Veterans Day

[Joe Valencic]

I always get chocked up whenever I hear the Star Spangled Banner, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America and other patriotic songs. The raising and lowering of the flag does it to me as well. I hope I never lose that passion for our freedom, and for my fellow veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

God Bless them all.

Stanza 3 from the Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia W. Howe, 1861

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
?As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal?;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

Joe Valencic
USAF 69-73

[nighthawk]

From John Wayne "America, Why I love her":


Why Are You Marching, Son? I'd really like to know!
Is it because of Valley Forge, or perhaps the Alamo?
Or, "One if by land--two if by sea,"
A trumpet's call...the will to be free?
And what of a man who stood straight and tall,
Who wept silent tears when he saw brave men fall?
No matter--no difference--the blue or the gray,
All were his brothers...how often he'd pray.
And what of Antietam--that now peaceful stream
Where the water, blood-red, glittered and gleamed?
Appomattox...Chickamauga..Vicksburg...Bull Run...
Cumberland...Gettysburg...and then Washington.
Why Are You Marching, Son?

In Flanders Fields, how proud were they
Whose forms beneath the poppies lay.
Men who saw Verdun...
And died at the Marne...Soissons...
And those who tried the fearful foe at Chateau-Thierry,
Who fought and bled...whose hearts grew weary,
But in whose minds one thought kept churning--
That the torch of liberty keep burning.
Why Are You Marching, Son?

The planes swarmed in, and the rising sun
Glowed fiercely on the evil done
To men whose blood runs through our veins,
Men who died, and whose remains
Life forever locked in waters deep.
Now, is it right that they should sleep
While the warm sea laps at a twisted hull
And see the torch of liberty grow dull?
Anzio...Cassino...and the Po!
St. Mere Eglise...Le Mans...St. Lo!
Gardelegen...Buchenwald...
On and on the roll is called!
And why?...Why Are You Marching, Son?

Bugles shrilled in the frozen night,
And at first dawn, the awful sight
Of seas of men...row after row,
Left to die on blood-stained snow!
Pusan...Pyongyang...Suwan...Kyongju!
And blood-red ran the swift Yalu!

In South Vietnam the big guns roared,
And once again we fought a war
To honor a pledge our nation gave
To help that little country save
Her people from the certainty
That she'd be ruled by tyranny.

No matter where the big guns roar,
Our fighting men, like those before,
Take the torch we all hold dear
And face freedom's enemies without fear.
Our fathers died from sea to sea,
And blessed the torch of liberty.
Why?...Why Are You Marching, Son?

[Joe]

I'd also like to thank-you from the bottom of my heart to all the men and women who served in the military in the past, present, and future! May God bless you all! Take-care.

[ELKHUNTER]

A big heart felt thank you to all the brave men and women who have served and are serving now. I wish I could shake the hand of each and everyone of you.

Rocky

[Bamboozle]

My sincere thanks and gratitude!

[ohiotuber]

God Bless ALL who served or serve, & let us veterans not forget to thank those of you who have & still do support those of us who are veterans.
Kerry.....Spoil your son while he's home...he deserves it!
Mike

[Kerry Stratton]

Thanks for the thanks for our son. I must tell you the picture was taken 2 years ago so we have been able to celebrate a couple of Veteran's Days with him since his return. I was reminded by my wife that this summer our nephew returned from Iraq after his 2nd tour and he wll be the primary focus of our observance of the day this year.

Again thanks to all the vets out there.

[Deezel]

harleybob,

Considering the respect, gratitude, high esteem and the place in our collective hearts that we hold our troops, would you please correct the spelling of 'veterans' in the title of this thread.

I know this is a minor thing and before you jump on me for this small correction, let me say that I eagerly await my son returning home next week for a brief 'leave' from his deployment(his 2nd) to Iraq where he is serving with the 82nd Airborne. After his leave, he goes back to finish the deployment.

Deezel

[harleybob87]

Deezel
no offense taken and I thank you very much for the correction. I remember the feelings being able to come home and I wish your son all the best.

[Deezel]

No offense meant and thanks. That looks much better.

Deezel