Giving veterans their due
Veterans Day has always struck me as one of the most under-celebrated holidays on the calendar. Neither schools nor most private offices and businesses close. The day is far less remarked upon than Memorial Day or Labor Day and makes less of an impact on most Americans’ routines than Valentines Day or Halloween.
Maybe this is because November already has a major holiday (Thanksgiving) or because veterans get recognition of various types throughout the year — although I suspect the latter is more true when there’s a war going on, as now, than at other times.
It still strikes me as a shame. We owe our veterans more than a half-hearted day.
Barring some sharp turn of events, I will never be a veteran. But my father, grandfather and other family members are or were, along with my father-in-law and several other members of my wife’s family, as well as a number of adults who influenced me greatly as I was growing up. Some cousins and a number of my friends will be veterans one day. I have always thought it both enjoyable and important to hear about their experiences, and I know many other Americans feel the same way.
Even if you have to work today and/or don’t make it to a parade, make a point to ask some veterans about their stories, and to thank them. Those of us who didn’t serve owe that, and far more, to those who did.
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81 comments Add your comment
jconservative
November 11th, 2009
10:10 am
As a veteran, thank you.
I have two young, close, friends who are now in the service, one in Iraq & one in Afghanistan. My prayers are that they reach the status of “veteran”.
I am of the Viet Nam era and so many did not live to reach that distinction.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 11th, 2009
10:29 am
Veterans Day is hardly observed at all anymore and Memorial Day has become little more than an excuse for sales and picnics. It’s a shame.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
10:31 am
Black Professor punches out white female in a bar over an argument on race. Gee, the libs are just full of tolerance and love.
Prof busted in Columbia gal ‘punch’
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/prof_busted_in_columbia_gal_punch_JmsXQ3NzaAt8uG6uUySGTN
Joan
November 11th, 2009
11:33 am
Our vetwerans deseerve our gratitude. Our government, which puts young men and women in harm’s way in order to establish governments in other countries deserves my approbation. There is a time to fight, and that is when your country is threatened by outside forces, and there is a place to fight, and that is where you find the enemy in a position to do you harm. This is not the time to fight outside the United States. We have plenty of enemies right here.
dewstarpath
November 11th, 2009
11:48 am
- What about the black female servicewoman who was
attacked in Georgia by a white MALE patron? Too much
stereotyping leads to this kind of violence.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
12:06 pm
dewstarpath, what about the black college professor who punched out a white woman because he said she was not doing enough for black people?
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
12:57 pm
Obama is a Muslim
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28
Ga Values
November 11th, 2009
12:58 pm
PBS 90.1 is playing Victory at Sea, I still love to watch the series.
dewstarpath
November 11th, 2009
1:18 pm
- I’m making a point about something that
happened in the news, and about certain people’s
biases.
Steve
November 11th, 2009
1:19 pm
My thanks to all our countries veterans. Your courage and sacrifice has helped make the USA the greatest country on earth.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:32 pm
Islamic Terrorism 13
Fort Hood Soldiers 0
This is what happens when we have a Muslim President in the White House. People like Cynthia Tucker, who likes to trash Christians and white people but panders to Muslims and black people, have helped create this political correctness that is killing America.
It’s time for America to end political correctness.
God bless the soldiers and keep them safe.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:33 pm
I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. MUSLIM.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:33 pm
Audacity of Hope
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
1:34 pm
I am a Vet. I served in the Army for 10 years and things seem to amaze me. 1. We Vets fight for everyone. We don’t put our lives on the line for a specific race yet we are judged by ours. 2. We sometimes fight for the very rights that are denied to us. While I am not Muslim, I amazed at the hatred a couple of muslim service members have created over their actions. If you see a Vet, thank that Vet regardless of their status in life, color or orientation. We were and are willing to die for you, are you willing to step out of your comfort zones for us?
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
1:42 pm
@ David Axelfraud the things you say define you. You are probably some little lonely man, sitting behind the computer. All of your friends look just like you, yet you live in America. You target people becuase of the differences and you try to find something that belittles them. This is your attempt to make you feel bigger than you are and that is so depressing. Where were you when Timothy McVeigh blew up the government building in Oklahoma? Were you applauding? You make up a fraction of what America reallys believes but I defended you too. You beliefs however misguided are yours. But I will leave you this point if you don’t like it here I made sure that you are FREE to leave. Thank a Vet for that freedom that you soooo take for granted.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:47 pm
Gregg, not sure what you mean. I posted things that were said by Barrack Hussein Obama. His words. He denies that Hassan was not a terrorist. You of all people should be offended by his statements.
Tim McVeigh? What the hell does he have to do with the US Army and Barrack Obama?
A FRACTION?????? Most Americans agree that this Hassan guy was an Islamic terrorist. He yelled ALLAH AKBAR when he gunned them all down.
I thank vets everyday. My dad, uncles, cousins and friends.
