VETERANS

[PVVikeFan]

Many of us here are veterans, some who have seen combat and some who have not. Makes no difference. Many of us here are not veterans. Makes no diffenence. Being a veteran or not does not add to or subtract from patriotism. We are ALL Americans.

As an American I am proud to say that I have over 1,200,000 heroes to look up to. Many people don't realize just how many brave men and women have given their lives for our great country. Just think about it, over 1,200,000 lives lost. Think freedom is free? Think again.

I hope we all take time to remember those who have made the supreme sacrifice. Let's especially remember them this weekend. If it weren't for them who knows what kind of life any of us would have.

To all those brave men and women who have given their lives to make mine better, I salute you. You are my heroes. Each and every one of you. Thank you. You are NOT forgotten.

It doesn't take long to remember, and some of the guys are getting pretty old, if ya got time ask your dad or an uncle or granddad, if they were in the service. If it isn't too painful and they will tell it all you need to know - so maybe we don't send another generation to do it again. Ole gent down Lee County survived the Battan Death March. Story was unreal , and the years later didn't get much better . Till the end of the war, but I learned from him , maybe it helped me maybe not- but they sure didn't write that in the history books. And it gives you an idea of how it CAN be. Why someone MUST be always vigil. And ready, and a little more respect for a Uniform. Not an extraordinary man, just did "What needed to be done" was how he said it. Up to Korea if you came home on a leave you just stuck out a thumb and almost any car would pick up a service person, things sure have changed, look up a relative that was a vet and say thanks. Thanks to ALL of them , Spuds.

[PVVikeFan]

There is no way we could ever possibly repay the debt we owe to those brave men and women. But the old war vets don't feel like anybody owes them anything. They just did what they were asked to do. They don't feel like they did anything special.
The V.A. Hospital is full of old war vets who would LOVE to have somebody just sit down and talk to them for a few minutes. After the sacrifices they have made for us don't they deserve a few minutes of our time? Please everyone, if you could find the time to visit them you will never forget the experience. And neither will they.

All i can say is my thanks and gratitude go out to you all.
When i look at the flag. I remember what the red stands for.
All who died and shed their blood for the freedom of so many. For us today, to those in foreign lands we have let have liberty and a taste of freedom.

[PVVikeFan]

I watched the Memorial Day Concert on PBS yesterday, or some of it anyway. A lot of old WWII vets got up and talked about their experiences. It is hard to believe what some of these men went through. One man talked about being on Iwo Jima and the things he had seen there and all the friends he had lost. As the camera slowly went through the crowd I saw very few dry eyes. It was so emotional it was unreal.

[Rocky]

My father was in the army during vietnam, ready to be shipped out. Literally, about to ship out and they got called back. Almost all of my family on his side are veterans of some war, including a member on this board! On the other side, i have an uncle who flew in WW2, an uncle who it seems has spent every year since ive known him in iraq. he is out now thank the Lord. I mean, i havent posted much about this at all because there really isnt any way to put into words how much the sacrifices the men and women who have served should mean to us. Thank you just does not seem like enough. I worked in the hospital for 3 years as a PT tech and some of the stories i have heard made me teary eyed. I could sit and listen to the men and women talk all day. i never ask questions because i dont want to hit a spot that could bring back some bad memories, i just listen. I love my country, and have often thought about going in, but i cant bring myself to do it knowing what could happen and what i would leave behind. The courage of these people amazes me, and i cant describe how greatful i am. Thank you all and God bless.

[PVVikeFan]

When a vet. doesn't talk or do into detail about his experiences it is because he doesn't want to. Too many people don't realize that. But when he does want to talk you can learn a lot by listening.

[Rocky]

I have a friend over in johnson city who has an older relative that worked at Area 51 and one of the guys brothers is always trying to get him to talk about it. One day the guy just went off and said "Son listen, a long time ago i took an oath for my country and before my God that i would never speak of the things i saw, and im not going to do it for you, or anyone else." i thought that was awesome. Why try to force someone to talk about something they wouldnt want to? haha once again i would just like to say i hate stupidity.