Happy Veteran's Day

God Bles the Veterans and the USA which wouldnt be here as we know it but for their sacrifices. As the bumper sticker says, "If you can read this thank a teacher, if youre reading it in English, Thank a Veteran.

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,

It is the veteran, who serves under the Flag,

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

I don't know if you saw this in the news but it really impressed me. Funny, our US Senate/House took 2 days off as they couldn't work because of the expected storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported tonight that, because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.

They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!"

Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, but it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson.

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930. We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless them.

John T Nordhoff in Indiana jmn50@msn.com

Your post and the comments of everyone else really got me thinking about my late materinal grandfather, Edgar Lorenz. He served in the mighty 8th Air Force (or Army Air Corps 8th division) as a dispatch officer. He served in the US and England from 1943 to 1945 ending up as a Sergent 1st Class. He was nearly killed by a V-1 bomb while on a weekend pass in London. His closest call was on his base at Burry Saint Edmund, England, when he was inside the barracks just finishing up shaving (with a straight razor nontheless) as a v-2 rocket landed a few hundred yars from him. He emerged from a flattend building only soon to realize that he had no hearing. He told me that of their 50 or so assorted vehicles on the landing strip that only the 2 1/2 ton wrecker did not flip over. No, he was not a hero on the beaches of Normandy, but did the job that they all had to do to keep his kids and his kids" kids (me) and beyone free. His experiences in our armed forces truely changed his life. He made it a point to tell everyone about it. He told me often that "War is Hell! I tell you these stories not because I want you to feel brave and want to fight, but because you need to know what happened, and that you will not forget what our veterans have done for you!"

I remember grandpa taking me to the church cemetary to put flags on the graves of veterans. My great-great grandfathers both were Civil War veterans. How much those memmories mean to me now I cannot say...

I, only of 21 years, am empathetic toward what our country"s veterans have done for every American. I came one decision from going to Iraq, when I decided not to join the Missouri National Guard and rather begin college immediately. Well, my best friend is in Baghdad or Tikrit right now. I think of him and his fellow soldiers every day and pray that they will come home safe!

To those that read this and are veterans....
I salute you and THANK YOU!!!
God Bless America!
Tyler in Missouri

God bless America

Josh in Indiana

Mike in Louisiana
Msgt. Retired USAF

John, Thanks for posting and GOD BLESS you and yours.
Chuck