Veteran's Day Open Thread: November 11, 2010
Today is Veteran’s Day. If you can, hug and/or shake the hand of a veteran today.
Over one million servicemen and servicewomen have died in defense of freedom and to maintain the safety of this greatest nation on Earth. Almost 24 million veterans are alive today, including almost 2 million veterans of WWII, and about 600,000 veterans of the global war on terror.
One of my favorite parts of Hillbuzz is hearing the diversity of anecdotal stories, both from the Boyz and from the readers, so please feel free to share your experiences today if you meet and talk with any veterans, or if you attend any sort of commemorations or services.
And to all the veterans who read this blog, I thank you for your service. I think I safely speak for everyone here when I say we are grateful for your contributions and proud to have you reading (and hopefully posting!) here on Hillbuzz.
God bless America, and her veterans.
© 2010, eric4hb. All rights reserved.
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http://www.theblaze.com/stories/amazon-pulls-pedophilia-book-without-explanation/
Pulls it, but may put it back up… No way will I buy from Amazon, ever again.
SAY….has anyone noticed the GOOGLE artwork today for Veterans Day? They placed the “e” in a very interesting manner under the U.S. flag. And why the storm clouds and orange background behind the very faded looking flag? Sergy and Larry Page are frequent visitors to the White House…hmmm. I am not the only one to notice this artwork today. It is going viral in the blogosphere. Just pushi’n our buttons, I suppose.
The flag placement over the e leaves a very crescent shaped image–is the flag pointing to mecca on this?
That was my thought, exactly.
OMG.. I thought the same thing, looks like a crescent???
I thought so, too, but the lower case “e” always has that tail. Each time Google does this stuff with their logo, I look closely as well.
Islamic Flag.
Wow, I never use google due to the fact that they give a large amount of money to take away the right to bare arms. But when I pulled the page up the color of the e and all you could see of it made me thing of the sickle used in the old Soviet flag.
Amazon, like Google, is run by Leftists. They apparently have never heard of sales decisions based on common decency. These people wish for the death of the First Amendment, but then shroud themselves in it as an excuse for their own depravity.
Has anyone else noticed that O has spent this year showing what he thinks of the military and vets. This is the second holiday this year, Memorial and Veterans day, where the leader of the office of the President places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown. This has been done by O’s predecessors from the time these holidays have been set. This year however, O has had better thing to do… Vacation.
sorry wanted this in the root…
I wrote a letter of complaint to Amazon and received this lame response:
“Hello,
This book is no longer available for sale.
Thank you for your recent inquiry. Did I solve your problem?”
That was definitely an auto-responder. It’s not surprising they have them set up to filter through some of the inquiries. They must get tens of thousands of them a day, or more. There may be a way to continue to escalate the issue until an actual human sees it.
There was an option at the end of the email to click on whether problem was solved. I clicked “No” and it took me to another link, where I complained again.
Semper Fi
http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/11/11/ninety-two-years/
I’m a former US Marine, and a son of a highly decorated WWII Pacific Theater US Marine.
(1) From me and every veteran, “You’re Welcome!”
(2) There would be no veterans without
(A) you wonderful taxpayers who support The National Defense
(B) the citizens of this GREAT COUNTRY that is SO worth defending
(C) and our great love to share FREEDOM and democracy with everyone on earth.
On this Veterans’ Day, we veterans honor you, the citizens of the country we love.
Thank You!
a beautiful reminder…….. and my prayers and thanks for all who serve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=KTb6qdPu8JE
Veterans Day.
First this made me want to scream…at those kids. Then it made me cry because of those kids, and those soldiers, and those veterans, and for our country.
Please comment to honor a soldier or veteran you know at
http://alabamabuzz.wordpress.com
For any of you looking for a new club beat : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvgJEznqtms&feature=related
AND …. on a more serious, off topic, note … I believe HEARTILY that we should, every one of us, be loyal members of Democrats.com or whatever nonsense it is. I get a little thrill chill every time I receive one of their “we need your help!” emails, knowing I am adding a wee bit of burden to their servers, adding a bull*hit number to their “masses”. I sign up for everything! YES YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!!!!
I do the same thing BellTower. Except in my case, I was already signed up and just never opted out. But the desparate pleas from Democrat poohbahs for moola have kept me amused for the better part of this year.
my dad, a world war II vet, died nine years ago today. the man always did have impeccable timing. my oldest brother is a vietnam vet. to this day, he lives with the effects of a leg wound he received during the tet offensive, which cost him three inches of shinbone. one of our sons-in-law is a west point grad who has deployed to bosnia, iraq, and afghanistan. god bless all who serve and their families. thank-you to every vet and his/her loved ones. you are my heroes.
Thank you for sharing. The courage and sacrifice of your family is awesome and inspiring!
Thank you …. families like yours are the salt of the earth. God Bless.
Thank you very much.
My father served in the Korea War and he died ten years ago this month. We are slowly losing all the vets from WWII and Korea.
God bless all of our vets.
AND their families.
I hope this isn’t too far off topic. It doesn’t have anything to do with veterans day. But since this is an open thread, I have a submission for the “Class v. Crass” category.
http://cripessuzette.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/cooch-problems-a-photo-documentary/
Hysterical!
I see the left has ignored our Flotus’ Humiliating on-camera experience.
