Reflections on Veterans Day

[HawkeyeLinus]

I don't come from a military background - my wife's father served two years in the Army before official U.S. military combat involvement in Vietnam, my father was a little older and wasn't drafted before or during and a career in the military wasn't something on my radar screen in the mid 70s. One grandpa did work in a munitions plant in Burlington, Iowa during WWII. A relatively young uncle served in Vietnam - I remember asking him something about it when I was in high school and he made a joke and changed the subject and the subject has never come up again. The father of a girl I dated in college was still carrying bits of whatever from when the Bunker Hill was attacked in WWII and he talked quite a bit about the Navy from time to time. Since then I've known quite a few veterans and folks on active duty but I'll never be able to relate to service in any way like a person who has served or whose mother or father or children have served.

Just figured context was important.

To any and all who have served or been directly affected be the service of anyone else, my hope that you feel the appreciation I hope you should feel for the commitments and sacrifices. I know I've always had a sense of appreciation even from a young age.

For any who feel comfortable sharing, it would be cool to hear your reflections, but mostly just figured a thread today seemed appropriate.

Broke out a Christmas mug last night to peruse the Santa thread - Snoopy's message is always timely, but it always comes with a catch.

 

[scloyd]

My dad was in the Marines, never in combat, and I had an uncle who served in WWII somewhere in Europe. He passed when I was very young and no one ever discussed his service.

Today, I am meeting my son for lunch at a family type restaurant where we often see veterans, one in particular who sits alone and reads a book. I'm hoping to buy him or another veteran lunch today.

Thank you to all who have served.

 

[WVOldFart]

I worked for the Maryland Dept. of Veterans Affairs for 23 years and 3 1/2 more as a Veterans Certifying Official at our local college. There is no way we can ever repay our veterans for the sacrifices and injuries, many you can't see, that they encountered in the service to our country. The every day existence that we take for granted is due to the blood, sweat and tears that these individuals have done for us. Never hesitate to thank a veteran. Your quality of life was made possible by him or her. To all Veterans and Forum members who have served their country wherever on earth for the betterment of mankind...I give you a very heartfelt... THANK you.