VETERAN’S DAY 2008:
To My Best Friends, Be at Peace

What Does Veteran’s Day Mean toYou?

For some it is getting together with friends; for some it is just another holiday; for some it is actually is an inconvenience.....an interruption of daily activities.

As far as I, it means that it is another day out of 365 days per year that I remember why we are free...we are free because brave souls that are no longer with us have given their lives and the one's that returned are left with scars for life, physically or mentally, to ensure our freedom....we are a free people because we are brave; faithful and true to what we believe in....and have faith in God.

I remember today, because of all the vets who served, especially the ones that did not make it back home, from any and all of the wars....For me the Veteran’s Day a homecoming for all those gone and for all those that went to war and returned...a reminder of the times that those once, disliked young soldiers that were degraded and thought of so lowly, but depended upon, made the sacrifice to serve to keep America free.

I did not volunteer to go to Vietnam, I was drafted, but I also knew it was my duty as a citizen of this country to serve, so I went instead of protesting and running off to a foreign country. I vehemently dislike war, then and now; killing, hurt, painand the torture. I dislike the people that make the war; the governments, not the people. The people that order the war and activities are mostly the ones that never have family die or lose anyone close to them in the fighting.

I especially remember my two best friends whom died next to me in Vietnam. They were my childhood friends; we grew up together. I remember them 365 days a year. Each and every day I am reminded that God let me live and took them home.

Sometimes I wonder why and it is at those times guilt takes over. I feel like it should have been them to return and me stay there. I can still see their faces as kids as I have forever known them, never growing up fully but giving their life up very early.

The strength of friendship knows no bounds when you are fighting for your friends life, but to lose the life, and then above all both on the same day, makes one stop and think why are we put here on earth.

We are here because God has a plan for each and everyone of us....yes even my childhood friends that did not come back; they will be celebrating Veteran’s Day in Heaven and have been doing so for a long time now.

It has been a long, miserable and life shattering time for me to be able to come to grips with something like that but all works for the Glory of God, always. I now understand a little better, but the pain will always remain.

Have a good Veteran’s Day 2008. When you do, think of the ones that did not return; think of the children and families they left behind; think of their friends; how God has blessed you because you are free to worship Him. When you say the blessing for lunch today, include a thank you to God for being able to worship Him in a free society and, also, ask that He give special watch over our friends that ensured our freedom.

We do not realize the magnitude of the blessing of being free until one day we lose it. Freedom is a very very expensive thing, priced and weighed in with blood, pain, death and heart felt guilt, not money, not medals or prizes.

11/11/2008
Wayne H. Bergeron
United States Army
South Vietnam 1970-71

http://shock.military.com/Shock/images.do?displayContent=144623

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wade1271,

Great article!

On Veteran's Day I am reminded that that this day was once known as Armistice Day, marking the day that the guns of WWI fell silent. This is because my maternal grandfather was a member of the USMC and fought in that war. He was wounded in combat during the last week on Oct. 1918. My mother, age 82 still has the letter her mother received telling of her husbands injury and that he was expected to survive. It was dated Oct. 31, 1918.

By the way, this is the 90th anniversary of the Armistice. 1918-2008

Mr. Mech

Living history is what you have there...not many have that these days....take good care of your grandmother....there are not many like her left today !!!! Have a Grand Veteran's Day.

quote:

Originally posted by OldArmyWOPA:
Great article!

Thank You OldArmyWOPA I really needed to hear that and that someone really does still care.

Thank you for your thread.
I also enjoyed it.

quote:

Originally posted by wade1271:
Mr. Mech

Living history is what you have there...not many have that these days....take good care of your grandmother....there are not many like her left today !!!! Have a Grand Veteran's Day.

Thanks for the kind word. My grandmother passed away a number of years ago. The Red Cross letter is in the possion of my mother who was born after WWI, in 1926. She did, however, take part in the war effort during WWII. She helped assemble TBM Avenger torpedo bombers.

Honoring all Vets for giving of themselves. They loved LOVED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA they would answer the call, again if they could!

Veterans Day is a sad time for me. I think of all those who sacrificed for America while most don’t understand or truly appreciate. The stores have their sales to celebrate but is that truly in remembrance ? I think of those who fell, those without arms or legs who gave for greater America and then I see the losers who have no respect and or appreciation for those who gave all and it ****es me off. I wouldn’t buy a car, sofa, birdcage or anything from anyone who capitalizes on making a dollar on the death and suffering of those who gave in battle for a VETERANS DAY sale. Veterans Day should be a time to enjoy the freedom earned by those who gave to you. It should be a time spent with family and a time to honor those who fought and died for freedom and the living. Come buy a car, come buy a sofa…….my ass !

quote:

Originally posted by mainedawg:
Thank you for your thread.
I also enjoyed it.