Or will the Leftist Media spin this lack of manners as new protocal for Americans?
Veteran’s Day is yet another example of how the Progressives don’t honor our country, let alone our military. Teh Won is conveniently out of country, and I don’t see a whole lot of LSM coverage honoring our veterans, past and present.
Today, in dribs and drabs, little children from the neighborhood have been stopping by and thanking the Studmuffin for his service, many bearing very sweet hand-made cards. (We are the only active-duty military family in our area, but there are many retired/veterans). The families in our little community were incredibly supportive and generous to his Marines each time they deployed.
However, this did puzzle me at first — sweet as it was — and then it hit me. This is the first year in the 10 years (off and on) we’ve owned our home that he’s actually “been home” for a Veteran’s Day. Every other time he’s been deployed or TDY on assignment.
It’s nice to see though that the heart and soul of America “gets” it and wants their children to “get” it, too — so I wanted to share this little story with you today. We are not alone; we are resolute in our beliefs and values, which are shared by many — even strangers I’ve never personally met before — who stopped by our house today with their children.
My heartfelt thanks to all our Veterans who answered the call so we could sleep soundly under the blanket of freedom.
Thanks for sharing! What a great idea to bring hand-made cards, and a great activity for the children to get involved!
Please thank Studmuffin for his service. Words are not sufficient to express the gratitude I feel toward all who serve or have served our Country!
Thanks YTZ4Me…’sleep soundly under the blanket of freedm’, beautiful. Thank the Studmuffin for me.
What a wonderful story! I am glad the neighbors and their children are so thoughtful.
Once again, many thanks.
Thanks to all of our veterans, and special thanks to my BIL who served on a submarine.
I would also recommend the following books for those interested in learning more about some of our current American heroes:
House to House: A Soldier’s Memoir by Dave Bellavia (about 2004 battle in Fallujah)
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell
There’s so much heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan that we’re not hearing about. Any other good books out there?
A lot of them still don’t want to talk about it, or are active duty.
Give it about another 10 years or so, and you’ll get some really good inside accounts of Fallujah and Af-Pak.
The Studmuffin recommends:
The Last Stand of Fox Company by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin,
When Hell was in Session by Admiral Jeremiah Denton,
To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy (the most highly decorated GI of WII and a Congressional Medal of Honor winner)
and, what, what he terms, “an account of unparalleled personal perservence and will to resist in the face of overwhelming odds and sure death that anyone is ever likely to read in several lifetimes”–
Into the Mouth of the Cat, the story of Lance Bijan by McConnell Malcolm.
This is no way a comprehensive list, but a good start.
Had some additions to your list, but the WP gremlin is hungry.
Sorry
Thanks! I’ve heard that they’re making a movie based on Lone Survivor, but given Hollywood’s track record, it’s sure to be anti-military.
And on a side note, when will Hollywood realize that they could make so much money if they could get over themselves and make a pro-America, pro-military movie about Iraq or Afghanistan?
I think Marcus has input on this movie, so he will not allow the usual lefty tripe that you see in most movies.
Lots and lots and lots of bravery going on in Afghan and I say that not just because my BF has been going there forever…lol. Lots of special forces and SEALs doing heroic things. They never talk about it on the news and never have. That’s probably a good thing, tho.
Agreed on not sharing too many details about current operation. But Luttrell goes into a lot of detail about the SEAL training (to better explain his & his fellow SEAL’s abilities and actions later), and it is seriously unbelievable. That they would go through such h*ll just to qualify, and then prepare, for all that they do for America.
Agree. I’d like to give a shout-out to another SF community that most people aren’t aware of:
Air Force Special Ops.
http://www.afsoc.af.mil/specialtactics/
They don’t get as much *public* recognition as the Seals and Army SF, but the work they do is just as dangerous and vital.
We have a nephew in Afghanistan-army- been there 3 months and has been on quiet a few –missions
– 3 out of the last 4 trips in his vehicle have been hit –IED’s–
he was down 2 days w/a concussion on the last one — 3out out of 4– bad news in my book — please remember all our military over there right now in you prayers–
on a good note — my grandson will be graduating from marine basic training tomorrow –SAT MORNING 11/12/10– a brand new marine– we are so proud of him– he is 22 and have not seen him in 18 months — so excited to see him next week– we are doing our Thanksgiving early– we are so proud of him–thank you so much!!
Faye,
God Bless your
nephew, and you
have every
right to be
proud of your
grandson.
Enjoy graduation!
Oohrah!
Thank you for mentioning them. That’s for darned sure. My youngest bro is an AF Special OPs pilot. Lt. Col-
They find themselves in places we only read about in Clancy novels. They drop the Black Ops guys in zones noone else dare enter.
It’s very, very hard to relax when they are on missions. As w/ all military families.
Bless them all.
Moving this to today’s open thread since I posted incorrectly.
