Thank you, Veterans and their Families
- Thread starter xrobwx71
- Start date
Thank you for ensuring "families" was included here. I dare say most civilians don't understand the sacrifices, or what it means to be a "brat" or spouse (or parent) of a servicemember.
For example, military brats move an average of 10 times during his or her childhood. They typically don't have a "home town" so the question, "Where are you from?" has no meaning. They are frequently forced to change schools in the middle of the school year, leave their friends behind, or watch as their friends move away - again.
Spouses often have to forego any real career, having to give up advancement opportunities and seniority. Advanced education opportunities are often limited, at best, as the family is uprooted, again.
Uprooted? What roots? They are never at any one place long enough to lay down roots.
That said, most brats are proud to be brats. I know I am. My dad graduated from West Point on D-Day (June 6, 1944). He was in flight school in Arizona a few days later. After completing flight school, he married his high-school sweetheart, my mom on Aug 13th. After a 5-day honeymoon, he was shipped off to war in Northern Africa and Southern Europe, flying P-38 recon missions over Nazi territories.
That was not the first time my mom watched my dad go off to war.
I was born in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital in 1952. I was lucky. I only had to change schools 7 times while growing up. I spent 19 years as an Air Force brat, until I joined in 1971 and spent the next 24 years, 24, days, 15 hours and 55 minutes (approx) "Active Duty". And now I am "retired Air Force".
My kids came a bit later in my AF career so they were only uprooted 4 times, to includes once 1/2 around the world, then back again.
I was lucky. While I have seen war, I have never been shot at. I always came home. My kids, however, have friends who made the ultimate sacrifice any "brat" (or spouse, or parent, or sibling) can ever make.
So my flag is flying high today to thank all Veterans, to include my dad, and his dad before him, and my uncle as well. But it is also flying high to thank the unsung heroes of the military, our families too.
For example, military brats move an average of 10 times during his or her childhood. They typically don't have a "home town" so the question, "Where are you from?" has no meaning. They are frequently forced to change schools in the middle of the school year, leave their friends behind, or watch as their friends move away - again.
Spouses often have to forego any real career, having to give up advancement opportunities and seniority. Advanced education opportunities are often limited, at best, as the family is uprooted, again.
Uprooted? What roots? They are never at any one place long enough to lay down roots.
That said, most brats are proud to be brats. I know I am. My dad graduated from West Point on D-Day (June 6, 1944). He was in flight school in Arizona a few days later. After completing flight school, he married his high-school sweetheart, my mom on Aug 13th. After a 5-day honeymoon, he was shipped off to war in Northern Africa and Southern Europe, flying P-38 recon missions over Nazi territories.
That was not the first time my mom watched my dad go off to war.
I was born in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital in 1952. I was lucky. I only had to change schools 7 times while growing up. I spent 19 years as an Air Force brat, until I joined in 1971 and spent the next 24 years, 24, days, 15 hours and 55 minutes (approx) "Active Duty". And now I am "retired Air Force".
My kids came a bit later in my AF career so they were only uprooted 4 times, to includes once 1/2 around the world, then back again.
I was lucky. While I have seen war, I have never been shot at. I always came home. My kids, however, have friends who made the ultimate sacrifice any "brat" (or spouse, or parent, or sibling) can ever make.
So my flag is flying high today to thank all Veterans, to include my dad, and his dad before him, and my uncle as well. But it is also flying high to thank the unsung heroes of the military, our families too.
My annual tribute:
The "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. Whether you call it Veteran's Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, November 11th is a time to put aside politics and pay tribute to all who died for their country. It is also a perfect time to thank the Veterans in whatever country you live in.
As in previous years, I am republishing a portion of my friend Canuk's last tribute and, once again, adding a special thank you to my friends Mitch the "Phantom Phixer" and Larry, "Ghost".
The comment Canuk posted provides one example of why he was a special person:
Lest We Forget
The "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. Whether you call it Veteran's Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, November 11th is a time to put aside politics and pay tribute to all who died for their country. It is also a perfect time to thank the Veterans in whatever country you live in.
