Thanks to the Veterans

[Jim]

A sincere Thank You to all of the veterans out there. Thanks for your service, your sacrifices large and small and for taking the fight to their turf and keeping ours safe.

-Jim

[Chamberlain]

I second your thoughts Jim !! God Bless our veterans, past, present and future !

Without you, we would not have the freedoms that we enjoy today. !

I am especially proud of my Dad, 86 years young, a veteran of WWII who fought in the Pacific Theater, who was elected to the 40th District Veterans' Hall of Fame in New York last night along with 26 other veterans from WWII to Korea to VietNam and to the Iraq/Afghanistan War. They were selected by their respective community. One veteran will be selected to be chosen for induction into the New York State Veterans' Hall of Fame in the summer of 2012.
It was a fantastic evening and to see these 27 veterans, what they did in the war, and their accomplishments after was incredible. A few times, you could feel yourself chocking up....
At the end of the event, there was a little boy, around 12 years old who paid an unbelievable thanks to the veterans and what our veterans mean to him, and was only around 12 !!!! It was heartwarming and he received a standing ovation and you could see his speech was getting to the veterans !!!

May we never forget why we are doing what we do everyday, which is whatever is want, thanks to Freedom.

Chamberlain

[Amish John]

I echo those sentiments and send special thanks to my Dad, age 91, a veteran of Guadalcanal.

[Chamberlain]

Hey Amish John,

Here ..Here ...

I remember in grade school, a long time ago, one of the first books I took out in the library was "Guadalcanal Diary", and even to this day, it is one of my favorite war movies....

Chamberlain

[born2see]

My stepfather was an artillery observer at Guadalcanal as part of the Americal Division. When I could get him to talk about it, he had some great stories.

B

[Chamberlain]

My stepfather was an artillery observer at Guadalcanal as part of the Americal Division. When I could get him to talk about it, he had some great stories.

B

Born2see,

How true that statement is ! Growing up my Dad and I always watched war movies together, but he would never talk about his experiences until I was in my 20's, but for what he saw and did, I understand perfectly why !

Chamberlain

[born2see]

I've never been close to being in combat but I think it's a pretty horrific experience. Always has been. Guys that have been through it don't really want to relive the experience.

One of the best books I've read on what combat is really like is Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" about war in the Pacific in WWII. It's well worth reading and you'll come away with a different perspective on the "Glory of War"

B

[35th Georgia]

I just came back in after several days away and found this post.Just wanted to say thank you.I served in peacetime because others served in war.Served with many who went to vietnam and I have had the pleasure of knowing many WW2 Vets.The crazy thing is, my Grandaddy knew people who served in the Civil War. I have a Great Aunt who is alive today and remembers her Grandaddy well and he served in the Civil War.That's him in my profile picture.No matter where or how you served,thank you.