Dog Community

Veteran's Day

probe1957

Posted : 11/10/2006 6:03:52 PM

I got this email today and wanted to share it with you good folks.

***

AL JONES
CofS, First Army
FT Gillem, GA
404-469-7296 (DSN 797)

See First - Understand First - Act First

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
Sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two
together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd
been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he
was heading home.

No, he responded.

Heading out I asked?

No. I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him
home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to
the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't
know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the
soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so
few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you.

Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made
the following announcement over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor
of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on
this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family.

I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward
door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier.
We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant
saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me
realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you
do so we can live the way we do.

Xerxes

Posted : 11/10/2006 6:46:09 PM

Billy,

As a former Marine I thank you for posting that. Whenever I read about those kids dying over there, I'm always saddened, I would gladly give my life for theirs. I lost comrades and friends during my service, and I served in the first "war" over there. I would go back again if they'd let me.

To those that want to understand why we do it or did it, I would urge you to watch two movies: Flags of Our Fathers, which is in theatres now and We Were Soldiers, which is on DVD. Those movies are the closest to reality that I know of.

To all the Veterans on this board, or in your lives: Thank You for your sacrifices. Thank you for standing that post, guarding that ammo dump or driving that truck. You are America.

boneyjean

Posted : 11/10/2006 7:25:37 PM

Thank you to all of our military personal who make sacrifices every day so that we can live our everyday lives here with safety and freedom.

jjsmom06

Posted : 11/10/2006 7:38:00 PM

Billy…thank you for sharing such a moving story. Really brings it home and makes us appreciate all that we have and everything that is done for our country.

I speak to thousands of marines a year on injury prevention to remind them to make safe choices when off duty. They are always so appreciative of my time and also of the quadriplegics I bring with me to speak. I am consistently overwhelmed by their kindness, generosity and a loving hearts. I have witnessed more than several surrender their wings they received during the war in Iraq to give to an individual who I work with that should have been currently serving if it were not for being a quadriplegic after making a poor choice in his life.

I am truly humbled by their graciousness and today is an excellent day to be reminded of that. Your story has brought tears to my eyes and a feeling of thankfulness to my heart.

For all those currently serving and who have served…thank you for all that you do.

ron2

Posted : 11/10/2006 8:26:57 PM

Hooraw ... and a salute.

I honor all those who served, whether dead in battle or alive or later passed on.

Serge, my maternal grandfather, emmigrated from Germany and grew up to fight in WWII against the Nazis.

Robert, my step-grandfather, Army.

Gerry, 1st step-father, Boiler Tech 2c (going career for CPO in 1974, though he'd served is active combat tour in 1969-1970), Navy, Viet Nam.

Richard, 2nd stepfather, Marines, Viet Nam.

Tom, 3rd step-father, Air Force.

Lamar, my mom's BF, Navy (pilot), Viet Nam.

Robbie, (friend), Air Force.

James, mom's bf (another time), Master Flight Sargeant, Viet Nam, Master Flight Sargeant/ D I Alabama Air National Guard

Charlie, my FIL, 410 Lt. Bomber Group, 9th USAF, WWII, France.

Lee, friend, Navy, SEAL, Viet Nam.

These people paid the price, in peacetime, the midst of battle, whenever. All were volunteers.

willowchow

Posted : 11/10/2006 9:25:18 PM

My grandfather was always very proud of his service in the Navy. He served during WWII. He's buried in a veteran's cemetery here and I have all his letters to my grandmother and his parents and also his hats and different pins. His was the first and only funeral I've ever been to where the casket is covered in a flag and military carried it. They played taps. It was unforgetable.

He also loved dogs very much and had many labs.

THANK YOU ALL WHO SERVE AND DID SERVE. This really is the land of the free and home of the brave.

lorib

Posted : 11/11/2006 1:35:05 AM

My dad is a former Marine and I always remember to honor vets. We live near the Evergreen Aviation Museum and were there in September. The museum was honoring a group of WWII veterans (95th Bombers). It brought tears to my eyes and chills down my spine to see these men who served our country and now who are only thought of as little old guys. I told DS#2 that we are able to be free because of these men.

This affected me so much that I came home and wrote a letter about it to our local paper. Yes, it was published and I hope it made more people realize how much the Greatest Generation ahs done for this country.

sillysally

Posted : 11/11/2006 7:10:13 AM

Thank you for posting that. Today we will be going to visit the graves of both of my grandfathers, who served in WWII, and will be praying for my stepbrother in Afganistan. I would like to thank all of the veterans out there.....

probe1957

Posted : 11/11/2006 9:25:13 AM

ORIGINAL: Xerxes
As a former Marine I thank you for posting that.

You're a jarhead? I didn't know that. [

]

Thank you for standing that post, guarding that ammo dump or driving that truck. You are America.

I was a photographer in the Army. When my ex would irritate me (which was frequently), I would tell her, "Don't mess with me, I am a trained killer. Trained by the United States government." To which she would reply, "My ass, you took pictures of trained killers."

Gotta keep everything in perspective, I guess. [

]

glenmar

Posted : 11/11/2006 9:40:35 AM

Thank you for sharing that moving story.

And, thank you to all the brave men and women who have served or are now serving. God be with them.

marlania

Posted : 11/11/2006 11:00:15 AM

My dad has been working on a veterans memorial for our community for the past two years. He started the project to honor my grandpa, who is the second oldest-living veteran here. The memorial is going to be unveiled today after a mass honoring the veterans in our community. There's also a dinner and dance following the ceremony. I helped decorate for the dance two nights ago, and yesterday afternoon, I stopped in again to see how it would finally look, and they've managed to collect pictures of veterans as far back as the Civil War, so I think the community is going to be happy with the way this turns out.

cindy w.

Posted : 11/11/2006 12:04:35 PM

Happy Veterans Day................

Freedom isnt free....
I am so grateful to live in this great country, and I thank all service men and women for protecting me and my freedoms.

Xerxes

Posted : 11/11/2006 12:08:22 PM

quote:

ORIGINAL: Xerxes
As a former Marine I thank you for posting that.

You're a jarhead? I didn't know that.

Billy, unlike some people I don't toot my own horn. [

] I always prefer to be in the middle of the crowd anyways...(harder to be picked off by snipers like you)

jjsmom06

Posted : 11/11/2006 1:14:25 PM

I was a photographer in the Army. When my ex would irritate me (which was frequently), I would tell her, "Don't mess with me, I am a trained killer. Trained by the United States government." To which she would reply, "My ass, you took pictures of trained killers."

Billy…that is so wrong of her….If she is just doing it in jest than that is one thing…but otherwise totally out of line IMO.
Dh and his son spar all the time because DH was a nuke on a sub and his son is a nuke on a carrier but unlike his dad he didn#%92t qualify to be a Reactor Operator. His dad gives him crap all the time about being a “lowly” EO…especially since his dad use to also be a nuclear power instructor and could have helped him study along the way…but they do it all in fun and no hurt feelings. If it is jest…no problem…if it is to hurt you then it is totally inappropriate.

Doesn#%92t matter the job…its all important!

OK…so I hesitate to even say this because this is such a touching and serious thread… but I couldn#%92t help it with this line

Freedom isnt free....

…anyone seen Team America?? [

] I am SO going to hell! [

]
You are totally right though Darci!!

probe1957

Posted : 11/11/2006 1:22:56 PM

Oh it was all in fun, Shelly. I was jump qualified (57 jumps) and spent a year...outside the US. My MOS was 84B, photographic laboratory specialist.