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From Wikipedia: Veterans Day is an official United States holiday honoring armed service veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11th. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)
In remembrance and gratitude for all of you who have served to protect and defend freedom around the world. Your contribution cannot be measured in mere terms of length of service or location, but instead spans both physical and emotional sacrifices that many may never appreciate. The song below not only reflects the sacrifice of the fallen or departed, but hopefully reflects the supreme sacrifice that many of you here have made for the sake of freedom while also being heroes in this other life we live. I cannot begin to thank all of you for making this world a safer place, but I hope this is a beginning to the gratitude you so richly deserve. Thank you.
Requiem for a Soldier
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company, you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men's wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you'd lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
Requiem for a Soldier
from the HBO Mini-Series
Band of Brothers
Words by Frank Musker
Music by Michael Kamen
Performed by Miss Katherine Jenkins
at Royal British Legion
Festival of Remembrance 2007
Comments
Thank You, 'Drea
Thank you.
Portia
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
with love,
Hope
Once in a while I bare my soul, more often my soles bear me.
Sentiment is Cheap
I bite my tongue.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/11/military-think-tan...
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
Infuriating!
It remains outrageous that the very same people who have enabled the country to be safe and secure receive such a short shrift when it comes to real expressions of gratitude. You have both my thanks and my apologies; I am truly sorry.
Love, Andrea Lena
Govenment promises are always made on a base of shifting sand
Sad, but not surprising. Promises made by governments are always made on a base of shifting sand, which means the foundation is worthless. Government motto is "OK, you served with distinction, and retired, but what have you done for us lately". Typical politicians. If they wouldn't be so stupid as to start wars, we wouldn't be in such economic woe.
For those that joined the military and were effectively under contract with expected benefits upon retiring, it is time to consider legal recourse for the Gov. breaking a contract. I know the government decides who can sue it or not, enough publicity will make any government sit up and take notice, regardless of how far the plaintives must go to get the publicity.
As far as honoring the dead for their sacrifice in high faluting verse and song, well in that case Talk IS Cheap. You don't have to pay the dead.
And now they don't want to honor agreements with the living either. Assholes.
CaroL
CaroL
Tommy Atkins
How many politicians these days have ever been under effective enemy fire? (and I don't mean back stabbing colleagues, slimy journalists or the opposition).
How many of their clever little beardless 'policy advisers' have ever done anything but politics since leaving university? Like a real job where people count?
Rudyard Kipling had it bang on back in 1890 and nothing has changed to this day
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
Persephone
Non sum qualis eram
I Wonder
... what they'll take from us next? We've been lucky so far. Of course, those who have sacrificed so much for honor and country won't get nearly as much as I have over the last nearly 25 years since retiring.
There are a number of real veterans among the law makers; however, their numbers pale compared to those who don't have a clue about what it's like to lay one's life on the line. It's easy to heap praise. It sounds wonderful, but it's empty praise.
Portia
Thanks
Thank you Drea for that , this old veteran is finally after so darn many years, able to sleep without seeing a LOT of faces that really never go away, but knowing someone does say thanks helps it a lot
Sgt MacKenzie Video
Sergeant Charles Mackenzie was killed during World War 1. His great grandson wrote this aire in tribute to his grandfather. For the record, more people of Celt heritage have won the Medal of Honor than any other racial or ethnic group. It might be noted that more Celts have died defending our nation than any other group. More Celts have won two Medals of Honor than any other group including Daniel Daly who said; "Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" prior to his men charging a German position during WW1. He survived to collect both medals. The only true lasting affects of wars are the bits of stone to mark the places of the dead.
May We Only Know Peace at Our Tables...
Irish Brat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB2Ad04mukI
Not a holiday
At least here, but it is about 5 minutes to 11am on this the 11th day of the 11th month. Supposed to be a minutes silence in remembrance and it is noted by many. But more and more less or even total incomprehension. What? Silence? Why?
Never been there myself for which I am extremely glad. But I do my best to understand and know what happened, why and what it meant. More perhaps for those there, but also for what it gives me. The ability to be and stand and largely be free.
Just heard on the radio that the RSL (Returned & Services League) is quietly decrying a planned protest in the heart of the city this morning against live animal exports. A worthy idea perhaps but timing? So it goes. A bit of contemplation never hurt.
Kristina