November 11, 2008… VETERAN’S DAY!
Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served!
My brother and I I thank you for your service!
Happy Vets Day to all my Airborne Ranger comrades and to those who have proudly served for this wonderful nation of ours.
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In rememberance
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The tomb of the unknown soldier (Westminster Abbey UK)
Regards
Gerry
today I salute all of my fellow veterans…thank You all
The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.
John F. Kennedy
My thanks to all Americans who have fought foreign wars, served their country and/or paid their taxes. Happy Vday.
One of Uncle Sam’s missile kicker’s 1966-70. Part of a good defense is a massive offense.
My uncle Bill was a Spitfire Pilot. He flew in the blue skies of England and was one of the few. I used to take him to the Remembrance day ceremonies in Canada and stood with him amongst the heroes. Sadly Bill passed away last year.
This year I assisted with other WWII Veterans at our local ceremonies. Their numbers dwindle every year and soon there will be no veterans from WWII, but they shall not be forgotten.
Thank you to all the troops Canadian, American, English and more who have stood between us and chaos. Thank you to all the troops who continue the fight against evil around the world so that we may remain safe at home. Thank you to all the Canadians who are serving in Afghanistan today. Rest assured that your comrades lost did not die in vain.
The poem, High Flight, has over the years become a mantra to pilots.
It is reproduced here as a tribute to, and in memory of pilots and all who served of all generations.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
*Killed 11 December 1941 *
And thank you to my Uncle Bill. Spitfire pilot. Squadron leader. D.F.C. with bars.
[FONT=Arial]My older brother Norman was a Combat Medic in Viet Nam {1967-1968} and was at the siege of Dak To. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Here are some photos taken of what was left of this combat base after the siege. All of the tents in his unit were burned to the ground and All of his “stuff” {stereo / radio} burned with the tent.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]My Brother was awarded the Bronze Star with a “V” for valor for picking up and carrying a wounded soldier through 200 yards of heavy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire until he reached a “place of safety” which was a bunker that had not collapsed. [/FONT]
40-years later he was also awarded the “Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry”
Fine tributes, all. God Bless the troops and all who serve the cause of freedom.
George: Thanks for the special tribute to your Uncle Bill, a Spitfire pilot. They were indeed a rare breed, living up to their motto, “Per Ardua ad Astra,” (through hardship to the stars), if I remember correctly. Thanks for the memory.
Thanks Vets.
We lost my Fathers brother this year, Uncle Frank Kelly. He was in a Tank in the pacific in WWII as a Marine.
Here are the photos of the “Couple of Gun” I was asked to drive back to Phoenix from L.A. 
Fun drive. 
Ya, just a couple of guns. I think there should be more.