Thank you to all the veterans here on the forum

[leigh.bess.toad]

It's not quite Veteran's Day but I have an obscenely early flight tomorrow. I just wanted to say thank you to all the many veterans here on the forum for your service.

 

One of highlights for me of this year's Palm Springs weekend occurred at the Follies. At the end of the show, they asked, by military branch, for all the veterans in the audience to stand up. Almost half of our group stood up. I was very proud to be in the company of such men.

 

So from me, thank you very much for your service. I certainly appreciate and honor it.

[+ glutes]

Thank you Vets, and welcome home!

 

11/11/11 is an even more special day: 11 hour of the 11 day of the 11 year.

I spent today getting food for homeless Veterans here in SF. Repiglican Senators showed some bipartisanship today and approved tax benefits for employers that hire jobless Vets. Boy that is big of them considering they are the War Party.

"I Support The Troops Overseas", " I salute the men and women in uniform", blah blah.

Go out and do something for them!

[orbital sander]

It's not quite Veteran's Day but I have an obscenely early flight tomorrow. I just wanted to say thank you to all the many veterans here on the forum for your service.

 

One of highlights for me of this year's Palm Springs weekend occurred at the Follies. At the end of the show, they asked, by military branch, for all the veterans in the audience to stand up. Almost half of our group stood up. I was very proud to be in the company of such men.

 

So from me, thank you very much for your service. I certainly appreciate and honor it.

 

 

What a nice thread to start.

I always get a bit choked up when it comes to acknowledging the veterans of all services. Having been in the Air Force when I was younger, I was lucky to serve with so many fine people. It was one of the best and important times in my life. We are very fortunate indeed as a country that so many fine people have and continue to serve. I too give thanks for the service of so many fine people.

[Lookin]

11/11/11 is an even more special day: 11 hour of the 11 day of the 11 year.

I spent today getting food for homeless Veterans here in SF.

Good on you, Glutes! http://www.maleescortreview.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.png Food is such a basic and personal gift to give someone, and this is an especially bad time of year to be homeless. I'm sure your kindness will be returned.

[OneFinger]

Lee, thanks so much for remembering the veterans. I served during a period when military service was not popular. I appreciate it so much when someone recognizes those that have served.

[Lohengrin1979]

I add my voice to those thanking our brave veterans. The men of my family have served in every major war America has fought and some of them paid with their lives. I remember all of them during this time and am comforted that their burden was shared by their brothers in arms during trials I cannot begin to imagine.

 

Lohengrin

[justaguy]

Yes, thanks to all who have or are now serving. What they do and the sacrifices they make are an important part of why we enjoy the freedoms that we do.

[seeker630]

My sincere appeciation and respect to all who have served.

[+ glutes]

Thank you Viscount Lookin! I am going to make it a weekly donation, not just a Veterans Day appearance...

[nate_sf]

One of highlights for me of this year's Palm Springs weekend occurred at the Follies. At the end of the show, they asked, by military branch, for all the veterans in the audience to stand up. Almost half of our group stood up. I was very proud to be in the company of such men.

 

I was really moved by this too. Large contingents from both the clients and escorts stood up... I had no idea we had so many vets in our group. I was really awestruck.

 

Huge respect and honor for our vets for serving our country!

[jackhammer91406]

Freedom's price..

 

While we are able to go about our routines, set our own priorities and enjoy to the fullest what life allows, we owe a debt that cannot be repaid to the men and women who have served our country.

 

Today we honor those brave people, but everyday we enjoy the benefits of the price they paid. I am so proud of our men and women.

 

For those who have already served, thank you.

For those still serving, I pray for your speedy and safe return.

 

To the families of those lost in service to this freedom, words seem empty but accept my enduring thanks for the sacrifice of your loved ones.

 

[Steven_Draker]

Remembrance Day / Armistice Day

 

Thank you, Veterans of World War I, too.

 

Armistice Day celebrates also the end of hostilities in 1918.

[Phil_musc]

What a wonderful thread - thanks, Lee. And thank you, Steven, for remembering the First World War vets too, especially from a European perspective. The other year I had the opportunity to see the cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy. It was a really powerful experience to stand there and take in the row after row of grave markers for those who sacrificed everything so that we have the lives we have today. It forces us to consider our lives and how we live them - are we honoring their sacrifice by the way we live our lives? That's a weighty responsibility that we should never forget.

[rvwnsd]

Veteran's Day is a special day for me for two reasons. First, it honors our veterans, one of which was my maternal grandfather (WWI) and another was one of my favorite uncles (WWII). Second, my dad was born on the eleventh Armistice Day, as it was called back then. This is the first Veteran's Day in my lifetime he is not around, as he passed away in February.

 

Whenever I think of this day, I am reminded of a story my dad told me. When he was a little boy he was in the hospital on his birthday. He saw a parade on the street and asked a nurse what it was for. The nurse told him it was for him. It wasn't until a few years later that my grandparents told him the real reason for the celebrations.

 

Happy Veteran's Day everyone.

[JoeBlow]

Thank You Veterans. I thank you so much for our freedom. Thank you for protecting our nation so that we can sleep at night feeling safe. And thank you to the families of our veterans. For your many sacrifices, may god bless you all. ♥

[JackTwist]

All Gave Some. Some Gave All...