As in previous years, I am republishing a portion of my friend Canuk's last tribute and, once again, adding a special thank you to my friends Mitch the "Phantom Phixer" and Larry, "Ghost".
The comment Canuk posted provides one example of why he was a special person:
LEST WE FORGET
 We Shall Keep the Faith by Moira Michael, November 1918  Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died.  We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields.  And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields. Flags courtesy of3DFlags.com |
I always feel a bit sheepish when someone says "thanks for your service" to me. I served in the USMC, but the best description of my job would be "magazine salesman".
I just read something about this. I feel the same way, and was surprised to hear that I was not alone. In fact, some polls show that nearly half of all vets feel "uneasy" being thanked. It is appreciated, but still causes many to feel uncomfortable.
For me, I don't know how to answer. "Thanks" just doesn't feel right either.
I have seen several "guesses" as to why many have these feelings. I just think most vets don't like to bring that sort of attention to themselves.
My local grocery put up a sign next to the handicap parking spaces that says, "Reserved For Our Military Heroes". I complained to the manager (who knows me) about it. I told him he was wasting a perfectly good parking space. He looked puzzled and asked, "why?"
I told him no "hero" is going to park under a sign that says, in effect, "Hey everyone! Look at me! I'm a hero!"
He understood but said it was corporate policy and these signs were going up at all their locations.
It has been about 2 years now and I have never, not once, seen anyone park there. And this is very much a military town with Offutt AFB less than 2 miles from my house.
While I am appreciative to everyone who served, and who is serving, I am also glad my father was never sent to fight in any war AFAIK. I believe my father's highest rank was that of a 'reserved captain', it was something that had to do with 'reserved' I think, and he had command over a small group of soldiers. If my father were sent to war, there was a good chance I would never have been born because many years after serving my father met my mother.
Well the two big world wars are really the exceptions (except, maybe with the Marines) because typically, a large majority of servicemembers are never sent to fight - as in, on the front lines, shooting and getting shot at. More than 1/2 may end up in a "combat zone" but it is actually only about 10% overall who actually have to fire their weapons, or duck for cover.
But that does not mean the jobs of the other 90% are any less important, or that they (and their families) don't have to endure a lot of sacrifices and hardships too.
The logistics "behind the lines" involved to support a fighting unit are tremendous - beyond comprehension for most civilians. So while your dad may not have been in direct harm's way, odds are he spent many days (perhaps weeks and months) away from family, enduring many hardships - perhaps in very remote, not-so friendly or hospitable territories, just to ensure those on the front lines had everything they needed, when they needed it, every time.
"An army marches on its stomach."
Origin, unknown.
Could be Napoleon said it. He tends to get most of the credit. But Fredrick the Great of Prussia has been credited for saying it too. But there is evidence pointing to Claudius Galen, chief physician and surgeon of the Roman army, somewhere way way back to around 210AD.
Regardless who said it first, it is still true today.
***
Truth be told, the majority of deaths of active duty service members is non-combat related.
But that does not mean the jobs of the other 90% are any less important, or that they (and their families) don't have to endure a lot of sacrifices and hardships too.
The logistics "behind the lines" involved to support a fighting unit are tremendous - beyond comprehension for most civilians. So while your dad may not have been in direct harm's way, odds are he spent many days (perhaps weeks and months) away from family, enduring many hardships - perhaps in very remote, not-so friendly or hospitable territories, just to ensure those on the front lines had everything they needed, when they needed it, every time.
"An army marches on its stomach."
Origin, unknown.
Could be Napoleon said it. He tends to get most of the credit. But Fredrick the Great of Prussia has been credited for saying it too. But there is evidence pointing to Claudius Galen, chief physician and surgeon of the Roman army, somewhere way way back to around 210AD.
Regardless who said it first, it is still true today.
***
Truth be told, the majority of deaths of active duty service members is non-combat related.
jcgriff2
Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)
Thank you all for your service.
John
John
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