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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
The saying goes something like, "If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart. If you're not conservative when you're old, you have no brain." Yeah, that's the one. Politically correct would be if you had a heart AND a brain. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Not Churchill, though it's often attributed to him. |
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August 2009
Posts: 197
Location: Pennsylvania | When I was a child my dad often visited veterans at the VA in our hometown area. My sister and I would occasionally accompany him but would stay in the attended play room for kids. I have one very distinct memory from those times when I was about 8 years old. We were walking down the hall and my attention was drawn to an elderly man, both legs amputated at the torso. He was moving down the hallway on a trolly powered by his hands. Based on his age at the time, I'm guessing he was a WWI vet. Although it would be many years before I fully understood the significance of his sacrifice, and that of all of our men and women who have served, that image has stuck with me. Little did we know at the time that my little sister would grow up and serve in a foreign war herself.
A very huge thank you to all of our service men and women and their families. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i also thank those who serve their countries with good intentions. i served for nearly 6 years in the medics just after vietnam, hoping to bring some healing to those who were damaged fighting others they were told were their enemies.
i couldn't go on drinking the military industrial complex kool-aid though.
support our troops...bring' em home! |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Amen brother, amen. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | 1969-1975, USAF and Cal ANG. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | First of all, to each and every veteran here, and there are many of you, thank you. With all my heart. To those still serving and in harm's way, especially Michael Winters and Tim Luton, godspeed.
But since this is a salute, please indulge my desire for a few very personal shout outs.
1. Max, TheMadOne around these parts, who was featured on the tune Nowhere Man on the OFC Members Night Out CD (the first one), is serving Army ROTC at Sacramento State. Many of you know him for his attendance at several OFC events as well as a LostArtVintage newsletter poster boy. He was profoundly inspired by Matt Smith and took up the mandolin. You can hear him as the foundation of the song Wagon Wheel posted over on my ning page. He wears the uniform proudly, will become an outstanding officer, and I know the future of our country will be in good hands. No father could ask for a better kid.
2. Dane, Sgt, USMC. Some of you may have heard his song "Fool's End" on the OFC Vol. 3 disc. It was one of the things he wrote right before he went back for his second tour in Iraq. We quickly recorded it, not in anticipation of putting it on the disc, but because we had no idea what the future would hold and I wanted something to always have. Another one of his songs that we recorded got picked up by a record label for and run by veterans. You can read a story about it here: Turning Anger into words, music . If you want to listen to the song without registering on that news site, you can click here: The Hardest Things . Dane is now done with his service, but remains attached to the Marines and is doing some very specialized things for an elite force. He is one of the true warriors we depend on ... the reason we can go to bed at night and sleep in peace.
3. Cameron, Captain, US Army. My #1 is an emergency room doctor at an Army Hospital in Texas. Taking care of not only sick and injured soldiers and their families, but also working with those coming back from war zones with disabling injuries. She sees some of the true hell that results from war. And the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their families ... for us. And she does it without prejudice ... less than a week ago a Major suffering from gunshot wounds came through her emergency room and they saved his life ... even though the traitor gunned down 13 soldiers and wounded dozens more. She will soon be assigned as a flight surgeon and will likely be deployed into a dangerous place. She stands ready to serve ... no different than a million other individuals who together give us the opportunity to live an incredible life.
I am truly lucky and truly blessed. Most days I don't know what I ever did to deserve this. But I'll take it. No father could ever be more proud of his children. Or love them more. You all stay safe, OK? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | "Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult"
And a damned good disguise to boot!
You have reason to be proud my friend. I didn't know that Max went ROTC. Gotta go post to him at FB..... |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| To everyone who has worn the uniform of their country, and especially to those here who have served or are serving, and their families who are also,
Thank You for Your Service!
May the day soon come that you'll no longer be needed in that capacity... |
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November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Wow, Bobbo, that's eerie. It's said, with 6-dgrees-of-separation, we are linked to every person on the planet. Guess it's true......
Yeah, Godspeed to all our troops! |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | to anyone who missed this in my earlier post, especially to the Marines, but well worthwhile to view; recognition of the loss and sacrifice of those that supported the fallen...at the Marine Corps Museum.
Remembering The Brave |
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November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Whoa.........Thanks, Tony. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Most here know where I proudly stand. My life history goes beyond the 'normal' stories that are so much a part of our fathers and our own generation. But my story is not unique; only another piece of the grand mosaic of our nation.
As to the 'liberal' to 'conservative' conversion mentioned above, that was my first sig line when I first joined the OFC. Whoa, I was immediately 'corrected'. OK, that's cool... So I learned (albeit the hard way) that some issues are not favored here. But yet, I continued to see a 'sophisticated' sway the 'other way'. But again, it's cool. Just don't bag me for my sense of justice and right.
To those that may have regrets in not serving in the military, may I say that if it wasn't meant to happen, then so be it. We all have our positions in life. Being young is not a 'sin'. Being oblivious to the world around you once life slaps ya in the face, such as when ya become a Dad/Mom or you lose someone cherished is another story.
To those that may resent my points of view, I wish you and yours the peace that you seek. Please just don't blame me for being a believer in good vs. evil. One thing I have in common with you is that NO government can solve the ongoing ancient battle of the 'best for the people'.
Regardless of our nationalities, political leanings, financial standing, religion, or lack thereof, may we continue to appreciate our fellow members and their love for this site and the participates.