 

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2011/11/11/10/25/f9INT.St.4.jpg

 

Alison Malachowski, facing camera, mother of Marines Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski, is consoled by Susanne Muller of Vermont, in front of Sgt. Malachowski's grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., as the nation observes Veterans Day Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Malachowski's son is the platoon sergeant of Muller's son Marines Cpl. Ian M. Muller, 22, of Danville, Vermont., who was killed nine days earlier while conducting combat operations in Helmand province of Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Malachowski, 25, of Westminster, Maryland., died March 20 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Both men were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[+ glutes]

I would like to know how are pro-war types here have supported the Veterans, other than in words...

[whyamihere]

I am a veteran. Maybe I'm too sensitive by being a bit disturbed by the "pro-war types..." choice of words used in your inquiry. However, I can say that I:

- Have knowledge of some of the young service members from my locale who are serving overseas. I regularly "adopt" one of them and routinely send them "care packages". I pay particular attention to those serving in the Middle East or at least overseas.

- I contribute to military related charitable organizations such as Disables American Veterans, Wounded Warriors, Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, Fisher House.

- I've even been known to position myself in the customer line such that I can "pick up the tab" for a young service member in uniform getting a sandwich at the airport.

Do I do enough? No - I'm sure I could do more.

[orbital sander]

I am a veteran. Maybe I'm too sensitive by being a bit disturbed by the "pro-war types..." choice of words used in your inquiry. However, I can say that I:

- Have knowledge of some of the young service members from my locale who are serving overseas. I regularly "adopt" one of them and routinely send them "care packages". I pay particular attention to those serving in the Middle East or at least overseas.

- I contribute to military related charitable organizations such as Disables American Veterans, Wounded Warriors, Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, Fisher House.

- I've even been known to position myself in the customer line such that I can "pick up the tab" for a young service member in uniform getting a sandwich at the airport.

Do I do enough? No - I'm sure I could do more.

 

I am sure that the many people who you have assisted truly appreciate your support and kindness. Your posting reminds me of something that happened to me when I was in the service. I was going home for the first time on leave, in uniform, and I was at O’Hare airport in Chicago. A gentleman approached me, and invited me into his restaurant at the airport for something to eat. I had plenty of time to kill, and so I gratefully accepted. He offered me dinner, and drinks (even though I was still too young). He was very kind and sat with me and asked me about what I was doing and where I was stationed. He told me stories about kindness he was shown by others as a young serviceman. He told me that he was showing me the same appreciation that others had shown him. I have never forgot his kindness even though we were complete strangers. Do not be disheartened by the hateful ramblings of those who would try to start trouble here. I am sure that everyone you have supported remembers your kindness and appreciates it greatly.

[leigh.bess.toad]

Thank you, Veterans of World War I, too.

 

Armistice Day celebrates also the end of hostilities in 1918.[/color]

 

Thank you for that reminder Steven. In spite of the deep gratitude I do have for all those who serve, I am always aware of the ties to the end of WWI. I don't know if there are any surviving WWI vets still with us, having ended 93 years ago. But for me it is tied to one of my favorite poets, the WWI British poet, Wilfred Owens, who died in battle one week before the end of WWI. The one piece of music I am probably more emotionally tied to than any other in my entire life is Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. Britten used the poems of Owens' throughout the piece to deliver what may be the greatest anti-war statement in all of classical music. It builds to a final poem of Owens. One of the great poems in my mind: Strange Meeting. Here is the slightly abbreviated text used by Britten at the end of the War Requiem:

 

Tenor

It seems that out of battle I escaped

Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped

Through granites which titanic wars had groined.

Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,

Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.

Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared

With piteous recognition in fixed eyes,

Lifting distressful hands as if to bless.

And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan.

"Strange friend," I said, "here is no cause to mourn."

Baritone

"None", said the other, "save the undone years,

The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours,

Was my life also; I went hunting wild

After the wildest beauty in the world,

For by my glee might many men have laughed,

And of my weeping something had been left,

Which must die now. I mean the truth untold,

The pity of war, the pity war distilled.

Now men will go content with what we spoiled.

Or, discontent, boil boldly, and be spilled.

They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress,

None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress.

Miss we the march of this retreating world

Into vain citadels that are not walled.

Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels

I would go up and wash them from sweet wells,

Even from wells we sunk too deep for war,

Even from the sweetest wells that ever were.

I am the enemy you killed, my friend.

I knew you in this dark; for so you frowned

Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.

I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.

Let us sleep now..."

 

A video of this powerful section of this amazing piece of music:

 

[video=youtube;O06a7sspY3c]

[+ deej]

- I've even been known to position myself in the customer line such that I can "pick up the tab" for a young service member in uniform getting a sandwich at the airport.

 

I'm a veteran too, and often pick up the tab as well.

 

Last time I was in a fast food line at LAX I was behind six service members in full gear. I managed to get the cashier's attention to say I was picking up their tab and that started an interesting chain of events. People in line behind me heard it and started handing me cash to chip in! The troops found themselves in a firestorm of appreciation.

 

Even if you can't afford to pick up an occasional tab, when you're in an airport and you see a handful of soldiers walking down the concourse stop what you're doing and give them a round of applause. You may be surprised what you'll get started.