Update on Florida: Allen West and Rick Scott. Palm Beach is just finishing “finding” votes but Gov-elect Rick Scott was totally lawyered up beforehand so no shenanigans happened with his count, although they tried. As to Congressman Elect Allen West, the left is already going after him. He named Joyce Kaufman, radio personality for WFTL 850 AM, as his chief of staff. She is rather outspoken so Rachel Maddow and other Soros related ilk have pulled audio from Kaufman’s show to use against West in a kind of backhanded way. Congressman-elect, Lt. Col. Allen West has a target on him because many believe he is Presidential material and I agree. The left can’t have a black, conservative, Army leader and hero in the limelight, now can they? Joyce just withdrew from the position of Chief of Staff. But let the left be warned, she is on the war path and they have unleashed a conservative tiger (tigress). Hoo Rah and God Bless to a great hero and veteran…CONGRESSMAN ALLEN WEST CD FLA 22 and look out Washington
Also want to mention that a call to Joyce’s studio yesterday caused the lockdown of all schools in Broward County. It was all a setup to go after Joyce Kaufman and Congressman West. The left knows no bounds. To heck with all of them.
I can’t help but think that if Allen West were a liberal and the same tactics were being used against by the GOP, that Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP would be rushing to his defense screaming “RAAAACIST” at the top of their lungs.
You are right, Eric.
We cannot let them do to Lt. Col. West what they successfully did to Miguel Estrada and Janice Rogers Brown, to name two of many. The dems punish all who do not subscribe to the plantation mentality (they even purge their own who do not comply – Juan Williams)
it is an ignorant racist narrative used by dems and those who standby in silence.
Again has always been done with the approval and help of our “nice” RINO sleeper cells.
Send prayers out to the Lt. Col, his family and his staff.
I have no doubts about Ret. LTC Allen West’s ability to handle anything the Left throws at him. This is a man who let a prisoner think he was about to be executed in order to protect his men, and then turned himself in for violating rules. Rachell Maddow??? Pftttttt.
It is strange how Barry is elsewhere. At least he is not dissing some veterans grave somewhere.
It is also strange how the mysterious missle appeared over our west coast while Barry is out pissing off the Chinese and trying to befriend the Indians.
And the Google logo today is quite a leftist slant and it is too bad that Chinese Submarine missle wasnt aimed right at Google headquarters.
Anyway, we need a strong woman leader who will have her finger right on the launch button and not be afraid to let the birds fly if need be.
I got this in an email today:
At the Barbers
George Bush and Barack Obama somehow ended up at the same barber shop. As they sat there, each being worked on by a different barber, not a word was spoken. The barbers were even afraid to start a conversation, for fear it would turn to politics.
As the barbers finished their shaves, the one who had Obama in his chair reached for the aftershave. Obama was quick to stop him saying, ‘No thanks, my wife Michelle will smell that and think I’ve been in a whorehouse.’
The second barber turned to Bush and said, ‘How about you sir?’
Bush replied, ‘Go right ahead; my wife doesn’t know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like.’
Now we folks on the east coast have our own mysterious missile to worry about:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/nyc_missile_whCKDgGXTK9J4lGuuxVgeO
It was seen over Far Rockaway, Queens.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/11/some-good-signs-for-palin.html
Woot! Woot!
to all the veterans..THANK YOU!!!!!
My dad, a WWII veteran in the Pacific, was never so proud of anything as he was his service in the Marines. Recently, my mother who is 88 years old and I read a huge box of letters he had sent her from 1942-1946 while in the service which she has kept all these years. We thank and honor all our soldiers and their families and the sacrifices they make for all of us.
beautiful story.
Thanks to all veterans and active duty everywhere, but especially here. My nephew deploys to Iraq in three days.
my nephew is in Afghanistan — 3 months — God bless and keep them all!!
I found this cool thing online — can’t remember where, though. It’s called AnySoldier.com and you can get addresses to send care packages and stuff to them. Basic stuff like hygiene-related items, but you can send other stuff, too. I grabbed an address for a sgt who can deliver stuff to about 20 female soldiers, and I’m going to send a bunch of stuff to them. They ask for basic stuff, but sometimes just fun things like nail polish (which they can use for fun and it doesn’t get in the way), fashion magazines, scented lotion, silly fun things.
So it’s going to be a box of tampons, nail polish, scented little tubes of lotion like you can buy at Bath and Body Works, baby wipes (great for cleaning up when you don’t have access to running water), DVDs that I don’t watch anymore, books, toothpaste and floss, hiking socks, jerky, etc. I just hope the post office accepts the package, because some of the addresses look like somebody had a mouthful of alphabet soup and sneezed.
Janis, that is a great idea, and will certainly be appreciated. I do this several times a year and am currently collecting things to send for Christmas.
Gracie,
I’m sending over this week some blank Christmas cards with envelopes. I buy them on sale after Xmas, and stash them.
Then I mix them up and put a bunch together in 1 gal ziplock baggies.
The Chaplains will send them to our most forward deployed troops, who don’t have access to a PX, etc.
This isn’t my idea — I got it from an e-mail sent to me by a lovely Grammie when the Studmuffin deployed for Fallujah in 2004.
He talked about it being one of the best “gifts” ever– they all went “shopping” for Christmas cards to fill out and mail home to friends and family in the US — it helped them feel connected with our traditions and rituals.
There were more than enough to go around for the young Marines, so even he had a chance to “shop” & send a card home to us and to his parents. It really was a lovely surprise!
Such a simple thing, but means a lot. This year we have lots of Marines and Soldiers posted in really remote locations, so I’m in the middle of sorting out and boxing up my blank cards to go out next week.
