Happy Veterans Day

i just need to add my thanks to all vets. for some its a tough road to walk.

being a vet myself i know the hard ships. we all need to stand together and help all vets rich or poor by writing your congressmen and reforming the v.a.

I want to say thank you to all those who served. That includes my Dad and my Grandfather. I also want to thank my brother who is still serving.

Remember that these people gave up many things to keep the American way of life going. Without them I cannot imagine what the world would be like today.

I also want to say thanks to those who already posted and those who might post after me.

Finally I want to say "you are welcome" since i'm still active duty and see another visit to the sand box in my future.

i'm a veteran, and i also thank the current military personnel that are living the not-so-glamourous life they are living with unsavory living conditions and improper equipment.

i'm proud to have contributed.

Originally posted by St Udio
thanks for the sentiment,
i served '65-'68, Army, 'RA' (that's volunteer)


i'm going to try my best to get over to the local 'Golden Corral'
where Vet's are presented a free dinner - - 5-9 pm on this monday...
for a long time now....i've basically avoided these venues,
but i do make donations (for a Veteran's calendar in return) every year...

nice of youse guys to do a thread

Thank You. For being a patriot, and for helping to preserve our freedom.

Remember Veterans Day

To all those who have served in our nation's military, Happy Veterans Day.
We owe our freedom to those who serve.
I am not in the military, but have family who have been.
God bless our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters for keeping us free, and God bless those poor souls who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Thank you.

Bless you.

Peace.



[edit on 12-11-2007 by Alexander the o.k.]

We have two holidays...

Originally posted by myowncrusade
Why is it veterans day in the US?

Memorial Day is the federal holiday for remembering those that have fallen in defense of this great nation.

Veterans Day is the holiday to recognize all who have served this country in uniform.

I want to say that I honor all veteran's dead or alive that fought in any war for any nation. To serve your country as a true soldier is unselfish and beyond brave. It does take courage and gutts to stand and fight on a battle field that you know can kill you in a second. These people did it for their country and family. They took that solemn vow and fought when they were called upon. Thank You for your service veterans.

To all fellow Veterans of dedicated service,past and present, in times of war and peace, I am humbled by your honor, your bravery, your camaraderie.

...by your perseverance, your integrity, your continuity.

...by your allegiance, your passion, your valor.

...by your obedience, your loyalty, your reliability.

...by your devotion, your virtue, your sense of duty...

I will not let you be forgotten...



[edit on 11/12/2007 by Outrageo]

For all vets. No matter what country.

Stay with me, God. The night is dark,
The night is cold, my little spark
Of courage dies. The night is long;
Be with me, God, and make me strong...

I knew that death is but a door.
I knew what we were fighting for:
Peace for children, our brothers freed,
A kinder world, a gentler breed.

I'm but the son my mother bore,
A simple man, and nothing more.
But--God of strength and gentleness,
Be pleased to make me nothing less.

Help me, O God, when Death is near
To mock the haggard face of fear,
That when I fall-if fall I must-
My soul may triumph in the Dust...

reply to post by nyk537


NO! You are missing my point. Nowhere did I say that we shouldn't honor veterans. Far from it.

If you actually read what I orginally said, I was not politizing the thread, I was pointing out the sad condition of veterans in this country.

Perhaps you are feeling a little guilty about the crappy way this administration mistreats not just our veterans, but our military in general. If so you should be hanging your head in shame instead of giving me a ration.

The simple truth of the matter is we make a huge deal out of their (our) service and short shift them (us) when we get home.

It is not politializing the thread by pointing out this ugly disconnect and pointing out that if you really want to thank us vets for what we did, making sure we get what we are promised, instead of getting screwed, would be a really nice way.

Yes in the 2nd post in reply to you I did say that this administration is worse than many but none are innocent.

[edit on 13-11-2007 by grover]

Originally posted by grover
The simple truth of the matter is we make a huge deal out of their (our) service and short shift them (us) when we get home.

I understand your concerns, being a veteran myself, having said this, it is the government which gives them (us) short shift as you say.

I am as frustrated as you that many of our fellow soldiers are homeless, sick and seemingly ignored by the government.

We have 364 other days to get angry with the treatment, let's save this one day to remember and give credit to those who have served.

reply to post by intrepid


I enlisted into the Coast Guard at the end of the Vietnam war, as soon as I was old enough to do so.

I had and have no problem serving my country but at the same time my moral and religious/spiritual beliefs (I am a Baha'i') inclined me to want to serve in a more positive manner rather than learning how to wage war and kill. So after looking at the various branches and their non-combatant positions I opted for the Coast Guard since its overall mission is a positive one and served first as a seaman and later as a 3rd class yeoman.

