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If you get a chance, take a moment to thank a veteran of foreign wars for the sacrifices.

My dad,USNA '62, submarine captain during Vietnam and the Cold War.

Due to them we are able to travel as we can.

GoTravel

My dad had 7 ships sink out from under him in WWII.

Yes, that would be seven.

I can't imagine being that he enlisted at 16 years old.

Scarlett

My grandfather was a Marine, WWII & Korean War.
My dad was in the Air Force, KIA.
My Step Dad was in the Navy.

Every day I send thanks to the men of our country who put themselves in harms way for something they believe in and to keep us safe.
Their families are always in my thoughts.

wantsomesun

My Dad was also in WWII and did training in LA in munitions and bombs. He took the newly trained GIs into the swamps outside New Orleans and blew up swamp areas.

Interesting history with my Dad, he was involved during the Cuban Missle Crisis, he was the point person responsible for moving troops, supplies and all kinds of things I don't want to think about to Florida so our family really knew just how close we got to a war in Cuba. He would come home at the end of the day and tell us he moved something so big by so high weighing so much and we'd ask what was it and he'd say I don't want to know.

Big Veteran's Parade here in NYC today, usually centered around the park at 23rd and Madison/Broadway.

Thanks to all of you that have served over the years to make the world a bit safer......and here's to a lasting PEACE.

MikeBuckley

Every day I send thanks to the men of our country who put themselves in harms way

Let's not forget the women who do the same.

Tandoori_Girl

My FIL was career military, a veteran of three wars. I was so surprised to find that no one reached out to him on Veteran's Day, possibly because his children had entered the military themselves in times of peace. I guess they just glossed over it. I made it a habit to have my son call my FIL (even when the little one really didn't know what he was saying) and wish him a happy veteran's day. This has always meant so much to the FIL and now that he's older, it means alot to my son.

Regardless of your own feelings about war and the military, be sure to reach out to a Veteran today. They have suffered more than most of us will ever know suffering.

Judyrem

Yes, my thoughts and prayers to our Veterans...my family's veterans,,,grandfather in WW1, Uncle in Korea, Father in WW2, DH in Vietnam, SIL in Persian Gulf. I also would like to remind people that Bank of America has Widow &Orphans fund set up for the families of our tropps in Iraq. It will be our main charitable contribution this year. PLease think about donating to it.

ronkala

Thanks folks:
I joined the Navy at 17 in 1951. Served on a destroyer operating with TF 95 along the east coast of Korea doing shore bombardments from Wonsan Harbor to the Russian border, and with TF 77 doing escort duty with the carriers. The worst part was the cold, which was nothing compared to what the Army and Marines were going through on shore. They were the real heroes. Seven from my high school were KIA during the war, two of them I graduated with. On one occasion we sent the motor whaleboat in to the beach with food for starving marines.

The sad part is that funding for the Veterans Administration keeps getting cut and there are so many vets out there needing that assistance.

BuffaloGirl

Absolutely. Thanks to them all.

My dad served in WW2. He was all over the place. Started out as military police in Louisiana, then on to Europe to blow up bridges, on to the Phillipines and so on. He was on his way to the Battle of the Bulge to offer back up to the front lines, but turned around at the last minute. Phew!

Dad had a girlfriend in England during the war, and she continued to write to him after he returned home. He would send her things from the USA that she couldn't get in England. I think they were fond of each other, but being so far away, she eventually met someone and got married. She continued to write to my dad for a while until she just stopped. Dad kept all her letters and I have them now. I would love to find her (assuming she's still alive), but nowhere in her letters did she say what her married name was!!!!

Dad is still around (he's 80), but fading fast.

atilla

You are very thoughtful Tandoori_Girl.

AnnaR

Happy Veteran's Day to all. My husband servered in Vietnam, he left right after our daughter was born, she was 1 week old and returned when she was 1 yr, 1 week old.

Thank you for being in harms way so we may be safe.

Statia

My dad was a fighter pilot in the Korean War and WWII. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all veterans on this day.

JJ5

Although born in Germany (came to the USA the first time at 13 and without a word of English)my father served (ARMY) in Northern Italy from 1943-47 and repatriated the German POWs and displaced persons of all European languages to their home locations if possible, or to livable centers. He actually came in on invasion and headed prisioner of war camp and missing persons camp near Yugoslavia for almost 2 years, as he spoke language needed. Before that he was the lens grinder for gun sight lens at Simpsons Optical in Chicago. That's why we ended up living most of our lives there, he was imported in as a grinder optics specialist. His brother didn't come to America until he was past 20 and served from 1938-47 (ARMY) and all of it was fighting undercover/ translating/ decoding in Europe. He died at 43 from brain bleed caused by recurrent vascular accidents originating with a serious head injury incurred during the very early war years. My father actually returned to his town Idar-Oberstein and his aunt and cousins ran away from him at first because of the uniform- something they hadn't seen there in the mountains. And this was a year past the end of the war.

My brother was Marines 1968-1972, during Vietnam. He is right now mentoring Marines and Iraqi policemen in Baghdad after a long career as a policeman and Homicide Detective in Chicago. He emailed at length this morning. I'll let you know if he thinks it is worth it.He is seeing some good things right now- but says he still hasn't made his mind up yet.

My first husband and father of my first two children. Vietnam, Army. Not KIA and not MIA but the way he came home- he was MIA the whole rest of his life. Great person and his brilliant kids are his terrific living legacy.

My best friend UIUC Chicago, Jim Brennan, KIA - tunnel rat VietNam. He was shorter and tinier than I am. Bright carrot top hair and the best friend a girl could have. I was having my first baby on the very day of his funeral at home.

My present significant person. Army 1968-1974. Served most of it in Korea on the DMZ, and was a cook. Stories about cold, make Chicago sound like the tropics. His kitchen for two years had a dirt floor. Do you want a receipe for biscuits? Should put it on the thread for that. Only trouble is that you need to be feeding about 200.

I thank Veterans every single day, not just on Veterans day. Right now it is by working to get VietNam veterans' needs meet, especially those who still have huge repercussions from Agent Orange.

In my family we all originate from outside the USA and have seen that terrible evil does exist. Because of this we never, ever take our freedom for granted, and know that it is not free.

Also, and this is the part that is problematic to some people, we have seen that you don't end brutality by repeatedly appeasing murderers. You can give them a Nobel peace prize, and all kinds of laurels, but it will back bit you or your next generation. International organizations have a terrible record of doing just that.

AnnaR

There are 2 of these Veterans Day threads!

FainaAgain

Anna: the other thread says "happy veteran's day", how can this somber day be happy?

If you want to donate goodies to send to soldiers check this website:
www.opgratitude.com

michelleNYC

Dad fought in Korean War and very good friend was in Desert Storm. Thanks to all the great men and women that serve as our protectors and heros.

jor

My grandpa fought In WW1 back when they dropped bombs by hand over the side of the cockpit. He was in what was then called the Army Air Corps.

Dad was in WWII in Japan at the end of the war.

ellen_griswold

As JJ5 said, freedom isn't free. Both my father and FIL served in WWII and it changed them forever.

A heartfelt thank you to all our veterans and active servicemen and women. May God bless and protect you all, and may God bless America!

AnnaR

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jersey

I am proudly from a family of military people. My Dad says back in the day, men just enlisted. It was what was done where he came from in the midwest. He wanted his children to go to West Point. But interestingly, his children are all pacifists. As much as I abhore war, I am greatful to our members of the military who are doing what they feel is best for our country. And truely, what greater sacrifice then to give your life for something you believe in.

So, thank you Dad (army). And thank you everyone who is, was, or plans to be in the services.