You need to make sure it’s addressed to somebody specific or go thru an organization or group that sends the packages. You can’t mail a package to “any soldier” thru the post office anymore. Not since 9/11. It’s too dangerous. They will not deliver those packages or letters….
Lots of groups and organizations online accept gifts or money and send these items to the troops for you. Bill O’Reilly’s website has a host of charities for the troops that you can donate to as well.
Anysoldier.com is an organization. They provide you with the name and address of a contact who will distribute the packages, as necessary. It will even tell you how many other people have requested that address, so you can find a unit that may not have received as much. I have confirmed that packages sent via Anysoldier.com will be delivered.
I’ll second that on Anysoldier.com – that’s a good organizations and their stuff does get through.
Oh good! Just making sure people know they can’t send a package themselves addressed to “any soldier”. We used to be able to do that but not anymore.
OperationShoeBox.com is located in Belleview in central Florida. She is the mom iirc of four soldiers. Bill O’Reilly has them as one of his charities and they do great and wonderful work. They seem to always be short of the female supplies like listed above. But they also ask for things that are free like hotel size toiletries, crossword puzzles from the newspaper, and such.
A friend just sewed 75 shoebox bags and another friend and I helped by stringing them. It felt so good.
Ooh, sudoku and crossword books! Great idea!
Rand Paul is getting stronger in interviews. Client #9 did his best to make him look bad. Spitzer used class warfare to try to make Rand look bad in this interview, but it just reflected back in his face. I am just posting this here, since I know there is no one watching this show on CNN. At the end, Rand Paul should have said he’d love to come back on the show in January with details on the plan, providing his show isn’t canceled by then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSI6Dsw1AS8
I don’t know why he finds it necessary to go on these low ratings shows on the alphabet networks. Republians are just putting themselves out there as targets for no reason. They are going to be shown in a negative way no matter what they say. They should boycott them.
What an ass. People actually elected Spitzer at one point? What an ass.
This show is so bad.
Look at these photos of Michelle Obama.
OMG!!!!!!
Hopscotch and wide as a semi. No kidding.
http://www.the-two-malcontents.com/2010/11/obama-remembers-mumbai-attacks-but-neglects-to-mention-ft-hood-muslim-massacre/
I am grateful for the veterans of the Armed Forces who saved the world from Hitler and others like him. I am grateful for those serving today to defeat the terrorists, even if that is not the goal of the current administration.
For some reason, I am reminded of veterans of another stripe, too, today. I certainly do not want to diminish the gratitude owed our military. But the “veterans” of 9/11 are on my mind today.
The fire firefighters who rushed up into buildings to save others just as the WTC was about to fall to the ground are on my mind. The same can be said of the police officers. And of course I think of the ordinary citizen who endured such strife: Business people, airline employees, airline passengers, city workers, and others I cannot now think of.
And I am grateful for Mr. George W. Bush, President of the United States, who led the nation in the fight of its life against enemies abroad and sympathizers and enablers at home (i.e., the Leftist wing of the DNC).
I pray that God will bless America and relieve us from the mess the current administration and its ilk in Congress have put us in–weaker, less ready to face the terrorists. And with that prayer, I offer all that I can within the law to see that the relief comes.
These brave men and women were some of the first casualties in the “official” war on terror. Thank you for bringing them up. They deserve remembrance and recognition as well, and their families deserve our undying sympathies.
Qr4j,
Thanks so much for remembering the valor of the firefighters and police officers who died that day. My brother was one of them and we buried him on 11/11/02 (only thing we found of him was his helmet and that’s what we buried.) I’ve always believed he was as much a veteran as any other man or woman who served in uniform. God bless them all.
Look at how big her ass in these photos. Giant ass. HUGE!!!!!!
http://www.the-two-malcontents.com/2010/11/obama-and-the-big-ass-booty-bitch-michelle-dance-u-s-tax-dollars-away/
http://www.the-two-malcontents.com/2010/11/obamas-visit-indonesias-largest-mosque/
She is huge. She must be a man. Or something.
LOL
Two observations . . .
The color . . . that’s the color of Islam.
And second, her pants were so long she had to lift these while walking. Why not wear an ankle-length skirt instead???
Can you say “hem those pants” any louder?
My late Uncle Sonny was A POW during WWII. He didn’t talk much about it, but he loved America the way the boyz do. My dad was a Navy Vet, two Uncles and a cousin were Air Force Vets. My nephew is a Navy Vet who served in the early phase of the Afghan War. My family strongly believes in America and what she stands for. Thank you and God Bless to all of our Veterans and their families!
I’d forgotten that my uncle was a POW in Germany … spent the last six weeks of the war standing in a boxcar; they didn’t have enough room to sit or lie down and they were fed just enough to keep them barely alive. His best friend survived the Death March of Bataan. Incredible people, our military!
My Dad’s unit was assigned to guard the German POWs at the end of WW2. I asked him if they were mean to them. He said the worst they ever did was make them cook for them because apparently they were good cooks. He said that most of the guys,just saw the POW’s as young men just like themselves,who were serving their country. They didn’t take it personal.
Nobody ever tells that tale about the American soldier,they just love to put in the headlines the few bad apples.
My friend’s father shared this story. At the end of WWII when securing a French village he and his patrol used a church steeple as their vantage point. His father found a German soldier (much like himself, wearing a differing uniform) retreating. He had him in square in his crosshairs. He didn’t fire. He was certain, at least once he had been in a similiar position at the other end of a rifle.
