I know it's a day early, but tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me. My girlfriends son invited me to his schools Veterans Day Celibration.

I just want to say thank you to all my fellow brothers and sisters in uniform across the world.

Being a Veteran myself and still serving with the Guard, I consider tomorrow to be a special day for me.

I want to thank all those vets before me who put there life on the line so that I can be here today serving my country proudley.

I want to say thank you to my brothers and sisters over seas fighting the fight. I wish I was there with you all, but we all have jobs to do whether it is over there or here in the states. Keep your heads down and come home safely.

And to all the Vets and current military members who are members of this sight, Happy Veterans Day to you all.

REMEMBER, TOMORROW IS A DAY TO PAY HONOR TO THOSE WHO KEEP THE PEACE FOR US, IT'S NOT A DAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SALES AT A STORE OR TO ENJOY YOUR DAY OFF FROM WORK. IF IT WASN'T FOR A VET, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THAT DAY OFF OR GET TO GO TO THE STORE TO SPEND MONEY. A "THANK YOU FOR SERVING," HANDSHAKE, OR A HUG GOES A LONG WAY FOR US. TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO.

DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY

One thing I did about 12+ years ago is join the VFW as a lifetime member. It even entitled me to special VFW license plates from the state of Vermont.

I did that, too, Sabot. The VFW is a great bunch of people.

I shall be holding my own Remembrance Day vigil at the memorial here in Midland, paying respects to those who have served and those who are now serving in harm's way.

Commonwealth members will probably recognize the following poem.


For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Epi,

I noticed from your banner that you have the 24ID.....Fellow VIctory Division Soldier!?!?!?!?!??!

3rd Battalion, 41st Field Artillery baby!!!!

Mike

I'm using my G.I. Bill to go to Kansas State University and can you believe that they didn't have even one mention in the school paper about Veteran's Day and we are right next to Fort Riley! A couple of vets and I wrote a letter to the editor but got no reply. Can you believe this ! These "kids" have no idea of what vets do for our country and our people. All I can say is that is why I served. So that they can be ignorant of what we do and the sacrifices made by my fellow brothers in arms. They have no clue because we all did our jobs! Hell yeah! Semper Fi Do or Die Kill Kill Kill!