Thank you Sir, I am glad you enjoyed the article. It means a lot to me to hear something back like that.

quote:

Originally posted by Wolfhound_1968:
Veterans Day is a sad time for me. I think of all those who sacrificed for America while most don’t understand or truly appreciate. The stores have their sales to celebrate but is that truly in remembrance ? I think of those who fell, those without arms or legs who gave for greater America and then I see the losers who have no respect and or appreciation for those who gave all and it ****es me off. I wouldn’t buy a car, sofa, birdcage or anything from anyone who capitalizes on making a dollar on the death and suffering of those who gave in battle for a VETERANS DAY sale. Veterans Day should be a time to enjoy the freedom earned by those who gave to you. It should be a time spent with family and a time to honor those who fought and died for freedom and the living. Come buy a car, come buy a sofa…….my ass !

Mr. WolfHound_1968, I know how you feel about stores being open and especially sales going on...also don't forget they do not let the school kids out in a lot of places anymore to attend the parades. Darn near un-American !!!
Stand up for what you believe, even if you sometimes find yourself standing alone !!!!!
Thanks for the note !!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bergy46:
Honoring all Vets for giving of themselves. They loved LOVED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA they would answer the call, again if they could!

WOW....Bergy, that sure is a pretty plane there!

Thanks for the nice note on here, I am glad you enjoyed the post. It helps me get the feelings out by writing them down at times; at other times they just stay inside and eat away.

Of course I remember all the natural partioc feelings I've had over my career, and having retired myself recently it now allows me to hang out w/ all the other VFW gents in my part of town during the parades ... but most of all, it helps insure that I never forget my wifes birthday. It's the same day!

It is a day to honor those who have given so much for me and their country.

I loved your post and thank you for sharing it.

usa_girl

Thank you for the compliment on the post....it is only how I feel inside in words the best I know how to write them down, but at times that is not even enough.

Wayne

quote:

Originally posted by TsgtTharin:
Of course I remember all the natural partioc feelings I've had over my career, and having retired myself recently it now allows me to hang out w/ all the other VFW gents in my part of town during the parades ... but most of all, it helps insure that I never forget my wifes birthday. It's the same day!

Tsgt
It would be hard to forget her birthday with it being on Veteran's Day......!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by wade1271:

quote:

Originally posted by Bergy46:
Honoring all Vets for giving of themselves. They LOVED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA they would answer the call, again if they could!

WOW....Bergy, that sure is a pretty plane there!

Thanks for the nice note on here, I am glad you enjoyed the post. It helps me get the feelings out by writing them down at times; at other times they just stay inside and eat away.

quote:

Originally posted by Bergy46:

quote:

Originally posted by wade1271:

quote:

Originally posted by Bergy46:
Honoring all Vets for giving of themselves. They LOVED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA they would answer the call, again if they could!

WOW....Bergy, that sure is a pretty plane there!

Thanks for the nice note on here, I am glad you enjoyed the post. It helps me get the feelings out by writing them down at times; at other times they just stay inside and eat away.

Bergy

If they could answer the call today there would be less problems in the world to deal with and certainly the terriorist would be hunted down if it took all we had to do it. The "old folks" did not horse around; they just got the job done and did not ask if it was ok if they started shooting either. Bang, Boom....it was over with....end of battle. Not as many unknowing generals and Congressmen around at that time.

quote:

Originally posted by wade1271:

quote:

Originally posted by TsgtTharin:
Of course I remember all the natural partioc feelings I've had over my career, and having retired myself recently it now allows me to hang out w/ all the other VFW gents in my part of town during the parades ... but most of all, it helps insure that I never forget my wifes birthday. It's the same day!

Tsgt
It would be hard to forget her birthday with it being on Veteran's Day......!!!!!!!!!!!

She never lets me forget ... after all I wait all year to watch all the good war picture movies that play all day long and for the last 17 years, I haven't been able to watch because I have to do what she wants.

LOL ... it actually works out to be a good day for both of us every year.

quote:

Originally posted by TsgtTharin:

quote:

Originally posted by wade1271:

quote:

Originally posted by TsgtTharin:
Of course I remember all the natural partioc feelings I've had over my career, and having retired myself recently it now allows me to hang out w/ all the other VFW gents in my part of town during the parades ... but most of all, it helps insure that I never forget my wifes birthday. It's the same day!

Tsgt
It would be hard to forget her birthday with it being on Veteran's Day......!!!!!!!!!!!

She never lets me forget ... after all I wait all year to watch all the good war picture movies that play all day long and for the last 17 years, I haven't been able to watch because I have to do what she wants.

LOL ... it actually works out to be a good day for both of us every year.

I HEAR YA !!!!! But when Mama is happy Everyone is happy; When Mama is unhappy, Everyone is in for trouble haha !!!!! At least that is the general SOP around my compound.