While everyone has the right to free speech (well, not absolutely…), it galls me when conservatives who talk a big military but never signed up to serve start spouting off about gays in the military. Why didn’t you sign up, if you’re not handicapped?
God bless the gay americans in the military on this Veterans Day.
We have had a Democrat-controlled Congress since 2006 and then joined by a Democratic White House. If they can cram down unread 2000-4000 page bills at 2AM this could have been done instantly. The policy window to resolve this has never been open wider!
We have to ask why not?
is it to keep gays firmly on the plantation? I think the recent election affirms this as Kevin and contributors here pointed out that gays voted conservative in record percentages this time. Imagine the percentage if DADT is resolved.
I think that the base is finally waking up to the fact that their entire “dream” agenda– amnesty, DADT, etc — could have been achieved without a single R vote — and that they’ve been played.
I know, right? it’s called veto-proof
Kevin and the HB crew have made great strides to make this point and to awaken the masses in this regard in such a short time.
The one downfall to that would be that BO-BO, the idiot circus monkey, would try to take credit for it all. Is a large enough percentage of the gay community paying close enough attention that they would see what really went down?
Thank you…that pic’s about a year old, but it makes me smile!
(plus, I want to use my old avatar for the banner on my new blog…coming soon!)
Both my parents served in WWII … my dad served with the Army Air Corp at Eglin AFB in Florida, my mom was in the Waves in Washington, DC. My dad used to brag that he almost got shot down over Pensacola (he flew planes w/ targets behind them that the guys on the ground were supposed to shoot at; they’d get bored and try to hit the plane)! He died Nov 18 2005 and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery. [My mother is related to the Energizer Bunny... 90 and still going and going and going... ]
So proud to be an American, and so very grateful to all who have served our country throughout our history, as well as their families who sacrifice as well.
Thanks for sharing! I love hearing these stories.
Thank you YTZ for your comment, and welcome to America,.
Thank you YTZ for your comment, and welcome to America.
The thing that REALLY chaps my ass about criticizing the military is that they don’t decide where to go. The civilian government decides that. The military doesn’t set policy — and that’s as it should be.
But what it means is that if you don’t approve of where and when they are fighting, then whose fault is that? The government is to blame, and in a democracy, WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT. Don’t approve of the wars the military is sent to fight? Look in a mirror — that’s where the fault lies, not with them. They don’t decide where to go, and thankfully so, because in a civilized country, the military shouldn’t be making those decisions.
If you REALLY want to thank a vet or a soldier, make damn sure your vote counts and then stop electing trendy airheaded jackasses as commander in chief so they’re only sent off to kill and die when it’s absolutely necessary!
It’s a day for fond memories of those who served us so well, and today I think of my father-in-law who fought in Europe during his hitch with the U.S. Army Infantry, circa 1915-1918.
The long line of honor stretches way back.
Should include in my post about Pop, his son is a proud vet of the 82nd Airborne.
God Bless all of our veterans, today and everyday. Thank you for your service (and sacrifice) to our country.
For those of you with family in the military, here is a great site that gives away free banners to welcome home our troops.
http://www.buildasign.com/troops
I’ve ordered from them in the past and was really pleased with their product. You do pay for shipping, but it is really nominal compared to what you get. The free products include 2′x4′ or 3′x6′ banners…OR…18″x24″ jumbo cards.
Actually, anyone can go there and order a sign/banner to welcome home/show appreciation for our troops. For work…home…school…church…anywhere!
Ali, that is sooooo cool!
Thank you for sharing/posting.
Our dad was Army (1942), my loving hubby spent 22 years (Army and USAF), two sons (Marines), one son 20 years Air Force, two brothers (Army-VietNam),cousins and uncles on both sides of our family have served faithfully in all branches of the Services. To all past and present, God bless you and grant you peace.
Happy Veterans Day!
My Dad and my Grandfather both served in the military. I had considered going into the Air Force, but received a scholarship to college instead. I wonder how different my life would have been if I hadn’t received that scholarship and joined the military instead.
A non-Veterans story, just because this is an open thread…
I was at the dealership getting my car worked on and I was reading Condoleezza Rice’s book. A lady sitting near me asked what I was reading, I showed her the book, and she went on and on about how wonderful Condi is. (This woman was probably in her 70s). Her husband asked me what I thought about Sarah Palin, and I told him I loved her. He and I had a very nice discussion about her book Going Rogue. I walked out of there a very happy gal.
I live in liberalville, so I was very surprised to see others who may think the way I think. I told the couple that I thought I was the only person in the area who loves Sarah Palin and the gentleman told me that there are others around – I’m not alone.
I later found out he was a veteran. Wish I could have thanked him before he left. He was pulling away from the dealership when someone yelled Happy Veterans Day.
(It was hard to not type this post without using quotation marks, but I’ll get the hang of it sooner or later).
Happy Veterans Day everyone!
Other Michelle:
Don’t worry – you said thank you to the veteran by your words and actions. Living in similar environs as you, I bet you made his day to hear someone from a younger generation validate his service to us by your discussion (without whispering) of two freedom lovers – Condi and Sarah. Great example – let’s stop whispering when discussing Sarah or Condi (as if we are in a ’70s commercial whispering the words toilet paper or hemorrhoids).
btw – just started audio version of Condi’s new book – must read!!
