served for us.....I Thank YOU. Happy Veterans Day !

[clayusmcret]

To all my brothers and sisters who are serving or have served in the past, thank you for your service and the privilege of having served with you.

God bless every one of you and God bless America. May you keep her strong.

S/F, Steve


IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

[Retired Army]

Just a Serviceman
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Am. vets,
Telling stories of the past.


Of a war that he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a Serviceman died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.



He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way,
And the world won't note his passing;
'tho a Serviceman died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Serviceman,
Goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,

To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Serviceman,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Serviceman,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin, and Country,
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common Serviceman

And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Serviceman's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SERVICEMAN DIED TODAY"
Author unknown

[genedjr]

I know it's a few days ago, but I post this pretty much every Veteran's Day.
...

I want to thank those that are serving and those that have served.

For whatever reason, you stood up, came forward and stood tall, risked all.
You are why I can cast a vote, feel safe in my house, can pursue my dreams – even though you have never met me.

You have been or are deployed now.
You serve in the background.
You give of yourself to our nation.
And especially – if you gave your last measure of devotion.

You are why I can write these all too inadequate words.

As a nation we need to rise up and honor them for their “Duty, Honor, Country” (MacArthur).
As a people we need to care and provide them the support they so richly deserve.

All of my opportunities are based on this.
All of my success is based on this.
This I can never repay.

...gene