Beautifully said…reminds me that Semper Fi is truly a promise we also take in return. One part is their faithfulness to the Corps, and the other is our faithful promise to serve and protect our Veterans in return.

I am a former soldier and you are right when we were in serving and going to war over seas tour after tour we were seen as a great if we made it back. Get out without retiring after seeing enough of the useless wara and you have nothing. No job, no mentall capacity to beleive that you have served all theses years and now are homless. Please support the many men and women you see daily wearing the field jackets and other army and marine gear they ae the ones who saved us in the beginning and no recognition and no job and no support from the country almost 67% are homeless.rnrnSo I salute you all. Happy Veteran’s Dayrn Former USA SGT

My family has served every war we had except revolutionary, I am so proud of all of them.. I saw uncle and 2 brother’s in law return with many other friends from the senseless war of Vietnam and watch now as my cousin in spec ops and has had numerous tours over in afganistan and again I feel sick. All of you who serve are beyond brave and courageous and are remembeed all the time. Maybe some people still disrespect you but you know what? They also never served, so who are they to say anything negative? Yes you are under our president to do as he asks without question, and put in harm;s way beyond anyone;s imangination, but please know there are many many other’s who have nothing but the utmost respect for you and we love and bless you all 365, I do, Thank-you for your courage…

Donna, thanks for your kind words. Yes I know we have folks out there who do think of us all the time, especially the Vietnam Vets. They are always at the airports, or volunteering at the VA and other areas 365 days a year. But the majority though, forget about us until it’s Thanksgiving, the Superbowl, Vets day, and Memorial Day. (Super Bowl and Thanksgiving they always have a camera at some far away base). nnI just hope our Nations leaders who ask us to do so much don’t lose site of this when doing the budgets etc, We put our Asses on the line, what the hell have they done?

Every time I go to McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond Virginia, I look for the old guys (older than my 72 years). Most are in wheelchairs pushed by wife/daughter/son/friend. I speak to them, if they confirm themselves as a WWII vet, I get down on a knee, take a hand and whisper “Thank you for saving the world, for my freedom, for my children’s freedom, for what you did for me and for our country.” One guy couldn’t speak (sequela from a stroke) but his wife said, “He knows what you said and he thanks you for it”. Sometimes when I look into their eyes I get choked up and have trouble getting it out. Sometimes not, but every old WWII vet deserves to hear what I say, and we all need to tell them our thanks, because every day some ten thousand of they die, and some have never heard sincere heart-to-heart thanks before. Often I get thanks for my 20+ years service, but I never served in combat and they deserve the thanks more than me.