I’m not that far into the book, but I just love how her father ended up joining the Republican party.
For those people who haven’t read it yet, her father and mother went to register to vote. Her mother was light skinned and was asked who the first President of the US was. She answered, George Washington.
Her father, darker skinned, was given a jar of beans to guess how much were in there. He answered incorrectly, so he wasn’t allowed to register to vote.
Someone later told him to go check out the Republican people, and they helped him register to vote. He was a Republican ever since.
Again, I’m not that far into the book, but I am really enjoying it.
Does Condi read the book herself on the audio version?
Yes Condi (and Sarah) do their own audio!
It’s so hard to speak out for me. I go immediately red and then start to stutter (I’m a stutterer – it’s rare, but it happens). So speaking out for me is very, very difficult.
Thankfully, this lady drew me out of my shell and we had a nice conversation. There were people listening to us, but they didn’t comment.
Folkzz,
Some notes for today:
First let me clarify that what Sarah said last night at the Evening of Hope in Dallas was “”I need to run for office just so I have more material to share in my speeches…”
The girl is teasing hard. The crowd went crazy after that comment.
The disappointing and maybe annoying performance of the night was the one by governor Perry. The governor looked like he was there to pass the time without caring too much for anything. He looked like being drunk or on crack; looking at the floor, at the ceiling, at his hands and assuming weird poses like he was suffering from Parkinson disease.
Texans of course, received him with huge applause and standing ovations.
It was nice for me to see governor Palin, at least from like 40 feet away.
On other things, take notes of how Chris Mathews is predicting that Sarah will run and she will win the GOP nomination by an early knock out(possible knocking out Romney and every male contender by early February 2012). Mathews is the only liberal commentator in the media taking Palin seriously.
And with unidentified “missiles” flying over California and volcanoes interrupting Obama’s “Islam is a great religion” tour, these are my notes for today.
Glad you got to see her, Carmelo, and thanks for the report.
heres an interesting take on sarahs qualifications.. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Sure_-Sarah-Palin-is-ready-for-primetime-1527134-
Thank you veterans. I have the freedom to write my blog because of you.
http://usa-wethepeople.com/
As a retired vet[USAF for 20 years],Vietnam and Cold War Warrior,,,,just want to ask all you good looking women out there to “kiss a vet”. It makes our day.
That is such a great idea. I’ll pass it on!
My father who is deceased was a military motorcycle police during WWII. He used to tell the story of once being a motor decoy for Patton. He was really proud of that.
My nephew-in-law is a Major in a Special Forces Group. He became a Major this year just before his 31st birthday. He and my niece are expecting their first child – a son – in February, and he is tentatively headed to Iraq in April. He has been overseas (Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon) more than he has been stateside. They have been married three years and have yet to spend Valentine’s Day together. This will be their first Thanksgiving and Christmas together. Military families make many sacrifices. We are so blessed that they do. God bless all of our military and keep them safe.
When I read posts like this, I realize that I take my easy life for granted. Please thank your nephew-in-law and your niece for me, and I hope your niece has a very safe delivery!
That’s really cool that your dad did that for Patton. Neat.
He is a wonderful young man – very smart, very disciplined and very committed to serving his country. He dreamed of being a Green Beret and serving his country from the time he was a child. I am in awe of him.
How about a shout out to Frank Buckles!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Buckles
Great idea. Let’s all send a postcard!
Thank you for your service Mr. Buckles!
That’s awesome. Thanks for the share!
I’m thankful for my daddy’s service in the Navy for four years and for my brother and three nephews service in the Air Force, Navy and Army.
My husband and I attended a Veteran’s Day service at our clubhouse that was so moving.
We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the Star Spangled Banner and our chorale sang a mix of patriotic tunes. We both “lost it” when they sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Names of all the veterans who died in the past year were read out loud and they rang a bell for each one. All the veterans in the audience were asked to stand to be recognized. Taps were played at the end of the ceremony.
I feel so blessed to live in the greatest country in the world!
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
To me and many of us the best thankyou is for you people to live free, have families, and pursue your dreams in this wonderful country. THAT makes the jungle, the beaches, the bitter cold, and all the other sacrafices worth it.
James, Americans are blessed because you gave your best! Thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B81kW814qA
What a beautiful sentiment James. Thanks to each and every single Vet out there for what you have sacrificed so that we may live in freedom.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, the guns fell silent, and so ended the first world war.
The 11th November is a day that is honoured around the world; it is known as Remembrance day.
Every year on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month, we have 1 minute’s silence to remember those who participated in, were wounded and who died during war.
My grandfather on my father’s side of the family (I share my birthday with this grandfather), was wounded in the leg, somewhere in France in the July of 1916. A year later his leg was amputated. He returned to Australia as an amputee.
My uncle Joe (even though his name was Allan) served in the army during WWII.
My uncle John, the one who married my mother’s sister, was a Marine who saw service in the Pacific region during the second world war.
My cousin John (American cousin) served in Vietnam. We met John when he came to Australia for R&R.
My husband did not serve in a war theatre but he served in the Royal Australian Air Force and retired at Wing Commander level.
oops I forgot to mention my uncle Bill who served in the Australian Army.