You seriously need to read what I wrote pal, I don’t take anything for granted.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:48 pm
Gregg, be specific. What about my comments do you find offensive? Oh, and seriously, before you write stuff about me being a lonely person, you may want to get your facts straight.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:50 pm
Gregg, where were you based out of? What was your specific job in the Army? Reason I ask is because for all I know you could be some idiot lib pretending to be someone they are not.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
1:51 pm
McVeigh served in the Army. He was a vet that targeted other government and civilians. See the link now. I don’t think he was a terriost as much as he was a ticking time bomb. We had a solider that snapped when I was in the service and he shot and killed some service members. He was sentenced to death however it didn’t make him a racist when he did it. Some people cannot handle pressure and he maybe one. I am not defending him by any means. I feel he is a true coward and should die like those he killed but slower and more painfully. but I reserve labeling him a terroist just because he has a muslim surname.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:52 pm
Gregg wrote: You target people becuase of the differences and you try to find something that belittles them. This is your attempt to make you feel bigger than you are and that is so depressing.
Eh…Gregg, you may want to rethink those comments. I did not yell ALLAH AKBAR and gun down 13 soldiers at Fort Hood.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:56 pm
Gregg, HASSAN YELLED ALLAH AKBAR WHILE GUNNING DOWN SOLDIERS!!!!!! SEE THE LINK NOW?
He attended the same Mosque as the 911 murderers. He told returning soldiers that they were killing innocent muslims. He was said to have post-traumatic stress syndrome. HOW THE HELL TO YOU GET POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO WAR??????
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
1:57 pm
11B I started out at Benning, then Campbell for air assault, went to Bragg for airbourne but broke my leg during a night jump (not paying attention to the jump master). From there I spent a year in Korea, then 3 years at Ft. Carson. Left there to go to Ft. Lewis and the back to Korea for another tour. Served 2 tour under Operation Freedom through Ft. Hood Via Ft. Carson. Then end my career in Korea. ETS at Ft. Lewis.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:58 pm
Gregg wrote: I reserve labeling him a terroist just because he has a muslim surname.
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!! Yeah Gregg, yelling ALLAH AKBAR while killing other people CANT be equated to Islam!!!!! Right, dude, you have some serious mind problems when it comes to discerning radical islam.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
1:59 pm
Gregg, sucks about your mishap. I had a buddy who was discharged for a bum foot while being a Ranger.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:01 pm
It means GOD is good. It makes him muslim not a terriost. There is a difference. I understand what you are saying and understand I do not like this man however I reserve judgement until I know exactly why he did. They say he was depressed about going deploying. He was a psych doctor who knows what horrors he has heard. Agian, I HATE this coward but do not make him a terrorist because then we look at all of our muslim soliders as such. They all say ALLAH AKBAR when they pray.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:01 pm
Gregg, Lee Harvey Oswald was a Marine sniper. Do people equate Marines with president killers? Nope, but we do need to look at Muslims who show signs of radical views.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:03 pm
Gregg, the only people who are afraid to admit Hassan was a muslim extremist is Obama and the media. Allah Akbar means God is great. Every single Muslim terrorist uses that phrase when killing people. Suicide bombers use it. Feel free to wait on your judgment. Doesn’t bother me a bit but you can not sit there and call me this and that and expect me to just sit by idly while you trash me.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:05 pm
Gregg, you might want to read up on how this “psych” doc would tell patients that they were murdering muslims. You might want to read up on how there were numerous reports and complaints written up on him from MANY returning vets.
Jacky Jack
November 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
Gregg.Thanks for time served. However as an old Army paratrooper (82nd Airborne Division) I went to jump school at Ft. Benning as all airborne troops did regardless of branch of service? Has this changed?
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
I don’t know if you know this but we have killed innocent people before and are still doing it. The are called casualties of war. Again understand what you are saying. Every service member in the services that has a muslim surname is now going to be viewed as a terrorist. My point is the COWARD snapped. There is a difference between a coward and a terrorist. I heard he expressed that he was having problems before this epsiode and he was discounted. He has seeked help and was ignored. We have to learn all of the facts before we label him a terrorist.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:18 pm
Jacky Jack I am not sure when you went however in 88 I went to Ft. Benning for basic and AIT. Left for Ft. Campbell but most assurdly did all of my jumps at Bragg. I am not sure when you did whether it was before or after me. Esprit de Corps to you too
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:22 pm
Gregg, I, for one second, don’t think the guy snapped. I believe, with facts to back it up, that he had this radical belief for years. The Army has said that he had complaints from other service members that were written on him going back two years. He never sought out help. That is NOT documented anywhere on anything that I have read about the guy. And no, I have not said anything about ALL Muslims being terrorists. But you have to ask yourself this about Islam. Not ONCE does the Koran mention spreading love. Not ONCE!
The facts have been laid out Gregg, he yelled out Allah Akbar while killing people, he gave his belongings away, just as the 911 hijackers did and many others who commit suicide bombings, he attended the same radical Mosque that the 911 hijackers went to.
