Veteran's Day

I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness ... should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love.
I have cried, pained, and hoped ... but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was ... a soldier.
- George L. Skypeck, Veteran



Sirscrapalot - Thank you all who've served or are currently from me and mine.

I've been fortunate - my dad survived vietnam(was only him and a black guy that survived out of his company) and I thank him every veterans day for his service to our country. I might be 32 years old but my dad's still my hero(he's 61 today and is as active when he was 18).

Happy Veterans Day to all out there who have served. I hope you get a few thanks from folks before the day is done.

Yesterday after noon got to see a little program at our middle school honoring vets by showing the students various flags that have flown over the U.S. and SD over time. Air Guard guys helped put this on and other vets were asked as well. They did a new event with each of the 3 age classes in school.

My 14-year old nominated bro and so he got to walk the Colonel in with one of the flags. I didn't get a pix with the first vet who escorted the SD flag in. He was a Vietnam vet using a cane who was wearing his Lions Club vest on. The oldest vet was a Korea and Vietnam. I talked to him afterwards. He served with the 1st Marine Division and arrived in Korea soon after the Chicoms had entered the war and weer pushing the allies back in S. Korea for the second time. More recent vets were from Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The mc of the event was a Air Guard E-9 Master Chief. He included in his brief talk that first responders and teachers should also be considered veterans as they are also on the front lines of modern warfare where its as much a clash of cultures as of armies. In terms of lone wolf terrorists and events such as 9/11, he's probably right...

Thank you Sir for your thread. A thank you to all the veterans and their families that suffered loneliness, separation, uncertainty, fear, and lack of knowing the pain their loved one suffered.

Simple question, how many flew the flag today? Mine flew with pride, but if it was an average day only five individuals saw it. Does not matter because I saw it. And another question to ask your kids, what does the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year stand for? Guessing this is not part of the "Common Core" educational expectations, but to previous generations it was the most important fact of their lives.

"Those that do not study history will relive it." Sorry Sir, I do not know the author.