All of the 'Veterans Day' hoopla is not about selling Hallmark cards, flooding Wal-Mart with 'patriotic' shoppers nor picking sides. It's about sacrifice!
schroeder,
Thanx for the WW I vet update! Tis a sad day...
On this hallowed and memorable day of remembrance and appreciation of a victory over an evil that threatened the globe, may I leave you with this VIDEO . |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | "Soul Sacrifice" - Santana |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I got a private PM from one of our members that was concerned about our glorifying Death, Murder, Havoc in this thread. I attemped to respond to him appropriately as I respect his opinion but disagree (couple of paragraphs deleted or rephrased to maintain the indivual's privacy).
We are a very diverse international group brought together by music...
After sending it, I thought (as this is OT and Al is asleep) I would post my response:
War is hell and anyone that has been in a foxhole or dropped a bomb knows that. No soldier or Marine wants war.
I descend down from Roman Emperors such as Augustus Octavius Caesar, Macedonian Emperors, Egyptian (Seti I, Ramses II), King Malcom Caennmoor of Scotland (killed Macbeth), Charlemagne, Hroar (father of Frode VII Vakdar Hroarsson, Danes/Denmark), Ruruck (Hroerkr) of Lethra married to Ivansdottir of Denmark, Roderigo Diaz de Vivar (El Cid who saved Spain and Portugal from the Moors), both William I the Conqueror (Norman) and King Harold Godwineson (Saxon, killed at Battle of Hastings by William's forces), Alexander the Great and five of his generals, Callimachus (from which Calman at Ellis Island, Govenor of Athens, held right flank at Battle of Marathon against my other direct ancestor Darius I of Persia - my grandfather came from Greece), King David of Judea, Nebpehtyre Ahmose I and Almes-Nefertari, and many more throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
Some were focused on territory or plunder, most in defense of their populace, religion, and society.
I once took a graduate course called War and Civilization. As well, I have always been interestd in Sociology and Anthropology. Basically how and why people do things and how their society developed.
Unfortunately, back then and now, we have human beings that will prey on the weak.
Nomad hunters became farmers, farmers needed to protect their homes and crops creating villages, villages needed fortifications, eventually professional militia, and on. As territory became provinces, then countries, there was a need for a standing army and navy.
At that time, it was not as complicated as it is today. Defense could be a river, mountain range, peasants with their farming tools, etc. Now, an ocean is not a defense.
The effort by the individual who places his or her life in jeopardy to protect others is noble.
Was the villager who protected his family and village noble?
Was the soldier and peasant who tried to stop the invasion of Attila the Hun noble in trying to stop the destruction of the European countries?
Was the Chinese peasants and soldiers noble when the Japanese attacked Nanking (rape and Massacre)?
Was the American and other Allied Forces (airman, soldier, navy, Marine) noble in protecting countries during WWI and WWII?
How about the Danes, French, Norwegians, Yugoslavians, Russians, etc., who fought as guerrillas against the Nazis when their armies had been defeated.
Seven of my family signed the Declaration of Independence (to include Thomas Jefferson of which I am 1st cousin, six generations removed).
It is not just military. Was the police officer (Kimberly Munley, a single mother with a young child) who shot Hasan before he could kill more at Ft. Hood noble? She had a responsibility and carried out her obligation to continue to shoot even though she had been shot to protect lives.
Look around your community where there are individuals at risk, the individual who protects those at risk (at his or her risk) is noble.
We can go on and on throughout our civilization where individuals had to stand tall and strong against evil. Many died, many carried their wounds of battle throughout the rest of their lives.
We lost our soldiers and Marines well before 9/11 (i.e., Lebanon). We were dealing with Islamic Persian and Arab nations (aided by the Soviet Union, later the Russian Federation) that wanted to destroy Israel (1957, 1967, 1973, etc.). We are not talking about a small percentage of fanatical Muslims. We are talking about Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Our desire for peace for all nations has resulted in the ability for us to work with most of the Arab nations.
Although we (and Europe) knew of funding, training, and other support of fanatical Muslims, there was little direct confrontation prior to 9/11. Again, as in WWII, we were attacked. In reality, the non-Muslim countries were attacked that day. Some European countries ignored the threat but many are starting to realize that Al Qaeda and other similar groups pose a serious threat from outside or within.
As in the earliest days of Islam, from Khartoum to Constantinople to the Middle East to Europe, we are under threat of the destruction of our religion and society as non-believers. Frankly, I will not accept destruction of our society (defending and supporting a wide range of ethnicities and beliefs) for Shariah law.
As I said before, more complicated that two or three thousand years ago where the farmers could come together to protect their village from marauding group. We need well armed and well trained professional forces that can project thousands of miles from our homeland. We attempted to create a United Nations that would bring peace and protect the oppressed. The best examples of the failure of the United Nations is in Africa.
I am proud of my service from 1968-1991 (Vietnam to the Cold War to just before we drove Saddam out of Kuwait. We honestly believed the Soviet Union would use conventional means to push all of the way to Antwerp, the low countries, France, etc. In addition, it was fully expected that the Soviets would use tactical (battlefield nukes). Our commitment to Europe was instrumental in avoiding another world war.
We don't want war but we must be prepared and capable of defending ourselves and our allies. It is only through strength that we have peace. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Which part of NO POLITICS on this forum is not clear.
"I'm sure this thread will be shut down because it has nothing to do with guitars "
Have a nice vacation moron...
Signed.. a proud vet. |
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OT: A Salute to Our Vets
Members Forums -> General Posting