He was sent to Japan at one point after the second world war.
Some of you mentioned Barky doing something in Indonesia regarding war dead. I assume that you are unaware that Indonesia was very much a part of the Pacific war during world war II.
At that stage Indonesia was controlled by the Dutch, and was known as the Dutch East Indies.
The region was invaded by the Japanese. Many Indonesians, Dutch, Australians and English lost their lives. Many of those women who lost their lives were fleeing on ships when the ships were attacked by the Japanese.
There’s still considerable bitterness among the Dutch in Indonesia who were incarcerated by the Japanese during the war — mainly in quite horrible conditions.
Have you ever heard of the Burma railroad? The conditions were shocking.
Thousands of allied forces died in Indonesia, Singapore and other regions of the South Pacific.
The conditions at Changi and elsewhere were very bad. The women who were captured were forced into being “comfort” girls….
One of the many heroes from the Pacific region was Dr Dunlop, better known as Weary Dunlop.
People should look up the detail about what took place.
Australians still talk about the heroism on the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea, yet I think that the real heroes are those who were forced to be prisoners in Indonesia, Singapore and elsewhere.
One thing that I forgot to mention is the film “South Pacific” was set in Bali, Indonesia.
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain lookin the eye.
Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg – or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.
You can’t tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She – or he – is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another – or didn’t come back at all.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat – but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket – palsied now and aggravatingly slow – who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being – a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say “Thank You.” That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
- Father Denis Edward O’Brien, USMC
Thank you, to all our veterans, and to those veterans of all the other nations who have fought for freedom, I salute you as well (as ozzieaussie mentioned, today is Remembrance Day in much of the rest of the free world).
Wow, that was beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I went to that post and defended Col West. Lots of anti-West comments. Please go there and support him if you can.
has anyone noticed the latest pics of bambo (along with the other heads of state) with his hand on his heart? then there is that very famous pre election pic of him standing on a podium with hillary and others, he is the only one who did not place hand over heart? believe they were all reciting the pledge of allegiance..
these 2 pics side by side would make a great comparison of where his loyalties are.
traitor..
Does anyone know how to be one of the greeters at the airport when the soldiers come home??I would love to do that.
I’ve done it thru the USO over here. We’re a pretty darn big hub, tho…
At DFW: http://www.welcomehomeahero.com/
This happens 365 days a year. See the About Us section for details.
Violence, Lt. Col.West LOL..can handle it I think.
Ditto.
My Dad was a WWII Navy vet. He raised my sister, brother and I to be very patriotic people and in awe of those who serve.
I look at all the friends of my children who are now vets. And combat vets, all of them. And I know my Dad would be so proud of this young generation.
I had a chance to spend some time with some elderly vets today. They are a treasure. It is my honor to thank them for their service. The amazing thing is, they all say they were just doing what had to be done.
Lots of troubling reports and photos from Britain today.The BBC cancels a documentary featuring a Private Beherry who was awarded the Victoria Cross for valor in Iraq [Victoria Cross - one of the highest honors] because it might offend people who disagreed with the Iraq war. Then hot on the tail of that disgrace I found reports and photos of rioting muslims protesting the Armistice Day solemn ceremonies.
My father served in WW1 in Eastern Europe and again in the Home Guard in WW2. My father-in-law was called up days before his fortieth birthday to army service leading up to D Day. If they were alive to witness today’s shameful events they would be heartsick. To all the valiant young men and women who have and are and will be serving yours is the honor, today and always. You fought to make a better world for the rest of us.God Bless you all.
Armistice Day is the correct name for Remembrance Day.
It is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that the guns were silenced and ended the first world war… Lest we forget.
My response to what is happening in Britain is “screw those Muslims” and send those miserable SOBs back to their country of origin.
Ooh! That google logo *is* creepy.
and onto something else
This just freaked me out…and I didn’t know who else to tell…someone just called me an obot on another blog…and, well, I know y’all don’t know me that well. but still. wow. that’s all i could say…
what did you say? It must have sounded like you supported fiscal irresponsibility!!
actually, i was trying to say we need to be *more* fiscally responsible.
Someone was complaining about how all that is left in the social security ‘lockbox’ is IOUs and how awfully terrible that is.
My answer was that we were stupid if we thought the congress would do anything with that money except spend it.
We have lived on that money for something like 40 years.
And how we have to look at social security as a transfer from young to old – because, in essence, that is what it is the govt is running it – so that’s all it can ever be (i mean, look at corporations and unions and their pensions – they can’t even do *that* right).
And how we need to be responsible as a nation – raise the age of benefits, not expect our politicians to be saints, etc…
and i got pummeled.
“is it okay to steal from you” blahblahblah.
Jeez…
and they elected him anyway
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scriptingnews/2666666564/
Just got done watching all the sneak peeks of Sarah Palin’s Alaska. They are On Demand right now. about 4 or 5 9 minutes clips.
This woman is going to be president. Why? Because she is the real deal. And she is a maximum threat to any CPGOP’er or DNC candidate.
Thanks .. I’ll check that out!
A salute to a great Marine:
Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), nicknamed “The Fighting Quaker” and “Old Gimlet Eye”, was a Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history.
There was a 1930s fascist coup plot against the Franklin D. Roosevelt government, led by a Morgan-centered cabal of powerful financial interests; the coup would have replaced FDR with a puppet government whose policies would be controlled by a cabal of wealthy financial plutocrats.