I served honorably but after 4 years I understood that the military life was not for me so I left after my enlistment was up.

I personally have been treated well by the Veterans Administration and the hospital system and I have no grudge against them except the fact that they move slower than molassas on a Maine winter's day.

I have a 30% VA disability from a severely messed up knee that started when I broke my leg just below it following orders, sandbagging during a hurricane. I have been retrained through the VA from a 20 year career as a chef, something I cannot do anymore because of my knee, to that of a graphic artist, my age (52) however has made getting a job (in this area anyway) next to impossible, so I free lance when ever I can, but its not a living.

I am awaiting a full knee replacement and am on Social Security disability as well.

Like I said I have been treated well.

At the same time I have seen and known many vets who have not been so lucky and my heart goes out to them. I have also watched as each year benefits we were promised are either whittled away or out and out eliminated.

The VA hospital system is dramatically underfunded and they do the best that they can with what they have but it is nowhere near enough.

Add to that the fact that more people are surviving their injuries than ever before, a salute to medicine, and the system is simply overloaded.

Add to that an administration that actually instructed counselors that if a vet being discharged didn't know his (or her) rights and benefits, not to inform them, well its enough to make the blood boil.

The Walter Reed scandal is not an isolated case, just the most blatent. It goes on and on and on and the DAV, which I belong to, is working like mad to reach out to the vets who need to know and/or the one's have fallen through the cracks.

Thank a vet YES by all means.... but also make sure they are treated fairly as well.

Every year Golden Corral gives all veterans who show up at one of their restaurants a free dinner on Veterans day or the nearest Monday to it, and every year hundreds show up, and every year the DAV which has dozens of case workers present at the event sign up vets who need help.

NOWHERE have I dissed servicemen or veterans in this thread, I am just calling for them to be treated right, not just thanked.

reply to post by JacKatMtn


You are correct, but at the same time given the short attention span of this country and its media, once Veteran's day has past attention turns to other things and once again vets are forgotten, unless its for some feel good story on TV, so what better day to make a noise about their (our) treatment than on Veteran's day?

reply to post by grover


No, I'm not missing the point. The point is that instead of bickering over the way "some" veterans are treated, we should stand together and honor "all" of them.

And don't make the mistake of thinking that everyone forgets about veterans for 364 days out of year. Just because the media doesn't report on them every day doesn't mean they are forgotten. The vast majority of American people remember and honor veterans every single day of the year, not just on Veterans Day. You will also find that those same people would love nothing more than for every single vet to get the care and treatment that they most definitely deserve.

It's politics and the administration that you have a quarrel with; not me, and certainly not the other veterans who need to be told how much we honor and respect them EVERY DAY.

The best way to honor veterans is to do your best to make sure that they get what they have been promised and are treated fairly. Period. Thank you's are nice... but they don't take care of basic human needs, medical treatment, assistance and disability when required.

I would be saying the exact same thing regardless of the occupants in congress or the white house.

reply to post by grover


I believe you would, and I respect your opinion on the subject. I also completely agree with you that the ultimate way to show our gratitude to the veterans would be to provide them with all of the benefits and care they deserve.

Unfortunately there isn't much we as private citizens can do to impact that, the push for better veterans care has been going on for years to no avail. If it were up to me, I'd be giving veterans everything they deserved, but it isn't.

All I and others can do is offer our gratitude and thanks and let the veterans know how much we truly appreciate all that they have done and continue to do.

reply to post by nyk537


I'll accept that.

Still urge your congressmen and senators to push to make the Veterans Administration (and hospitals) an entitlement program so they don't have to scrape for every penny they get. Our veterans deserve better.

reply to post by grover


I most certainly will. I think that is good advice for every American citizen.

Write your Congressman and let them know that we demand better care and benefits for our brave veterans. Let them know we mean business!

It's the least we can do.

Although a little old I thought that this article was worth mentioning with Anzac day just around the corner.

Although not part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), both NZ and Australia’s service to ISAF was honoured by the announcement that a new accommodation block was to be named ANZAC. Most buildings within the HQ compound have been given a name associated with the location of the military headquarters of a contributing nation.

Source

Well there can be no accusations that outside of Aust and NZ the contribution of the Anzacs isnt recognized .

Need I say more ?

I would just like to echo the sentiments of the OP and many others who have posted here.

November 11th is veterans day here in the US so once again an opportunity to thank our veterans for all their sacrifices and their unyielding commitment to the nation.

Thank You.

SD