This needs NO introduction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtdIO23MKM
Mark
That was awesome!
Support our troops!
I was blown away when I saw that, who would have thought Gene Simmons.
I guess we never know. I salute anyone who salutes our military, even if I don’t like their music.
Randy
Thanks to Gene Simmons!
Mike
It’s really easy to say “Thank You for your service!” when you see a military person in the store on the sidewalk or in the airport terminal. I spent 17 years as an Army wife, it is appreciated.
Great video!!! Gene Simmons is one h3ll of a musician and showman and even more so a successful businessman. I’ve been a KISS fan since the late 70’s and now my 16 yr old daughter is a fan (not by any influence on my part either). I’m taking her to her first concert to see KISS in 3 weeks, She totally freaked when I gave her the tickets on her birthday.
Thanks for the link - Loved it.
Rick
I was a soldier in the U.S. Army from June 19th, 1668 through June 18th 1995. For the majority of my years in the military, I experience something different then those who are using the current National Patriotism toward those who are serving our Country in Military Uniform.
When off base, did not matter if I was in military uniform or in civilian clothes, I was treated as scum by the local folks. I was called a “Baby Killer”, and “Drug Addict”, I was told over and over again to get a real job. Military Personnel were treated worst than civilians on Welfare. Some areas of our nation, we were ordered not to travel in uniform when in transit between military reassignments. Even in cilivian clothes we stood out as military personnel, with our military hair cuts, clean shaven, carring our military duffle bag, and a military base sticker on our vehicle windshield.
I was told by parents that they did not want their daughter dating a Service Man. Many of the fathers had military service in their past! As bad as us Vietnam Veterans were treated, the Korean War Veterans were completely ignored, on their return home.
When I got married and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves (did not want my family and children having to pick up root ever three years) the citizens referred to the Federal Reserve and National Guard as “Weekend Warriors”. These same military personnel where called to help cleanup after tornadoes, floods, blizzards and other regional catastrophes. But that did not change how the U.S. Public thought about the troops that were serving the Country and the U.S. Constitution… To them we were bums and lazy, having to back up to get our monthly pay.
Then Desert Shield/Storm came along and the country got to see a War as it happened, on their TV. This was better then NFL Football! All of a sudden the military was their hero’s! Now we are having our countries second armed conflict in the Iraq and Afghanistan. The public as a whole could care less. Over 6,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines have died in the name of the Constitution of the United States and the People it represents. Nobody cares, that they are over there in Our Name. Many more have been wounded and some have be discharged for medical reasons, lost leg, hand, arm, eye sight, etc. I met a Staff Sergeant (US. Army Retire), he was 26 years old with a wife and two children. I he has a claw to replace his right hand (and lower arm) that he lost in a roadside explosion, he also lost the pinkie and ring finger on his left hand. His middle finger does not work, and he only has his index finger and thumb to work with for the rest of his life. He was Wisconsin National Guard, and his cilvian employer will not hire him back! I met his picking up trash at the annual Root River Cleanup, held by the Ellswoth Fly Fishing Club. The club is trying to find a way that he can learn to fly fish, and maybe dress hooks…
I also knew a man who served in the U.S. Navy in WWII in the Pacific, a kamizee plane hit his ship, and he was wouded and lost sight in both eyes. Never again to see his wife, never sew any of his children. He was awarded a news stand at the Main Post Office in St. Paul MN. For the rest of his life he sold newspapers, magizines, candy and soda pop…
I salute anyone who has served this Nation in uniform, it does not matter if it was in a time of conflict, or peace. They served! They did more for this country than those who have never served. All the Thank Yous will never erase all the degradation that I experienced during my 27 years of Military Service, and had to swallow the gall that rose in my throat. No matter how many Thank Yous you get, it only take one Negative Comment to erase them all!
Now a days, if someone tells me “Thank You for Your Service”, I accept it at face value, but there is still that grain of salt that makes the thank you seem less than it should feel!
Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Army Retired, 1968-1995
4th Armor Division, West Germany (2n Bn, 16th Field Artillery)
18th Engineer Brigade, Vietnam (43th Engineer Group; HHC 27th Combat Enginner Bn, HHC, 14th Combat Engineer Bn)
US. Strategic Communication Command, Ft. Hauchuca AZ
88th Army Command, Ft. Snelling MN ( HHC, 385th Combat Engineer Group, HHC 205th Light Infantry Bde, 5042 US Army Reserve School)
85th Training Division, Ft. McCoy WI (3rd Bn 733 Regiment)
Steve,
Times have certainly changed in respect to the publics view of the military. Thankfully so. I am proud of my 14yrs. And hold the deepest respect for all who have served and continue to serve. In my opinion, they are our nations most valuable resource.
That being said…I have nothing but utter contempt for the left…and those who would choose to victimize our enemies or apologize for possibly offending them. We do have enemies in this world. They will never go away, and if not for the selfless service of our military, our way of life would quickly disappear from future history books if they had their way. They hate us…hate our way of life…and hate all that we stand for.
SO…I view those that do not respect our service members in the context they deserve. They are undeserving recipients of the way of life that the military protects. But defend them we will. However, that will always be the way…through history, they are as true and predictable as our enemies.
Mr. McGarthwaite
All salt omitted…
Thank you and all of the dedicated men and women of the armed forces for all you have done and continue to do for this country. I and all of my loved ones will always be in your debt.
With utmost sincerity,
Richard Crook very grateful American
Nice tribute to most of the armed forces. What about the men and women of the Coast Guard. Yes the Coast Guard has been and always will be a branch of the Armed Forces regulated by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. IMHO this is the toughest overall branch and the least recognized. Between combat, law enforcement and around the clock rescue ops they are constantly in peril doing their duty. When all of the other Armed Forces, and I mean all of them, are holed up to ride out the storm the Coast Guard moves out to rescue the mayday calls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rC9WxzBPKw&feature=related
Semper Paratus!