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| Veterans Day-2007; Have you hugged a vet today? | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 10 2007, 09:34 PM (129 Views) | |
| packmule | Nov 10 2007, 09:34 PM Post #1 |
Site founder - Your best nightmare
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Well, tomorrow, November 11th, is Veterans Day and as always I like to take a moment and speak about what this day means for me. As many of you know, I am a veteran of the U.S. military, having served three years as a United States Naval Reserve officer on active duty, from May, 1984-May, 1987, aboard a Navy warship home ported out of the Charleston(SC) naval base. My time in the military involved some of the most physically and mentally challenging work I have ever done. The hours were often long, the training arduous, grinding, and almost always ongoing. That said, in looking back at my life so far, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world and I consider the service to my country something I can always be very proud of. The day my father, himself a former U.S. Navy officer, swore me in on my college campus after graduation, is still one of the most memorable, and cherished, days of my life. These are trying times for our nations armed forces right now, especially the U.S. Army, the Army National Guard, and the U.S. Marines. We are involved, like it or not, and right or wrong, in a bloody conflict in Iraq, in which our security forces are subjected to dangers from the enemy almost daily. Sometimes overlooked, I think, amidst all the political posturing in Washington and the debates about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, are the men and women of America's armed forces, and those of other countries, who have served their countries honorably abroad, working hard and enduring extended time away from their friends and loved ones. Many of these fine men and women never make it back, unfortunately. To these fallen heroes I offer my thoughts and thanks and to those loved ones they have left behind. One of our own members here at Monsterland Forums, josh TX, is himself a former U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq. I hope everyone who reads this post will stop to take a moment to thank a veteran-it might be someone in your family, or a friend. It could be a simple handshake, a simple "thank you" or just a word of encouragement. There are veterans out and about right now who have been collecting donations for charities that are associated with local VFWs(Veterans Of Foreign Wars) and other veteran civic associations, including the Shriners. When you see one please donate some $ if you can-it's absolutely for a good cause! In closing I would like to thank all those servicemen and servicewomen serving honorably for America and other respective home countries. Note: I'm going to leave this topic thread open for a week for anyone else who may want to post their thoughts on Veterans Day. :) |
 Packmule's Pen Latitude Zero(1969) The Relic(1997) | |
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| josh TX | Nov 10 2007, 10:40 PM Post #2 |
Monsterland Hall Of Famer
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The first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of Veteran's day is family- and how we are all able to enjoy our lives with our own families because brave men and women of the past and present went to war for our freedom so we could continue enjoying that freedom. Veteran's are all around us- Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas, the list goes on. I had always had respect for my Grandfather's service during the Pacific theater of WWII, but it wasn't until I went to war myself in Iraq that I really understood even a shred of what Veteran's day, or being a veteran for that matter, meant. I don't think I visualized the struggle these folks before me went through, or really felt any of the blood, sweat, and tears of war until I was there myself. My time in the Army was rough, not just for me but for many soldiers, but I don't think any of us would take it back and I believe the experience has made better people of all involved. I can't say I agree with all of our current presidential administration's tactics, but I can say Im proud of each and every servicemember, past and present, regardless of their specific duty or what war they may have been involved in. To me, any person who takes the oath and dons a uniform has done a heroic thing, and I thank you all. thumbs up |
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| KaijuFanatic | Nov 13 2007, 01:59 PM Post #3 |
DVD Fanatic
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I'd like to also add a thanks to all service men and women, I sincerely appreciate everything you do for this country, during peace as well as war. I've had a ton of family and friends serve at different times over the decades and not only do I thank and admire them, but all Veterans, so thank you, even if I am a few days late in offering my thanks. |
| Hers, Mine & Our DVDs | |
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| KexMex | Nov 13 2007, 04:33 PM Post #4 |
Transgendered transcultural transracial transspeciesist
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I hugged a vet. Not that kind of vet, though. My friend's incredibly attractive sister is a veterinarian, and I hugged her, because she was sad. Now I was silly! |
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| packmule | Nov 14 2007, 07:32 PM Post #5 |
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Site founder - Your best nightmare
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 Kex, I want you to do me a favor, if you can: the next time you happen upon a member of the armed forces of your home country I'd like you to say something nice to them...or just shake their hand. Is there anyone in your own family that has served in your country's military, or security forces? |
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Packmule's Pen Latitude Zero(1969) The Relic(1997) | |
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| KexMex | Nov 15 2007, 04:19 AM Post #6 |
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Transgendered transcultural transracial transspeciesist
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No, there hasn't been. Why do you ask me to do that, by the way? |
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| packmule | Nov 15 2007, 07:19 AM Post #7 |
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Site founder - Your best nightmare
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Because, had your answer been "yes", I would have asked you to show a gesture such as examples I mentioned in my first post in this topic(a 'thank you" or a handshake). No other reason. :) |
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| KexMex | Nov 15 2007, 01:41 PM Post #8 |
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Transgendered transcultural transracial transspeciesist
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I understand. However, a "thank you" wouldn't make any sense in Sweden. There's nothing the army's actually done for us in many, many years. Nothing in particular, then, to thank them for. |
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| packmule | Nov 15 2007, 07:14 PM Post #9 |
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Site founder - Your best nightmare
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I don't know much about your home country...aside from the reputation Sweden has for having a lot of beautiful women amongst its population.  If memory serves me correct the national colors of Sweden are blue and yellow, your ice hockey team is, internationally, very good, and the Swedish Army has never been very large. I do know your home country was neutral during the Second World War. |
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| KexMex | Nov 16 2007, 04:05 AM Post #10 |
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Transgendered transcultural transracial transspeciesist
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Apart from the fact that we basically let the German army move right through, yes, we were neutral. We backed it up by saying that if we got attacked, we'd blow our iron mines, making any German use for Sweden quite non-existent at that time. |
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1:53 PM Nov 28
