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- #341
Some pics of inspiration
- Thread starter Njaco
- Start date
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Crimea_River
Marshal
Known here in Canada as Remembrance Day. I'll be attending the local ceremonies with my wife and kids on Friday
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
That last one....never seen it before. Dang, but that's a powerful photo! 
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Thank you Chris. We shall not forget.
We shall not forget.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Just received this in an email:
WITH PRAISE FOR AGING VETERANS
By Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
A veteran's not a rookie.
A vet has paid his dues.
A veteran knows the hell of war
just nuanced in the news.
A veteran loves his country.
With pride he greets its flag.
He stands up straight (still soldier-like)
although his shoulders sag.
A veteran knows life's precious.
Old memories make him cry.
He wonders why God let him live
when he watched others die.
A veteran models friendship.
His buddies know he cares.
Although they live twelve states away,
he'll find a way to share.
In Saving Private Ryan,
civilians got to see
the bond this band of brothers feel
when one's in jeopardy.
I've seen what I'm describing.
You see, my dad's a vet.
His brave example makes me proud
of who he is. And yet
my dad's just one of millions
who fought so we'd be free.
Without regard for life or limb
they served us selflessly.
So how can we repay them?
It seems there's just no way,
except perhaps to honor them
with thanks on Veterans' Day.
WITH PRAISE FOR AGING VETERANS
By Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
A veteran's not a rookie.
A vet has paid his dues.
A veteran knows the hell of war
just nuanced in the news.
A veteran loves his country.
With pride he greets its flag.
He stands up straight (still soldier-like)
although his shoulders sag.
A veteran knows life's precious.
Old memories make him cry.
He wonders why God let him live
when he watched others die.
A veteran models friendship.
His buddies know he cares.
Although they live twelve states away,
he'll find a way to share.
In Saving Private Ryan,
civilians got to see
the bond this band of brothers feel
when one's in jeopardy.
I've seen what I'm describing.
You see, my dad's a vet.
His brave example makes me proud
of who he is. And yet
my dad's just one of millions
who fought so we'd be free.
Without regard for life or limb
they served us selflessly.
So how can we repay them?
It seems there's just no way,
except perhaps to honor them
with thanks on Veterans' Day.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Excellent
Vic Balshaw
Major General
Thanks Chris, we will never forget.
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Thanks for sharing that RA.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Dunno if this has been posted before, but here's another one I got in an email today (yeah...my Mom's usually a day or so behind. And that's when she's on top of her game. LOL):
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
'Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?'
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I have not.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear...
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'
Author Unknown~
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
'Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?'
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I have not.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear...
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'
Author Unknown~
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
A friend of mine sent this to me today.
This is sobering....... A little history most people will never know.
Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall "Carved on these walls is the story of America , of a continuing quest to
preserve both Democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream." ~President George Bush
SOMETHING to think about - Most of the surviving Parents are now Deceased.
There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.
The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.
Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall, appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E - May 25, 1968 ), then resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth (numbered 70W - continuing May 25, 1968 ) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus the war's beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle, yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle's open side and contained within the earth itself.
The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is isted on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.
· There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.
· 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.
· 8,283 were just 19 years old.
A. The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.
· 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.
· 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.
· One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.
· 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam .
· 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam .
· 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.
· Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.
· 54 soldiers on the Wall attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia. I wonder why so many from one school?
· 8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.
· 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.
· Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.
· West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.
· The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058 ) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.
· The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
· The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.
· The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.
For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War
created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did
not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we
too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers,
husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.
This is sobering....... A little history most people will never know.
Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall "Carved on these walls is the story of America , of a continuing quest to
preserve both Democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream." ~President George Bush
SOMETHING to think about - Most of the surviving Parents are now Deceased.
There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.
The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.
Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall, appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E - May 25, 1968 ), then resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth (numbered 70W - continuing May 25, 1968 ) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus the war's beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle, yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle's open side and contained within the earth itself.
The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is isted on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.
· There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.
· 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.
· 8,283 were just 19 years old.
A. The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.
· 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.
· 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.
· One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.
· 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam .
· 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam .
· 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.
· Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.
· 54 soldiers on the Wall attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia. I wonder why so many from one school?
· 8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.
· 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.
· Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.
· West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.
· The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058 ) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.
· The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
· The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.
· The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.
For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War
created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did
not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we
too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers,
husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Thread starter
- #353
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Aaron, many thanks! I cleaned up the sentences to make it easier to read (some had those d@mn smilies, etc).
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Your welcome Chris and I should have cleaned it up before posting it. My bad.
- Thread starter
- #355
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
No worries!
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
- Thread starter
- #359
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
I love the F7F!
