Veterans' Day

[rover]

I work now with a bank so this is the first time that I have actually had a holiday for Veterans' Day in my adult life.

I just want to say thank you to all who have served in our countries' militaries'.

Notice the plurals there.

I don't see this as a day of politics or policies. I see it as a day to honor those who choose to, or otherwise served their nations, in any circumstance. A day for individuals.

Best to you all.

 

[dcsang]

Yep same here...

Remembrance Day for the Canadians.

I, unfortunately, am in a province that does not have it as a day off but I will be venturing over to the Old City Hall Cemitaph in about 5 minutes to take in some of the ceremonies and maybe take a few photos - work is kind of quiet since our head office is in Winnipeg.

Dave

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Thankyou to all of the Veterans.

I remember when this was called "Armistice Day" for the end of WWI.

 

[f/stopblues]

Yes, many thanks to all who have served. Like Rover said, it's a day for appreciation of everyone's contribution in our armed forces. Soo.. Thank You to them!

 

[Todd.Hanz]

As a former Marine I would like to say thanks to all my compadres and thanks to everyone who has served. Rover is right, today is not about politics it's about people, thank a Vet today.


Thanks,
Todd

 

[back alley]

maybe take a moment of silence...

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
Although it is not a "day off" in the UK, most things comes to a standstill at 1100 AM. It is still known by many as Armistice Day. Sunday is Remembrance Sunday when there will be many acts of Remembrance.

As for me - My Grandfather served in the first war and was mentioned in dispatches by Haig although he rarely talked about it. My Father joined the Navy at the end of the second war but fortunetely it ended just as he finished his training. For my part, in 2 1/2 years time when they kick me out, I will have served for 32 years as a pilot in the RAF. I have managed to survive most of the conflicts since the Falklands War but I have lost a number of friends including in accidents whilst training.

I had become a little saddened by a couple of the recent threads but the sentiments here have put the world back into perpective.

Many Thanks
Kim

 

[DougK]

Former U.S. Army, here (Captain, Medical Service Corps, 1992-2001). We all share a common bond, regardless of the uniform we wore or the country we served. Thanks, all.

 

[jan normandale]

Hi guys, my dad was a wing commander flying out of Alexandria across the Adriatic into Germany on low level missions. His plane was blown out of the air by a magnetic mine, as he was pilot in a Lancaster bomber.

The Germans captured him and his head was half blown apart. They stitched him back together and sent him to a prision camp. Later he was marched into Berlin in an effort to stop Allied bombing. All he had was an officers dress jacket. A German soldier gave him a greatcoat. It saved his life a second time.

Today he’s in a seniors residence after a full life. Some were luckier than others. I’m going to see him today. He hardly remembers me now due to dementia from his head injury. Still he likes to chat. It’s not a lot but it’s something.

 

[JoeFriday]

jan, tell your dad thanks for all of us.. same to all you other guys who have sacrificed for us all

it was just a few years back that many people in the U.S. had no concept of the efforts and sacrifice our vets have endured.. a few recent movies, and an HBO series (Band of Brothers) showed a whole younger generation what war was like, not from a military standpoint, but from a human view.. I'm happy to say that respect and admiration for vets has increased dramatically in the U.S. since then

here's to veterans everywhere

 

[johne]

@Todd
Semper Fi

Johne

 

[wlewisiii]

As with Todd, thank you all who remember and all who are remembered. Remeber the day and all of those that have and still do serve - my sister is a Command Sergent Major stationed in Kuwait.

William
(US Army, 1982 - 1999, Sergent, Infantry & Armor)

 

[back alley]

isn't it the marine corps b'day also?
happy b'day marines!!

joe

 

[Doug]

Honor to all who have served! USAF Air Weather Service 1962-66 as things were heating up in SE Asia. But I was stationed in western Turkey, during which there was the Cuban Missile Crisis, assassination of Pres. Kennedy, attempted military coup in the Turkish gov't, and nearly a war between Turkey and Greece about Cyprus. "Interesting times" as they say. And the beginning of my interest in photography.

 

[Byuphoto]

US Navy 1973-1979 2nd Electricians Mate. Served with the Vietnamese Navy, in Cam Rhan bay navy sea wolf door gunner, 73-74 and was at the evacuation of Saigon in '75. I wathched the American flag come down from the US Embassy from the door of a UH-1 iriqouis helicopter. Worked with the Nicaraguan Navy in 78-79 fighting the Sandanistas. My oldest brother was in Korea and Vietnam,Army artillary, and my other brother was a marine in '58 serving aboard the USS Lexington

 

[djon]

Veterans History Project (new): www.loc.gov/vets

 

[dmr]

As a former Marine I would like to say thanks

Here's an anecdote you will certainly appreciate then. 🙂

Right after lunch we had kind of an awards presentation, where some of us 🙂 got some atta-boy and atta-girl awards for some recent accomplishments. Anyway, during the presentation the CEO asked all Veterans to come to the stage, introduce themselves, and get a round of applause, for which they got a very enhusiastic standing ovation. Very appropriate, IMAO.

Anyway, after the presentation we had cake, punch, and small-talk in the auditorium for a while, and I overheard the following exchange:

Jim: (to Joe) Hey, I didn't know you were a former Marine.

Joe: There's no such thing as a former Marine! 🙂

 

[Kim Coxon]

If you like military anecdotes, try this one:

A pilot flys his display at an airshow and lands. As he is walking back through the crowd to the refreshment tent, he feels a tug on the leg of his flying suit. He looks down and sees a young lad holding out an autograph book. He signs this and, as he hands it back, the young lad says

"Thanks mister, when I grow up I want to be a fighter pilot like you!"

The pilot looks at the boy with a serious look and says

"Well lad, you have a very difficult decision to make. You can do one or the other but you certainly can't do both!"

Regards
Kim

 

[Flinor]

Thanks to all who have served from one from the old brown shoe Army.

Sergeant, 8th Ranger Company and 30th Infantry Rgt.

 

[T_om]

CWO4, USN (Ret.)

26 years. 1967-1993

Flew P-3B's and C's for the first half of my career, S-3A's off carriers for the second (and MUCH more exciting) half.

Tom