Veterans Day

[Butter]

Thank you to all those who have served, or continue to serve in our armed forces.

I, as an American, appreciate the many sacrifices you have made for my safety.

Again, thank you.

[markprior22]

Ditto....I would also ask that you keep Harry Schmidt in your prayers. He is the pilot who dropped a bomb, killing 4 Canadians in Afghanistan. The Canadians were doing a live exercise and, in the fog of war, Harry and the guys directing him thought they were being fired on. Harry and his family are members of the church I attend. They are an exceptional family who are faced with difficult circumstances. You can read more at www.harryschmidt.org.

A sincere thanks to all veterans

[VPI97]

I always call my grandfather on Veterans Day to talk. He left high school at age 16 to join the army (1942) and was sent off to the Pacific. It's amazing what people will do for their country.

[rhinoruss]

My grandfather had to help clean up Japan after we dropped the bomb. He was also 16 years old when he *snuck* into the Navy. H never even kept a paycheck - sent every cent he made to his mother. Amazingly he's still fully healthy at his old age! My grandfather is the greatest man I ever met.

[wbonnell]

This was a piece written this summer to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War (I wish I could find parts 2-5):

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030722-030011-3383r.htm

[Fritz]

4 damn posts for the vets?
----

Thanks guys. I owe you everything.

[Robbiero67]

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but I too wanted to give my thanks for all those who have served in our armed forces and continue to do so. I cannot state in mere words how appreciative I am to be so fortunate to be protected daily by you men and women stationed across the world. Thank you...

[Wasabiak]

Thank you Dad for going to Vietnam for this country and for me. He was over there when i was born and didn't see me until i was about 9 months old. For doing something like that that has had an affect on his life ever since, it takes someone that is willing to make ultimate sacrifices. And they don't even give it a second thought.

Thanks Dad, i love you.

[Ksyrup]

I was named after a high school friend of my parents who died in Vietnam. My one and only trip to DC, I went to the memorial and found his name. Very surreal experience.

[CraigSca]

I was born and spent my childhood in Maryland. Some of my best memories of growing up in that area involved going out to some "hole in the wall" restaurant for crabs. The kind of restaurant where there's not really a menu, they just drop a dozen crabs at a time in the middle of the formica table (covered with brown paper, of course). Oh, and BUCKETS (that's right, not pitchers) of beer.

Anyway, a lot of times we'd get the whole extended family together, grandparents, cousins, etc. for these trips to get crabs. EVERYONE would eat crabs except for my grandfather. Finally, one time I asked my mother why. She told me that when my grandfather was serving in the Pacific during WW2, when they would pull the bodies of their lost countrymen out of the water, they were always covered with crabs. Ever since, my grandfather refused to eat them. He would be the only guy in the entire restaurant, sitting in the corner, eating a dry, overcooked hamburger.

The sacrifices that generation made for us can't even be fathomed by people my age (I'm 34 now). They grew up in the depression (my grandmother's mother died when she was 3 and she slept on an ironing board growing up) and then immediately went off to war.

My grandfather's gone now...he committed suicide a few years ago - one of the saddest days of my life. Although he did so in the depths of depression, he was very much loved by many. The sacrifices that he and others made during their service to our country surely shaped them into being noble, heroic and ultimately very human figures.

Thanks, Pop.