As a former enlistee in the army, I would like to give a virtual salute to all of our current and former servicemen and women.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country.
I will raise a glass to you tonight.
I’ve got nothing to add except another hearfelt thanks to all veterans.
Thank you all; I know there’s a bunch of you here…
I second the motion.
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Lest we forget.
That was supposed to be a poppy.
You’re welcome. Glad to have been of service. (Air Force 1980-1987)
I also salute our veterans - thank you for your service.
(And Dad - thanks. We miss you.)
Thank you.
To my grandfathers who served in the South Pacific and told me WWII stories and taught me what it meant to be a soldier, thank you.
To my father, who fought a war he did not believe in for freedoms he did, thank you.
To my comrades in arms, alive and dead, who became as dear to me as family members and always had my back, thank you.
To all those who came after us, to Airman Doors and all the others currently “over there” wherever there may be, thank you. Thank you for your belief that our country and what it stands for is worth fighting for. Thank you for putting yourself in harms way so we can continue to have what we have here. I raise my glass to you all, and wish you all a safe journey home.
I’m glad some started this. Yes, thank you.
Thanks Uncle Ray, and Uncles Jihnny, Leno, Frank and Cousin Greg. And Uncle Pat who used to show me the cane made from some huge animal’s penis that he got when he was recovering in Panama.
And all you others who gave what you gave. And thank you to the families of soldiers that never came back.
I bought a big-ass sheet cake decorated with a flag and a big THANK YOU on it to the veterans I have that drive buses for me today. Everyone thanked me, and that felt so wrong.
And AFG, thanks for clarifying, I thought for a minute you spilled something in the keyboard!
OK, traditional thanks to my Dad (WWII), my brother (Vietnam), uncles, yadda, yadda.
But I am also singling out my mother who was US Army nurse in WWII. Sure, we have women in the military now in greater numbers, many in harm’s way today, and they, too, deserve our thanks. However, people like my mother not only paved the way for the women of today, but many still stick it to The Man.
Case in point. The local bishop was in Washington, DC, visited the World War II memorial and later back home publicly commented on it, the sacrifices it represents, etc. You catch my drift. He made a point of mentioning the men who saved this country.
Bad move. Bad, bad move. My mother wrote a polite letter to the editor response in the paper and casually ripped the bishop a new one, ending her letter with suggestion that on his next visit to Washington, DC that the bishop visit the Women In Military Service For America Memorial.
I’ll see my mother at Thanksgiving. She’s 84. She will rip you a new one, too, if you don’t remember women veterans.
Duckster - thank you for writing what you did - many women who served before it was “popular” or even allowed on a regular basis paved the way for women today - in any and all fields. I know you’re proud of her.
{{{{Ducksters Mom}}}}
So, a buddy of mine calls me this morning. Asks me if I want to go off-roading. I ask him why he has today off. Ah, thats right! He’s a Vet! Okay, lets go!
Long story short: After his second flat tire, I truck his whole family back in my Jeep (Yes, I know, this is UNBELIEVABLE at this point- I crammed 5 people in a 73 Commando and made it home with no mechanical failures. Went to my place, got the appropriate spare wheel/tire combo (I have lots of shit), went back and recovered his vehicle. Had a BBQ and generally a good time. Kept me from surfing porn for 8 hours today!
Happy Veterens (and Birthday) Day to my buddy and all other vets!
Amen- I owe y’all more than I will ever be able to repay. Thank you.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
–Laurence Binyon