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Title: Just thought I would share this...... Post by thomas on Nov 19th, 2003, 12:58pm WHAT IS A VETERAN? (Attributed to a Marine Corps chaplain, Father Denis Edward O'Brian) Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them, a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's alloy forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet? A vet is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. A vet is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th Parallel. A vet is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. A vet is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back at all. A vet is the drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account punks and gang members into marines, airmen, sailors, soldiers and coast guardsmen, and teaching them to watch each other's backs. A vet is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. A vet is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. A vet is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep. A vet is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come. A vet is an ordinary and yet extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. A vet is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more that the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say, "Thank You." That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded. Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU." |
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Title: Re: Just thought I would share this...... Post by Paigelle on Nov 19th, 2003, 2:02pm That is wonderful! When I went out the other day, there was a convoy of military going back to Camp Lejeune and instead of people just driving by them this time, people were pulled over, on a 4 lane highway, and waving at them. I hope it made them all feel good and know we are glad to have them home. |
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Title: Re: Just thought I would share this...... Post by jonny on Nov 19th, 2003, 8:33pm FUCKENEH!!!!! http://tinyurl.com/5myp ....................................jonny |
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Title: Re: Just thought I would share this...... Post by Little Deb on Nov 19th, 2003, 9:01pm Awesome Thomas. I will remember to say Thank You. jonny, where is that pic??? |
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Title: Re: Just thought I would share this...... Post by TxBasslady on Nov 19th, 2003, 10:39pm ;) Very nice, Thomas........I had not read that before. Thanks for sharing........ Before retiring from law enforcement, I worked with many Viet Nam Vets. It is great knowing them. Better yet, was the fact that they were mentally and physically able to work. Many sad stories. Alot of the homeless here are vets....lost homes, and families and their minds. May we always be mindful of the sacrifices and the family left behind....... God bless......... Jean |
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Title: Re: Just thought I would share this...... Post by Charlie on Nov 19th, 2003, 11:41pm Absolutely. Right on Thomas Charlie |
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Title: Re: Just thought I would share this...... Post by goaway on Nov 19th, 2003, 11:57pm Every day in every way! One of the best moments of each day is that time when, if I'm lucky enough, I run into someone who has served our country. I ALWAYS thank them for their service. The young ones don't understand me right off the bat. When they do, they think it's "cool". The old timers stand real still. Almost like wondering if I might be joking. When they realize that I'm serious, some smile real big. Others say thanks. Still others, well, they don't say anything at all. The tears on their faces say more than enough. Thanks Thomas! Great thread. |
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