It's Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans day everyone!

Someone fly the flag, shoot a gun, and eat a Hamburger for me (please).

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the blood stream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset telling our children and our children’s children what is was like in the United States where men where free.” – Ronald Reagan

Carry on. -Bill

well said.... it's nice to see the acceptance and honor accorded to our veterans now.... wasn't quite so good in the 60's and 70's

One of my old bosses (a good one that left things on amicable terms) was embroiled in a few wars as a Marine. Every year I send him an e-mail thanking him for his service.

I think I'm the only one who does, because he is always excited to hear it.

Indeed, and thanks to all our vets for their service and dedication. Many heartfelt good thoughts to you all.

Thanks to the Vets!

Thanks for all of my fellow Soldiers!! Happy Vets Day!!

Thank you, to all our Vets, for making this country great!

Thank you to my fellow veterans!
Please, remember all those who served, in peacetime and war, stateside and overseas. It's a big job, and takes a lot of support.

Here's me, earning my free Veterans' Day lunch (Guardian City, Saudi Arabia, 1990):

Note the "Viva Terlingua!" bumper sticker on my GP Small.

slantvaliant wrote: Thank you to my fellow veterans! Please, remember all those who served, in peacetime and war, stateside and overseas. It's a big job, and takes a lot of support. Here's me, earning my free Veterans' Day lunch (Guardian City, Saudi Arabia, 1990): Note the "Viva Terlingua!" bumper sticker on my GP Small.

I wanna go home with the armadilla....

Thanks all.

Thank You Veterans !! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMUgmU_Hsjc

It's a job I can't wrap my head around.
Hats off to those who do and have done it.

Thank you Vets!

My Dad pretty much won't take any credit for his service. He got drafted in 1967 and spent 2 years in the heartland of America as a surgical tech. He is the only son of an only son. When Uncle Sam knocked on his door my great-grandfather tried to buy my Dad a ticket to Canada. You see, my grandfather was killed in a construction accident when my Dad was 12. My Dad was all my great-grandpa had left. But my Dad reported to duty, freshly married to my Mom and willing to serve. He got labeled as a "conscientious objector" and put in the medics. At that time the life expectancy of a combat medic was measured in minutes. He spent most of his duty in Lawton, OK working on guys they patched up enough to fly home. He doesn't like talking about it. He was let out two weeks before his platoon shipped out. He knows that one of his good friends didn't make it back. I ask him about filing for his Veteran's Benefits but he just plays it off. I guess in his mind he just did his job.

One of my best college professors is a 'Nam vet (sniper). He got me through college and through some of my own demons. We talked a lot in his office. He'd pretty much lost it all and had been clawing it back bit by bit. Now he's retired and spends his days fly fishing the rivers of Oregon.

Thanks to those who serve, and you may never know how your service touches those around you.

How many Canadians can still recite some or all of this? Its at least 40 years since I had to memorize it in school.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved: and now we lie In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe To you, from failing hands, we throw The torch: be yours to hold it high If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields

Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

While in Newfoundland for Targa, I toured the province. At Bowring Park in St John's, there is this memorial to the Fighting Newfoundlanders:

The Newfoundland Regiment served at Gallipoli, then on the Western Front. At the Somme, they suffered 90% casualties. The unit was reconstituted, and also served at Ypres.

801 men crossed the barbed wire... 91 came back.....

Right now, there are tons of vets hard at work and tons of non vets kicking it with the day off…that’s bull E36 M3.

I just got done meeting with an Ex-Marine that saw combat and he’s paying someone to watch his kid because the public schools are closed. What percent of those teachers served let alone ever put their lives on the line…total bull E36 M3.

Next year, if you’re a vet, you get the day off while the rest of us just go to work like we’re supposed to.

Thank you veterans!

I'm going to have to call my grandfather to wish him that sentiment, but that is difficult. Thousands of hours sitting behind 1000hp engines flying around the Pacific has done significant damage to his hearing.

RX Reven' wrote: I just got done meeting with an Ex-Marine that saw combat and he’s paying someone to watch his kid because the public schools are closed. What percent of those teachers served let alone ever put their lives on the line…total bull E36 M3.

How many teachers discovered America or held the Union together during the civil war? Having put their lives on the line isn't the point. Heck, the teachers aren't even the point. The students are the point. There are plenty of children of veterans and active soldiers who should get this day to spend with their families.

And I would argue that, yes, teachers actually do what they do in order to serve their country, just in a very different way.

Salanis wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: I just got done meeting with an Ex-Marine that saw combat and he’s paying someone to watch his kid because the public schools are closed. What percent of those teachers served let alone ever put their lives on the line…total bull E36 M3.

How many teachers discovered America or held the Union together during the civil war? Having put their lives on the line isn't the point. Heck, the teachers aren't even the point. The students are the point. There are plenty of children of veterans and active soldiers who should get this day to spend with their families. And I would argue that, yes, teachers actually do what they do in order to serve their country, just in a very different way.

“How many teachers discovered America or held the Union together during the civil war?"

Given that the Civil War ended 146 years ago and America was discovered well before that I can say with great confidence that the answer is ABSOLUTELY ZERO.

“Heck, the teachers aren't even the point. The students are the point.”

Oh Berkley, let’s just make every day a celebration of how totally awesome everyone is and be done with it.

RX Reven' wrote: “Heck, the teachers aren't even the point. The students are the point.” Oh Berkley, let’s just make every day a celebration of how totally awesome everyone is and be done with it.

Wow. You missed the point BIG.

People don't get holidays off because they personally did something. They get holidays off to celebrate something important someone else did.

Like I said, kids with parents who are veterans or active military should have the opportunity to spend the day with their families.

My neighbor across the street just got back from his fourth tour in Iraq/Afghanistan. He's very much enjoying having a day with his kids to just chill. I have no issue with schools being closed whatsoever. Did I mention he's also a Math teacher?

Salanis wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: “Heck, the teachers aren't even the point. The students are the point.” Oh Berkley, let’s just make every day a celebration of how totally awesome everyone is and be done with it.

Wow. You missed the point BIG. People don't get holidays off because they personally did something. They get holidays off to celebrate something important someone else did. Like I said, kids with parents who are veterans or active military should have the opportunity to spend the day with their families.

“People don't get holidays off because they personally did something. They get holidays off to celebrate something important someone else did.”

I thought your argument was that teachers deserve a day off because they’ve served in a different way. In either case, I hope you’ll acknowledge that few spend the day celebrating let alone contemplating the meaning of the day.

“Like I said, kids with parents who are veterans or active military should have the opportunity to spend the day with their families.”

I agree they should but there’s no mechanism to drive that…today, getting Veteran’s Day off is more closely correlated to belonging to a labor union then it is to being a – wait for it – VETERAN.

RX Reven' wrote: In either case, I hope you’ll acknowledge that few spend the day celebrating let alone contemplating the meaning of the day.

See all posts above.

Maroon92 wrote: One of my old bosses (a good one that left things on amicable terms) was embroiled in a few wars as a Marine. Every year I send him an e-mail thanking him for his service. I think I'm the only one who does, because he is always excited to hear it.

I'd wager instead that he's just gracious.