Their efforts came close to succeeding and might have, had it not been for the courage of America’s then-most decorated officer, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Smedley Darlington Butler, and the extraordinary political leadership of FDR himself. While Butler exposed the plot, FDR and his allies waged war against the power of the private investment banks that sponsored fascism at home and abroad, seeking to curb their power, and placing the sovereign power of the U.S. government and Constitution over them. In asserting that all economic policy must serve the constitutionally mandated principle of the General Welfare, FDR put the nation on a pathway out of the chaos and pessimism that served as the breeding grounds for fascist coup plotters. while laying the economic and moral foundation for the direct military battle with the bankers’ fascist golem in Europe in World War II.
Pearls on Green Velvet
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39920
It’s 0TB Time: One-Term Barack
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2010111101/
Wow, they’re not even pretending to hedge their bets on this!
Hillary’s been appearing awfully cheerful in the press since the 11/2 returns. She’s cozied up to the military brass too, ever since becoming SoS. I predict she’s going to be the Dem. nominee 2012.
she will not win the election…. nothing can save their bacon… and Hillary is toast….
Oh, I fully agree she will not win, nor would I want her to. I’m just saying . . . I think she’ll be the nominee.
I have been listening to and reading the smug predictions of Larry Sabato for at least 25 years. He has been a fixture pontificating on all local political races ever since I can remember, even county officials. As much as I hate to say it, I think this is a parody – Larry’s idea of a joke.
You may be right but the change in electoral votes and re-districting was pretty convincing to me.
Yes, that was the good part – Larry hedging his bet. He is a jerk.
This is so funny I can’t stand it.
Now I know the name of her fashion designer and where she got the outfit featured so thoroughly on Cripes Suzette.
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Dopey
I am sitting here killing myself laughing over that… perfect..!!
Oh.my!
One little tidbit from New York: outside the Metropolitan Museum displayed by one of the stalls that hawk kitsch was the image that we most likely all know of O in the guise of the Joker — one of the last places I ever expected to see it!
This is totally off any of our regular topics but maybe someone with a twitter, facebook or myspace account can help out here.
Just saw a piece on Greta of Kanye West being interviewed by Matt Lauer about the ‘George W. Bush is a racist’ remarks he made after Katrina. It was appalling.
I am not a fan of Mr. West. Not a fan of rap music. I thought his remarks back then were despicable.
However, he had come on the show because HE wanted to acknowledge that he was wrong to have made them and Lauer, in the fashion we conservatives have become so used to, attempted to vilify and skewer Mr. West. Lauer showed video of Bush’s reaction to Lauer’s questioning about Mr. Wests’s ‘racist’ remarks. Lauer was insisted that Mr. West watch the video and react to the painful emotion on Bush’s face in discussing it.
Mr. West was visibly stunned. He was twisting in the wind and asking why they were trying to stage this and provoke his discomfort given he had come on the show because HE WANTED to acknowledge that he had wronged Pres. Bush.
Lauer then went on to play the tape where Mr. West behaved poorly at some awards show. Apparently, just for good measure, Lauer asked how Mr. West had felt being accused of racist intent in that unfortunate incident. (Let’s recall who was accusing racist intent then…hmmm…wasn’t that the MSM?)
I can only hope that Mr. West and all his fans will remember these deplorable “gotcha” tactics when they see the liberal media savaging Palin or ANY other conservatives for “racism”, “stupidity”, “crazy/insane”.
Mr. West just got a heaping dose of what the liberal media dole out on a minute by minute basis to decent Americans who’s crime is being politically conservative.
If anyone here’s on facebook, twitter, myspace, please copy and paste this somewhere where Mr. West and his fans can see it.
He was treated deplorably by Lauer. It was completely undeserved. He was there to do the right thing and they treated him as though they were ‘teaching him a lesson’ on national television. It was deeply disrespectful. The entire episode is particularly egregious when you consider the soiled hands they have at the table. It was an outrage.
Mr. West, I suspect that you and I couldn’t disagree more in our politics but from one American to another, know that I applaud your intent and deed to right a wrong. More than that, I stand with you as a fellow countryman, you were sorely wronged and grossly disrespected by Lauer and his network.
I’m sincere in my request to fellow posters here. Please forward this, or a sufficient link, to Mr. West and his fans. It was so very, very wrong.
Well said Viking.
I accompanied my 93 year old WWII Army Air Corp, 32 year Air Force service, father to our Veterans’ Day Ceremonies on the town square. It was a beautiful day for any outside activity.
At the same time a 26 year old Marine SSgt was brought home from Afghanistan to a nearby airport with his Marine escort. His funeral will be 13 Nov. and the Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church have it on their schedule to picket.
I will be there to honor this young man, as will many other citizens, and after reading the story of how Weston, MO, was able to prevent the Phelps from interferring during a funeral there, I do hope the same action takes place in Hoylton, IL.
You need to contact those patriot bike riders or whoever they are to be a presence so that the Marine is not disrespected.
Those creeps from Westboro are dumbasses. They are protesting people who are not gays. In fact they should not be protesting these brave soldiers.
No one knows the hell as far as conditions are concerned under which these men and women serve.
A pox on this particular family… may they receive God’s justice.