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I'd also like to leave a plug for my friend Ryan who maintains "The Military Wallet" .com .. join his email feed to stay updated with the latest news, etc .. and, the fine establishments that are offering various "Thank You" incentives, etc would not offer these things if they did not want Vets to participate .. so don't be shy, go get 'ya a nice lunch or dinner on the house ..
2015 Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts
The Military Wallet - Veterans Benefits, Discounts, VA Loans, GI Bill
2015 Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts
The Military Wallet - Veterans Benefits, Discounts, VA Loans, GI Bill
GOT MY CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT YESTERDAY
In the afternoon, I went over to the local Bass Pro shop to get a small 9mm handgun for home/personal protection.
When I was ready to pay for the pistol and ammo, the cashier said, "Strip down, facing me."
Making a mental note to complain to the NRA about the gun control wackos running amok, I did just as she had instructed.
When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out she was referring to how I should place my credit card in the card reader!!!
As an intelligent senior citizen, I do not get flustered often. But this time, it took me a while to get my pants back on.
I've been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to seniors a little more clear.
In the afternoon, I went over to the local Bass Pro shop to get a small 9mm handgun for home/personal protection.
When I was ready to pay for the pistol and ammo, the cashier said, "Strip down, facing me."
Making a mental note to complain to the NRA about the gun control wackos running amok, I did just as she had instructed.
When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out she was referring to how I should place my credit card in the card reader!!!
As an intelligent senior citizen, I do not get flustered often. But this time, it took me a while to get my pants back on.
I've been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to seniors a little more clear.
Welcome back, my friend. And thank you for your service. Missed you. How was your walkabout?I find the revelation that Dennis had a satisfactory bowel movement yesterday to be as interesting a factoid as "poop walks" and deserves just as much attention and respect .... after all, have we not had lengthy discussions on the benefits of a high fiber diet, etc .. ??
Although not a veteran myself, I am the daughter of a WWII vet and the ex-wife of an airman that served in the first gulf war (we didn't divorce until a year after that)."I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
Although the memory bank is not what it used to be, I'm still fairly certain that since Thread One, I have posted some sort of commentary/thoughts/ramble on Veterans Day .. and today, since we have new folks since last year and maybe one or two that have found their way back, this may be new to them .. you long timers have likely seen this in one form or another in the past, so my apology for re-visiting ... and, although I talk about myself, it's really not about me .. my story mirrors many ..
I went thru Basic Training at Ft Polk, Louisiana during a hot and humid August and September (years later, I came to know that's the norm that time of year) .. I was a volunteer, having come from a background of three previous generations that served .. my Drill Sergeant was a thin, wiry man, composed of stale beef jerky and twice as tough .. his job was to teach us to survive, work together and maintain discipline and honor .. no matter how much PT we did, beginning before the crack of dawn, no matter how hot and humid it was, I don't think I ever saw him break a sweat as he called cadence (jody call) and worked out right along beside us ..
Being a volunteer allowed a bit more flexibility than being a draftee, and I had hoped to be a Combat Medic, and, my hope came true, next spending my AIT at Ft Sam Houston, back to my old stomping grounds ..
With great luck, I then won an all expense paid one year sojourne in South Vietnam, 4th Infantry Division, Pleiku Province, Central Highlands, Camp Holloway .. and, to paraphrase Shakespeare "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" .. when I enlisted, this "free trip" was an inevitability, and I knew it, going in with eyes wide open ..
When I rotated back to "The World", those that had served were the targets of much anger over the War .. and, in retrospect, I suppose, justifiable in a way .. the soldier provided a concrete, human form with which to vilify .. not like a nebulous, unseen politician or bureaucrat .. those that ostracized us in those long ago years, I have come to grips with and let go, long ago ..
For a time, after I returned Stateside, it was a very dark period for me .. I felt outside of the flow of society and probably suffered from an acute case of PTSD, ending up self medicating through the heavy use of alcohol and drugs .. there was not much in the way of support for us back then and I just wanted the mental pain to go away, no matter if just for a short time and no matter what it took ..
The bonds that I formed with my Brothers in my Platoon lasted thru my lifetime .. I, sadly, saw some pass before returning Home, leaving their blood in the dirt in this far away land .. others that have commited suicide along the way, gone homeless, lost relationships, died at a relatively young age to the exposure we had to various things .. it's not an uncommon story and is still with many of the soldiers of today .. the soldier shares a commonality with other soldiers, no matter the time, no matter the place .. last year, as I have done before, I took advantage of Applebee's generous offer for a free dinner, not really because it was free, but to be among a large group of Patriots that range in age from at least the Korean War up thru Iraq and Afganistan .. and we talk, and we share, and we have a brief, temporary Community .. a Mess Hall, if you will .. (of course, I leave a generous tip)
When I visited "The Wall" in DC .. I knelt down and silent tears streamed from my eyes .. looking at the names and the flowers and mementos visitors had left .. an old Vet walked over and put his hand on my shoulder, not saying a word .. I suppose that pilgramage gave me some degree of closure in knowing that we were honored, eventually, and that the Nation wanted to thank us .. even though I was not really looking for thanks, I think respect was what I had yearned for in those days long gone .. in fact, likely feeling almost ashamed to have served ..
