To my brothers and sisters, Hooah.
For everyone else, that means "Thanks".
Respect.
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
Hoorah!
Blazing Blue 50 fire/fire Blast, BlueStarr 50 PB, BlueSt 50 stone/ss Tank, Purple Pummaler 50 bs/regen Scrap, Green Puritan 50 emp/nrg Def, Raging Red 50 ice/cold Cor,WhiteLightning 50 ill/storm Cont, GrayMatter 44 WS,Green Marauder 24 nrg/stone Brute,Dark Blue Blaze 26 fire/fire Cor,etc
To quote, Ice9...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ice9_
Hooah.
|
To my brothers and sisters in the military, thank you for you service to our country.
To the families that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Thank you, there are no words that will ever or can ever express our graditude.
A few of my friends have already heard this story, but I'm going to tell you about a young man who really made an impression on me recently.
I was flying to visit some friends, and I had a long layover in Dallas.
Now, normally, when I'm traveling like this, I prefer to just keep to myself. I read a book, or do some work on my netbook. I suppose it's antisocial of me... but there you have it.
I went into the TGI Friday's there at the airport and found myself a table. There was a young man at the next table, also alone, and I noticed the waiter bring him a drink that looked interesting, and so I asked him what it was.
After he answered me (bloody mary), he said, in a friendly Texas twang, "Why don't you join me? We're both here alone, why don't we share a table?"
Now, normally, I would have said, "Thanks, but I think I'll just read my book." But... something about this young man.... I gathered up my stuff and said, "Sure!"
He was a very fit young man, very tan, wearing BDU pants and a plain t-shirt, with a ball cap on his head. I asked him where he was headed, and he told me he was just 3 days back from Iraq. He was headed to a base in Kentucky. He said he was a Ranger, a sniper.
We talked for about an hour and a half. Or... rather, he talked. He told me about getting shot, about his best friend dying, about ambushes and bombs. A few times he cried. More than once he said he was done talking about it... and then a few minutes later he would start another story.
When he got up to catch his plane, I tried to pay for his meal, as a thank you for his service, but he flatly refused, telling me his mom raised him as a gentleman. He finally agreed to let me pay the tip - though I think he just did that so I would stop insisting. 
Then he told me I was sweet and thanked me
He thanked me for listening, gathered up his duffle, and disappeared into the crowd at the Dallas airport. That was when I realized we'd never exchanged our names.
At the time I thought it was odd that this young man was so open with a stranger he'd just met in an airport. Later on, I began to wonder... was I the first person he'd had a chance to talk to since he got back to the states? Perhaps he was so open because he NEEDED to talk to someone. I like to think that I helped that young man by sitting and listening to his stories, by letting him cry, by smiling and laughing at his jokes. Maybe by putting all that on me, he didn't cry in front of his mother or girlfriend.
At any rate, that young man made a profound impression on me, and I hope he knows how much I appreciate his service.
Thank you, to everyone who has served.
Indeed, thank you all for keeping us free.
Tech Support Rule #1 - They will lie to you. Usually intentionally.
Lest we forget.
In my church, we have a retired Master Corporal of the Canadian Forces. He showed up in his dress uniform at our last service. He's the first veteran that I've had a chance to really get to know personally, and if there's one thing I've learned from him, it's that they need the support of people back home, and also that they need something to be hoping about, something that keeps them going.
They are inspirations to us, even beyond what services they have rendered their country. When you sign up, you are writing a cheque for an amount 'up to and including your life'.
"Don't you know dead is spelled m-e-n-t-a-l in CoH? - SapphireShot
I doubt I could fit in my uniforms anymore....I know I couldn't the pants....was a 29 back then....not so much now. But hey...that was 11 or so years ago. Aww...dang....that really makes me feel old. 
Blazing Blue 50 fire/fire Blast, BlueStarr 50 PB, BlueSt 50 stone/ss Tank, Purple Pummaler 50 bs/regen Scrap, Green Puritan 50 emp/nrg Def, Raging Red 50 ice/cold Cor,WhiteLightning 50 ill/storm Cont, GrayMatter 44 WS,Green Marauder 24 nrg/stone Brute,Dark Blue Blaze 26 fire/fire Cor,etc
Thank You for keeping us safe.
/em military salute
Pax
If you take time to help others, you help yourself grow.
If you take time to help yourself, you realize how far you have to go.
If you take time for chocolate . . . you've discovered the secret to a happy life
!GL & be safe in game & real life!
*hug*
Pax
Thank you.
@tiggy
Beware the attack cat
You know...I believe we should do alot more for veterans. I can understand taking Memorial Day off to honor our fallen heroes, but I think the veterans would appreciate it alot more. Our fallen bretheren have had the worst part put behind them and have had their rewards given (what bigger sacrifice is there than giving your life for another?), but veterans have to live every day with their tragedies. Some come out of the military just fine (doesn't make their willingness to lay down their lives any less valuable), others do not. Some come back with sicknesses, lost limbs, or worst illnesses. We give them a sale at JC Penny's.
I have always believed this, even before I went into the military (USMC). I truly do salute you veterans. HOORAH!
Blazing Blue 50 fire/fire Blast, BlueStarr 50 PB, BlueSt 50 stone/ss Tank, Purple Pummaler 50 bs/regen Scrap, Green Puritan 50 emp/nrg Def, Raging Red 50 ice/cold Cor,WhiteLightning 50 ill/storm Cont, GrayMatter 44 WS,Green Marauder 24 nrg/stone Brute,Dark Blue Blaze 26 fire/fire Cor,etc
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month of 1918 the guns fell silent on the Western Front.
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
"
Thanks to all that are and have served in their country's armed forces.
Thanks for citing that poem by Colonel John McCrae, Ny.
And to all those who serve and have served in the military, whatever your role:
/e MilitarySalute
█ Players Guide to the Cities
Thank you to all who have served and who continue to serve.
/e MilitarySalute
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
I thank all that have served or are serving.
I especially thank those that gave the ultimate in their service. And I pass to their families my thanks and condolences.
Sometimes, I impress my boss. Sometimes, I impress myself. The rest of the time, I scare people. I can live with that.