REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

I Remember - Do you?

POSTED BY: TPAGE
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 14:55
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Thursday, November 9, 2006 2:20 PM

TPAGE


November 11th is just around the corner. As a community that spans the globe and has no time zone of its own, and with many ceremonies having taken place last Sunday as the final Sunday before the 11th, I am posting this Browncoat Ceremony of Remembrance early so that we may all participate.

- - -

I am thankful that here through the course of history my country, while having suffered defeats, has not been the losing side. In my universe the Independents won (metaphorically at least), freedom is being upheld constantly by the sacrifice of the men and women in uniform not only in country but the world over. There are many in this world that do not have this luxury that we take for granted.

I am thankful, grateful, and proud.

I remember… lest we forget.



Quote:

Originally 'posted' 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.





Quote:

Originally 'posted' by Moira Michael
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.



* Playing of Last Post *

* Two minutes of silence *

- - -

I ask that those who wish to post here post nothing more than 'I remember' or some such. While we may be an internet community I believe this thread deserves just as much solemnity as would any other ceremony.

Please keep this thread at the top until the 11th hour of November 11th. In a world where Halloween and Christmas are celebrated for weeks, is the recognition of our veteran’s so much to ask?



And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 2:50 PM

KANEMAN


Greatest holiday the world has ever seen. It is my birthday after all....

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 2:52 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


A fine and honorable post.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 4:08 PM

CARTOON


Whatever freedoms we enjoy in whichever nations we reside, we owe it to those who were willing to sacrifice their time, their comfort, their health, their sanity, and their lives to gain and/or maintain that freedom.

Many who have so sacrificed for their countries, have not survived to enjoy the freedoms they fought for. Likewise, many others have sacrificed much, only to be ignored, or worse -- condemned for their service.

As one who has not so sacrificed, I will ever do my best to honor those who have.

I currently know veterans from WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and the various conflicts of the Middle East. Each and every one of them knows how I feel about their service, and always will.

It shouldn't take a holiday for us to offer our thanks to them.

To those who have served, and those still serving (whether in war or in peace), my sincerest appreciation and respect.

P.S. And a very happy birthday to Kaneman on Saturday, as well.

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Friday, November 10, 2006 5:27 AM

CARTOON


I heard this again on the radio today. I've heard it a lot over the past few years. I don't know where it originated, but I felt it would be applicable here.

It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the veteran, who salutes the Flag, who serves under the Flag, whose coffin is draped by the Flag.

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Friday, November 10, 2006 5:29 AM

TRISTAN


I remember.
And I appreciate every person who has ever served.
Thank you.

______________________________________

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Friday, November 10, 2006 8:50 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


" the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month--'

Dona nobis pacem.

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Friday, November 10, 2006 9:00 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE


Remembering Kevin, and too many others.

Rest easy, old friend.






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Friday, November 10, 2006 9:18 AM

SOUPCATCHER


In the past few years, we've buried many veterans in our family. All of them survived their terms of service and lived to a ripe old age. They earned it the hard way by protecting every American's potential to grow up in this great country.

Rights are not given, they just are. But rights can be taken away. They need to be protected, now more than ever. Christy Hardin Smith, over at firedoglake, speaks for me:
Quote:


Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, and to me that means a whole lot more than a magnet on my car and a bunch of empty words and promises that still go unfulfilled. And it ought to mean a lot more to everyone.

...

Here's hoping for more thoughtful, committed leadership in the days to come — committed to making things better for our troops and their families, and not just to public bluster and PR maneuvers. I have a lot of hope that with the addition of the experienced voices of Jim Webb and Joe Sestak and all the other fighting dems that just got elected, our veterans will have a renewed voice in Washington.

To all of our veterans, past and present, thank you.

And to those folks who are currently in uniform and in the field, please, stay safe. We are thinking about you, your friends and families. We honor your sacrifices today, and we hope for better for all of us in the days to come.


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Friday, November 10, 2006 9:33 AM

ODDNESS2HER


I am remembering. Thanks for the reminder!

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Friday, November 10, 2006 11:45 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


To all of those who fought protecting us: Peace, honor, and remembrance.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Friday, November 10, 2006 11:52 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION


Rupert Brooke - THE SOLDIER

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.


Prayers of hope and health to those serving. A greatful Thank You to those who have served.




----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original


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Saturday, November 11, 2006 5:40 AM

CARTOON


We keep hearing on a very consistent basis about how many WWII vets are passing away daily. I think about my uncle (through marriage to my aunt) who is going to be 87 in 2 weeks, and was with the 101 Airborne (502nd) in WWII. He fought throughout the Italian campaign (including Anzio), then was among the very first Americans into France when he parachuted (just after midnight) into enemy-occupied terroritory on June 6, 1944. He also participated in the battles of Arnhem and Batastogne, amongst others.

While still fully alert and willing to discuss his service, he's not in the best of health. I've mentioned to my cousin (his daughter), that she should record him speaking about his involvement in the war for posterity. I hope she will do it before it's too late.

Along these lines, I'd urge anyone who has so served their country (whichever country it may be) -- particularly those who saw combat, to record their recollections for posterity. Once you (or they) are gone, your stories can't be told.

Again, my very best to all of you who've served, whether in war or peace.

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Saturday, November 11, 2006 6:03 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


My dad had a very interesting history. He was drafted into the Polish Army just weeks before getting his PhD in Physics, escaped the Katyn Forest massacre by claiming he was the phtographer (not an officer) and survived a Ukrainian tin mine and a Siberian labor camp, only to join the British commandos and become a provocateur in Poland. He ued to get a disability check from Her Majesty's service- it always came in pounds, shillings and pence. His favorite song as "A Scottish Soldier", partly, I think, because he trained in Scotland.

