Veterans Day

[not important]

To all of my fellow Veterans. Have a great day and remember those who didn't come home.

[freakitchen]

Remembrance day here in the UK, same idea of course, and it's so important to remember, particularly as it's the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War. This morning, at 11AM at the Cenotaph in London, it was amazing to watch the last 3 British survivors of that war, lay their own wreathes in remembrance. They are Henry Allingham, Harry Patch and William Stone - aged 112, 110 and 108, what a privilege that they are still with us.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7722443.stm

Having been to the Western Front many times, my deepest respect goes out to those who serve, and those who have served. The words of Canadian John McCrae say more than I can.

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.

We have a Pearl Harbor survivor in town, he's still gets around pretty good for his age and remembers that event as if it were yesterday.

[shadowpr]

Happy Veterans Day.

[Panama Red]

To those who served and gave the supreme sacrifice - may you rest in peace.

To those who served and stand proudly before our Stars and Stripes yet today - I salute you my fellow veterans.

To my 6 high school classmates whose names stare down so silently from that dark granite wall in Washington, D.C., I miss you guys and grieve for you every day. Here I am 60 years old and honoring another Veterans Day and you fellas never even got a chance to see 30. You are gone but never forgotten. Rich Allen, Jon Jones, Bob VanGilder, Rich Haag, Jim VanHattem, Larry VanGessel.

To those who served, as I did, in Viet Nam and came home to chaos and hatred - welcome home, brothers and sisters. And thank you for your service. We heeded our calling, gave all we had to give and ask for nothing but respect for the time we gave in service to this great country.

[shadowpr]

Applebee's free food: http://www.military.com/veterans-day...terans-day.htm

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Applebee's free food: http://www.military.com/veterans-day...terans-day.htm

Interesting - 12 stores in a 30 mile radius of Grand Rapids, Mi but no Michigan Applebee's are listed as participating in this salute.

[doubledragon5]

Thanks to all who served much appreciated. A fellow driver Dennis Albuquerque who died about 1 week ago driving truck for our company.. He served in nam as a helicopter pilot and was shot down. He broke nearly every bone in his body and took almost two yrs to heal.. To bad friend who would have thought you would come home from a was like that, then die in the manner in which you did. I and all my fellow driver salute you as well..

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Panama Red Interesting - 12 stores in a 30 mile radius of Grand Rapids, Mi but no Michigan Applebee's are listed as participating in this salute.

There are a bunch in NY, but none close enough to me to make it worth it. Go Figure.

[glc]

No MO stores are on the list either. Golden Corral is doing their annual vets' freebie next Monday though. I tried to go last year but the line was 2 hours long.

[TimPoet]

What a touching gesture for Applebees! Man, I love that. None in Nevada either, but I really appreciate that idea. Besides, my DD214 is in storage....

[tigstah]

i like to thank the men and women of the armed forces, here and abroad, past and present. Thank you for all that you do. i want to especially thank the families and for their sacrifices that they make.

[David M]

Thanks to everyone in this forum who served.

I know "not important" and GLC did...who else?

[juppy]

Thanks to all the veterans still living, and for those that didn't make it, you are appreciated and not forgotten. I didn't serve in any branch of the military, but I do acknowledge and support those that have and do. I mean, with the economy looking bleak right now, alot of people think we've "got it bad".....but you know, if not for the services of our vets, we *could* have it a heck of a lot worse and the stock market could be the least of our worries. Thank you all again.

[Jester]

I am one of the lucky ones. I made it home from Iraq and Afghanistan. I will get to see the birth of my child and spend the rest of my years enjoying my family. Many did/will not. My heart goes out to the young wives/husbands and children that will not know thier Fathers/Mothers. I will not forget their sacrafices. Thiers are my own and I could have easily been another number.

I am one of the lucky ones who the VA did not bury under paper work. I am one of the lucky ones who had the mental faculties and help from those around me to figure out the redundant, confusing, and intricate forms that needed to be filled out to claim disability.

1 week ago (3 months after leaving the service) the VA finalized my disability. The only reason it went through that fast is because I called two times a week and got updates. Some people just get shoved to the side. The military does not really care about you once you are out. The VA is too under staffed.

My heart goes out to those Vets that are still fighting a personal war because they were forgoten. I will not forget and I will always have an open heart and offer of help to those that need it.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Jester I I am one of the lucky ones who the VA did not bury under paper work. 1 week ago (3 months after leaving the service) the VA finalized my disability.

Damn. That is amazing. I was waiting for over a year to hear about mine.

The worst part is, they only started moving after I called and filed a complaint against my regional office. And it looks like I will have to file anopther one because I've been waiting over a month to just get them to fill out a form I sent them.

[David M]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Damn. That is amazing. I was waiting for over a year to hear about mine. The worst part is, they only started moving after I called and filed a complaint against my regional office. And it looks like I will have to file anopther one because I've been waiting over a month to just get them to fill out a form I sent them.

What the hell is going on here? We send our young men and women overseas and when they get back they have to be the squeaky wheel in order to get what they were promised and what need? And here we are going to give away up to 700 billion to some banks which so far has had virtually no positive effect on the average Joe...and probably won't. It makes ya think!

Maybe take 7 billion of that 700 billion to help our veterans? It would make a lot more people better off.

[shadowpr]

Just to update, I think I know why it was taking so long for me: http://www.military.com/news/article...deception.html

I'm waiting on them for another thing now. We'll see how long this one takes.

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Just to update, I think I know why it was taking so long for me: http://www.military.com/news/article...deception.html I'm waiting on them for another thing now. We'll see how long this one takes.

Sounds like others are getting your benefits instead of you.. Leave it to the government if it was you, doing it, you would go to JAIL. But if their government employees or illegals they would get a hand shake and a medal..