A moment…

Posted on by May 13, 2014

We weren’t treated that well, which is why we try our damnest to let those serving today how much we appreciate their service…

As JP said, it was, to us, both a duty and an honor…

Nuff said…

Comments

A moment… — 24 Comments

  1. Why do we fight? Why do we guard? Why did we do what we did. Sure, there were conscripts but even they didn’t run to Canada. It comes down to the man next to us. This was Yeates’ take on it.

    An Irish Airman – W. B. Yeates

    I KNOW that I shall meet my fate
    Somewhere among the clouds above;
    Those that I fight I do not hate
    Those that I guard I do not love;

    My country is Kiltartan Cross,
    My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,
    No likely end could bring them loss
    Or leave them happier than before.

    Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
    Nor public man, nor cheering crowds,
    A lonely impulse of delight
    Drove to this tumult in the clouds;

    I balanced all, brought all to mind,
    The years to come seemed waste of breath,
    A waste of breath the years behind
    In balance with this life, this death.

  3. We never got a “thank you” back in the day, and I didn’t even hear a “welcome home” (except from family) for 10 years after I got out.

    The current gratitude is heartwarming, but I hope our younger brothers in uniform realize how transient that can be.

    • +1 I was out of the Army by the fall of 1966, so didn’t have a lot of the crap. Was often angered by the public’s attitude toward vets, and on occasion would let them know how I felt.

  4. Ah, if only the current generation could quote Yeates or learn the meaning of the words “the last full measure of devotion.” It’s not about the thanks we receive, but about being a part of something worth fighting for.

  6. LL- Yep…

    Danny- Please do.

    Rev/WSF- Agreed…

    Euripides- Excellent point!

    Buck- Sorry, I missed it, should have given you credit.

  7. All of my life I have saluted our veterans.
    I try extra hard to recognize Viet Nam Veterans

  8. You always find the gems that get to the heart of things. Thank you for sharing this.

    And thank you for your service.

  10. I always try to give that extra recognition, especially to the Vietnam Vets. They were giving out the Remembrance flowers the other day at the local market. I dropped my donation in, got my flower and took the guy’s hand and thanked him. It got really dusty out there for a few minutes as we just held hands and connected.

    Thanks my friend!

  11. “Every man who served before me is my father.

    Every man who served with me is my brother.

    Every man who will serve after me is my son.”

  14. Hey Old NFO;

    Agreed, the Vietnam vets got the short stick on the gratitude department.. But when people come up to me and thank me for my service….I do feel like a fake..does that make sense?…Yeah I served and yes I went to war…but I don’t feel like a hero. I just did my duty. Nothing unusual for an American.

  15. Bob- In a way, yes… Because we did what we thought was ‘right’… For what ever reason we did it. Patriotism, following the lead of others, wanting to earn the respect of our fathers, duty, being drafted, or whatever… But we went. And 58000+ of us didn’t come back. We went because that was ‘expected’…

  16. For years I have never passed up an opportunity to thank a WWII vet. I have expanded to Korea and Vietnam vets.

  17. My allergies are exceedingly bad this morning !! Things have changed a lot, for now !!!

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  22. NFO,

    We have so very few WW II vets left, a few more Korean, the ranks of Nam vets are thinning & the latest ones look like kids to me. A couple times a week I drive disabled vets to VA hospitals & clinics. They make me laugh, they make me cry & I won’t quit until I have to.I thank each & every one of them for their service to our country!