I made the mistake of not asking him for more details. He has since passed away. Those of you with living relatives, please don't make the same mistake.

The Scottish Soldier

There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away and soldiered far away
There was none bolder, with good broad shoulder
He's fought in many a fray, and fought and won.
He'd seen the glory and told the story
Of battles glorious and deeds neforious
But now he's sighing, his heart is crying
To leave these green hills of Tyrol.

Because these green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills, the're not my land's hills
And fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home.

And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away and soldiered far away
Sees leaves are falling and death is calling
And he will fade away, in that far land.
He called his piper, his trusty piper
And bade him sound a lay... a pibroch sad to play
Upon a hillside, a Scottish hillside
Not on these green hills of Tyrol.

And so this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Will wander far no more and soldier far no more
And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside
You'll see a piper play his soldier home.
He'd seen the glory, he'd told his story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
The bugles cease now, he is at peace now
Far from those green hills of Tyrol.

---------------------------------
Good bye Dad. I miss you.

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Saturday, November 11, 2006 6:24 AM

CARTOON


Thanks for sharing your story, SignyM. People like your dad bought us the freedom we enjoy.

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Saturday, November 11, 2006 10:58 AM

VERSEEXPLORER


I remember many. Some who came back and some who did not.


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Saturday, November 11, 2006 4:26 PM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


My family has been farmers, small business men, and civil servants, not professional military.

My mom's grandfather fought in the Civil War (on the losing side). Two of her brothers fought in France in WWI. My dad's company strung phone wire from Normandy to Berlin in WWII, and my cousin flew C-46 Commandos over the Hump in Burma. I lost my brother-in-law in Vietnam many years before I met and married his sister. I spent a year in Nam myself - like my dad, keeping commo working. My wife's nephew is in Germany right now, keeping Air Force transports flying.

This is nothing special. Most everyone in the US can relate a similar story. We are defended by citizen-soldiers, who do their tour, or fight their war, and come home to be the guy who builds your house, or fixes your car, or teaches your kids how to read. You are surrounded by heroes.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Saturday, November 11, 2006 5:35 PM

CARTOON


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
This is nothing special. Most everyone in the US can relate a similar story. We are defended by citizen-soldiers, who do their tour, or fight their war, and come home to be the guy who builds your house, or fixes your car, or teaches your kids how to read. You are surrounded by heroes.



I presently work with two combat veterans -- one from Korea (82nd Airborne), and another from VietNam (he never told me his unit, but he has a Purple Heart). I have repeatedly told them both how much I appreciate their service. The Korean vet freely relates recollections of his service to appease my interest. I don't know the Viet Nam vet as well, so he hasn't opened up like the other, but he seems to deeply appreciate the gratitude I express to him for his service on a fairly regular basis.

Of all vets, I think that sadly the Viet Nam vets have been the most overlooked. I grew up daily watching that war on TV, terrified at the prospect of one day having to go there (by the grace of God, it had ended before I was of age). I also saw the shameful way its vets were treated here in the states.

As someone who served there, you deserve the honor and respect of the nation you served. Thank you for your service.

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Sunday, November 12, 2006 6:17 PM

CANTTAKESKY


THANKS, to all veterans.

May we never take your service for granted or send you to sacrifice for needless wars.

And no matter how badly the government treats you, remember your fellow citizens appreciate and value what you did.

Can't Take My Gorram Sky
-----------
Vote for veterans' benefits and services. They've earned it.

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Sunday, November 12, 2006 6:34 PM

SIRI


I remember and give thanks for those who have sacrificed their blood for freedom.

I, too, remember my father who died in 2002. He was with the Third Marine Division when they raised the flag on Imo Jima in WWII. While he talked about some things, there was much he didn't or couldn't talk about. He was in college when the war began and enlisted - came out a commissioned captain.

I miss you, too, Dad. I pray you have found peace and rest where ever you are.





Siri

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Monday, November 13, 2006 6:06 AM

CARTOON


Quote:

Originally posted by Siri:
I, too, remember my father who died in 2002. He was with the Third Marine Division when they raised the flag on Imo Jima in WWII.



I was priviledged to have known someone from that division at Iwo Jima, also, although he died when I was only 13. He was my best friend's father (from grade school). He had lied about his age, and was only 17 when he joined the corps, and subsequently died in his mid-40's from a heart attack (his heart had been damaged by malaria which he contracted while serving in the Pacific).

Not all of a war's casualties die during the war in which they served.

We owe so much to your father, my friend's father, and the many others like them, who (I'm sure) sacrificed, and endured much (both mentally and physically) as a result of their service, even after their active service had ended.


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Monday, November 13, 2006 7:14 AM

FIVVER


My father-in-law was a medic with the First Marine Division on Okinawa. This was the largest air-sea-land battle in history.

Several years ago we all vacationed in Hawaii together and it was tremendous experience seeing Pearl Harbor through the eyes of a man who, when he last saw it was still recovering from the damage.

He still plays the harmonica he carried during the war.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006 3:40 PM

BLAZESOLO


I spent 14yrs married to a wonderful man who served in VietNam for 4yrs but never left there.
This in memory of Dallas Gene Baker 101st Airborne.
Sorry it took so long to respond but Veteran's Day is really rough on me.

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Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:55 PM

DREAMTROVE


I spent most of the day with a WWII vet, who is in great health, thanks to the VA, and the fine training. On the same day, I ate lunch with an Iraq War vet, and he talked about how the vets had changed, and how he wished it was more like the days of wwii, and how he thought the men he served with were courageous, but when something like abu ghraib happened, there was a sort of blame-the-troops feeling which had evolved here for some reason. He thought it was partly media, but partly from our govt.

I think with murtha and gates, maybe that govt. angle will start to change. I hope the media takes the hint.

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