Veterans Day.

[JohnR]

Veterans day, it is a tough day for some and proud day for most and a day of thank you from the rest of us.

Much like with memorial day, I often think of back in the 80s when I visited some of the cemetaries of American war dead in various places in Europe like France, Belguim, and Luxembourg. Thousands upon thousands of white tombstones arrayed across well clipped grass. People that gave their lives in service to allow us many things trivial but one thing surely not, our freedom. Guys that for years manned posts like Checkpoint Charlie, or the Inter-German border in the cold war. I've talked with some of you here that manned stations like that - thank you.

It is easy to have a disconnect from those veterans when your exposure - as a non veteran like myself - is a small maintenance collumn jamning up the highway at 40 miles per hour or perhaps a guard fighter streaming off your favorite beach in a training sortie, or the guard member flying through traffic from his weekly job to his weekend job.

I was fortunate to experience, like I did in the 85 and 86, go thru C.C. into what was then communist East Berlin and see what it was like to be in a place not free. Guys and gals gave up a few years or made a career of making what we have as freedom so we don't have to experience what many others across the world did and many still do - not being free.

I won't get into politics either - and hope everyone else on this thread stays away from it - becuase it is not about the politics. The guy on the ground, in the air, or on the seas just says yes sir and goes where ordered to go and does what ordered to do. Those are the people we thanks this week...

Thanks...

[piemma]

Thanks John. We all appreciate the kind words..

[mrmacey]

USS Blueback SS581 West Pac 78-79

[MAC]

A heartfelt thanks to all vets past and present. My nephew just re-enlisted and is going back this month. Lets hope they are all back home soon.

Army 79-82

[fishsmith]

a salute to all Vets!!!!

Fly the Flag!!
**************************
USN
USS ARLEIGH BURKE(DDG-51)
QM2(SW) 90 - 94
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ps - thats a good kid The Dad Fisherman

[Mugz]

USN 1990-1996
USS Stein FF-1065
USS Ingersoll DD-990
STG2

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Mugz

USN 1990-1996
USS Stein FF-1065
USS Ingersoll DD-990
STG2

Ingersoll was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on 24 July 1998. She was sunk as a target on 29 July 2003.

Sad how most of the Sprus lasted not 20 years before early retirement..

[eelskimmer]

Must be something about surfcasting that draws so many good men.
Good to see so many vets on this site. Thanks to all, got something
in my eye, so I'm off.

Ltjg., USNR
USS Randolph (CVS-15) '62-'65