At any rate, the purpose of this post is to say, I am proud, glad and gratified to see that now, our Men and Women that serve get the respect they have earned thru their service these days .. we, as a Nation, although divided in so many ways, can agree on this .. because it is the sacrifice, the giving of the ultimate price, the willingness to take that oath and mean it, that allows us to continue to have the ability to speak freely, live freely and work to improve our own destiny .. for all the back and forth that goes on between one thing and the next, in many cases minor trivialities that divide us .. and as cornball as it sounds, I am proud of my Country and I am proud of my Service and I always will be .. although "A More Perfect Union" may not have yet been fully realized, I hold fast to the belief that we keep trying ..
I'm going to throw up a few musical selections, not necessarily of a Patriotic theme this year, but more based on how my heart leans this Veterans Day, 2015 .. and, in closing, I would very much like to encourage my Fellow Brothers in Arms here today, to post a remembrance / story from the days you served as well as your affiliation / unit / etc .. and, most importantly of all, Thank You for Your Service ..
Salute ..
TY for all you have done for all of us.
@Uncle Willie , although I did not volenteer, I also spent my basic at Ft Polk & AIT at Ft Sam Houston. I don't know why but I was sent to Germany not Vietnam. I danged sure was not going to argue with Uncle Sam over that decision.
I got the same type homecoming you did..........that is something that I have never been able to put behind me, along with the draft dodgers & Hanoi Jane.
I was not a part of the combat brotherhood, but if I had been sent I would have gone. I cannot tell you how much respect I hold for you guys. Thank you for what you all did.
I got the same type homecoming you did..........that is something that I have never been able to put behind me, along with the draft dodgers & Hanoi Jane.
I was not a part of the combat brotherhood, but if I had been sent I would have gone. I cannot tell you how much respect I hold for you guys. Thank you for what you all did.
Also let me add to those of you who suffered Fort Polk in the summer you have my most heartfelt sympathies. That is only about 90 miles from here. Believe me when I say I KNOW just how rough that was.
IMO, to have served is to have served .. we are all of the same Brotherhood and always will be ..
I have been in some very cold places in my life. Temps sometimes down to -20° F but the coldest I've ever been was on maneuvers on Ft Polk during an ice storm that lasted 3 days, with no shelter. Temps were only30° but the rain froze to us as soon as it hit. We had to bang into each other to keep the ice broken off so we could move.I never want to be that cold again.
My various yearly traditional trips really have devolved into more and more crowded and commercialized activities .. it seems to me that once the populace at large begins to latch on to things, they begin to ruin it for those that did it before it became fashionable .. once again, I'm sure my age is showing ..
However, on the bright side, the invention of "skinny jeans" and the young women that wear them does somewhat balance my yin and yang .. and helps provide for a more, er, uplifting scenario ..
My various yearly traditional trips really have devolved into more and more crowded and commercialized activities .. it seems to me that once the populace at large begins to latch on to things, they begin to ruin it for those that did it before it became fashionable .. once again, I'm sure my age is showing ..
However, on the bright side, the invention of "skinny jeans" and the young women that wear them does somewhat balance my yin and yang .. and helps provide for a more, er, uplifting scenario ..
umm, how 'bout halter tops. This one's for you @Uncle Willie
I'll second what Mike said on both counts, Mine is the same place as well, but in/de- creasing the page size will often change positions of those things.
I sometimes have the same feelings as a peace time veteran, and one who wasn't in very long, so I do understand, but service is service. You signed your name on the same dotted line, and took the same oath, and anything could have broken out anywhere at anytime and you'd have been called up. ALL service is valuable whether pushing papers or on the front lines!! those on the front lines don't have things they need without folks pushing papers to get it to them! I've always said we have the greatest fighting force in the world, go in, do the job, get out......but put a piece of paper in front of em, the whole thing can come to a screeching halt!(said somewhat tongue in cheek) So those who push those papers well and get em through correctly do something amazing!
the hardest thing I ever did in my life was send my son to Iraq. The sacrifice that families make and the support they give our soldiers should never be overlooked or underestimated!
Wow....can't even imagine that.
To all our military past, present and even future, and their families who have supported them.
Everyone behaving themselves ?
You are, then you're doing it wrong
Then I'm just as right as rain!!!
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