[PenelopePitStop]

I have many family members who have served our country.

One day to honor our Veterans is simply not enough. We should honor them, remember them, respect them, and thank them every day of our lives!








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb095&pp=ZN

[jks812]

I would also like to say THANK YOU to all those who have served and also to the ones serving now. It takes alot of courage to do what ya'll and them do. And I for one don't let a day go by that I'm not thankful.

[Phils20]

Semper Fi! And thanks to ALL vets, not just Marines out there. You folks currently serving, active, reserve, and guards, are doing a great service to us all, and during some trying times.

USMC Jan 1987-Jan 1991

3rd Tank Bn, 29 Palms, California
3rd Light Armored Infantry, Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

ditto from another squid.

probably should have posted my "credentials"


USN '62-'67 AQF2

VF-111 F8 Crusader Fighter Squadron (The Sundowners) NAS Miramar, Calif

• Deployed to North and South China Seas aboard:
  • CVA-64 USS Kitty Hawk 1964
  • CVA-41 USS Midway 1965
  • CVA-34 USS Oriskany 1966

[Bette]

After reading the various credentials, have to say I am honored to be on the forum with you.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Anchors aweigh boys !!! Thanks for all you did.

ATN '68-'72

My brother says ditto from a present squid on the Enterprise.

[Racer Duck]

I had forgotten about this story until my sister sent it to me last night, thanking me for my service.

In September of 2005, a social studies schoolteacher from Arkansas did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal, and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom. The kids came into first period, they walked in; there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Where's our desks?"

The teacher said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them."

They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."

"No," she said.

"Maybe it's our behavior."

And she told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."

And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in the class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom. The last period of the day, the instructor gathered her class.

They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. She said, "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily. Now I'm going to tell you."

She went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. By the time they had finished placing the desks, those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks.

Their teacher said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly, to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don't ever forget it."

It's a true story. Urban Legends Reference Pages: Veterans Return Desks

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bette

After reading the various credentials, have to say I am honored to be on the forum with you.

You know Bette that makes us all feel good but ....... for me I have a ton of gratitude for those serving today keeping me free. What I did was natural. Today it is above and beyond. Luckily/sadly in my state we've lost 25 - 30 men & woman (depending on who is counting) Very sadly we have the highest per capita death rate of any state. Great to be number one huh ???

Remember kindly those from the past but hail those serving today.

[PenelopePitStop]

Great story, RD!

[Campbell]

Yes, great story! Thank you!

[Bette]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

You know Bette that makes us all feel good but ....... for me I have a ton of gratitude for those serving today keeping me free. What I did was natural. Today it is above and beyond. Luckily/sadly in my state we've lost 25 - 30 men & woman (depending on who is counting) Very sadly we have the highest per capita death rate of any state. Great to be number one huh ???

Remember kindly those from the past but hail those serving today.

Great story RD That had to leave quite an impression on those young minds.

And LSC, I, too have a ton of gratitude for the men and women who are serving today. I wasnt intending to leave them out.

Why do you say it was natural for you? Why dont you think it is for those serving today? Putting your life on the life for your country and its people is always above and beyond.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bette

Why do you say it was natural for you? Why dont you think it is for those serving today? Putting your life on the life for your country and its people is always above and beyond.

imo it's a sign of the times ..... not as many people feel an immediate obvious threat like they used to

think through all the generations, it seems there was always an obvious threat to make people want to join .... WWI - WWII - Korea - Cuban Missile Crisis - Vietnam - the Cold War ......... also i see something else we are missing now as an obvious threat .. when i grew up we always had recon and satellite photo's of missiles on trucks (nukes and scuds) .... seems the news could basically run ads for the military .. 'see this video of these nukes and scuds on trucks, join the military or they will be headed our way'

now the threat is much less obvious .... terrorism and biologics (anthrax ricin) ..... a picture of a nuke on the back of a semi in Russia is much more foreboding then a test tube of clear liquid

also, when i was in Germany, i heard many young troops complain when we were on our way to Hungary ..... they joined the Army for the college money, not to actually tote a gun (of course everyone joining today does not feel this way, just an example that some do)

hope that makes sense

[Bette]

Yes, it does. Thank you

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bette

And LSC, I, too have a ton of gratitude for the men and women who are serving today. I wasnt intending to leave them out.

Why do you say it was natural for you? Why dont you think it is for those serving today? Putting your life on the life for your country and its people is always above and beyond.

I didn't mean to make it sound that way. This entire subject is a matter of perception so look at my response in that light. I, personally, feel more focus should go on those now serving versus myself. What I feel is that in my day you either did college or the military. We still had a draft back then also, so nature (Uncle Sam), made things happen that don't happen today.

Today there are more opportunities for younger people. JOINING the military isn't something that is looming over your head like it was 30 plus years ago. Today men & women choose to go into the military with the knowledge of what is happening in the world today. In my day many were forced into the military. I just have a ton of respect for todays military. and yes I do have a lot of respect and admiration for all the other vets also.

I'm not sure I have conveyed my true feelings. As I said these are just my views.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I didn't mean to make it sound that way. This entire subject is a matter of perception so look at my response in that light. I, personally, feel more focus should go on those now serving versus myself. What I feel is that in my day you either did college or the military. We still had a draft back then also, so nature (Uncle Sam), made things happen that don't happen today.

Today there are more opportunities for younger people. JOINING the military isn't something that is looming over your head like it was 30 plus years ago. Today men & women choose to go into the military with the knowledge of what is happening in the world today. In my day many were forced into the military. I just have a ton of respect for todays military. and yes I do have a lot of respect and admiration for all the other vets also.

I'm not sure I have conveyed my true feelings. As I said these are just my views.

Yes, you and simon explained very well. I also forgot about the draft.