WHAT FURTHER PROOF DO YOU NEED??????
Algonquin J. Calhoun
November 11th, 2009
2:23 pm
He denies that Hassan was not a terrorist.
Axelbum, that means he is asserting that Hasan is a terrorist. By the way, I served in the USMC and was in Vietnam in 1969. Which branch of the service were you in and where did you serve? Don’t come back with nothing and let us know you’re just an arm-chair chicken hawk!
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:26 pm
Gregg, let me give you an example of bias from non-christians. When the abortion doctor got shot and killed earlier this year, not once did the media say, “lets wait and see the facts before we make a judgement.” The media quickly said that he was a Chrisitan right-winger who hated abortion doctors.
Now, not one shred of evidence has been laid out about the guy who killed the abortion doctor. The guy didn’t attend any church, he didn’t yell out any Christian verse like ALLAH AKBAR, and he had no connections to any right wing groups.
Obama jumped to conclusions on the white cop in Cambridge and said he acted stupidly. WITHOUT KNOWING ANY FACTS. NOW OBAMA SAYS WE MUST WAIT???????
TALK ABOUT A DOUBLE STANDARD.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:29 pm
Algonquin J. Calhoun, are you illiterate?
Gregg wrote: We have to learn all of the facts before we label him a terrorist.
The facts have been laid out, nimrod. I didn’t serve. But guess what Crackhoun, I can express my own opinion and lay out the facts that I already know.
Go sell stupid somewhere else.
TRUTH
November 11th, 2009
2:30 pm
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Arms. As I sit here in my office wondering what is in store for our nation, I have to take a moment to say Thank You to America. The Greatest Nation on earth. I served with 8th Infantry, 1st Infantry, 5th Grp and 10th Grp (only a few will know those units), former Drill Sgt (Lord the things I told those boots to get them to walk and stand right). Bottom line, our Nation allowed us to serve and to a soldier that is an honor. I have seen the effect of war and wish that horror never finds our shores. At this moment, while we are in-fighting over healthcare, stimulus, poularity, whether or not our President (whom was elected fairly, all of that needs to stop. Haaving traveled the world and witnessing governments that disregard their citizens, we have a very good thing called liberty in our country. That is why we have the best military in the world to defend it. Yes, we have “family” problems, but my hope, and I’m sure the hope of the soldiers that are serving and have served, is that we perservere. My brothers and sisters at arms salute our nation. We served for Duty, Honor, and Country.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:31 pm
Algonquin J. Calhoun, curious, what does me having to serve in the military have to do with a discussion on Hassan?
I didn’t know that I had to be in the service to discuss radical islam. Huh, who’d have thunk it.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:33 pm
@ Algonquin J. Calhoun are you asking me or Axelbum?
@ Jacky Jack while I was not an experinced jumper we were going through SOTS program when I went through. I did not go to Benning for jump school I went to Bragg. Alas I did not finish the SOTS program after I broke my leg.
TRUTH
November 11th, 2009
2:33 pm
Damn, this is the crap that I’m talking about.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:34 pm
Gregg, some advice to you. If you want to be treated with respect then you might want to discontinue calling me names. Got it?
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:39 pm
@ David Axelfraud I agree with you on the Obama saga. I am Black and thought that Skip gates was in the wrong. I felt he thought he was better than the lowly public servant asking for his information. I thought the President jumped to a conclusion and therefore I refuse to do the same. I want to know the fact and not just what the (Liberal/Conservative) minuplated media is saying. Understand my point, my brother is Muslim, he works for the federal government, retired from the Air Force doesn’t believe in Suicide bombings yet he has a Muslim name. If he went to that same Mosque one day and they found out would he be labeled a terrorist too. Understand what blind labeling does to us as a nation. it hurts more than it helps. We locked people in concentrationscamp because they looked japenese (even if they weren’t) when we were at war.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:42 pm
I do apologize (that was not the intent I was thinking of the actor I guess). I actually had to look to see what you were talking about. It was amistype on my part and for that sir I do apologize.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:44 pm
Gregg, again, I am not saying that ALL muslims are terrorists. My point is that political correctness is killing this country. When soldiers get killed on their own base by their own people by a guy who yells out ALLAH AKBAR, I automatically think radical Islam.
Again, I am not blindly labeling anyone. I have read several reports and heard MANY interviews with Army personnel who have all said that this guy was a radical extremist. Every single person at Fort Hood would agree with this. The facts are all there.
Again, please stop calling me names like Axelbum.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:46 pm
@ Truth I am in agreement with you. I think we are to quick to jump at what the media says and we are too divided by parties, color and other loyalties. We are the best of the best, the bravest of the brave yet we fight amongst ourselves as though we are no better than animals. If it were me I would want you to know the real reason I did what I did and not let the media dissuade or persuade your judgement of me. I guess I will always treat someone how I want to be treated.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:47 pm
Gregg, thanks for your apology. I appreciate it. Now, with Obama, I have absolutely NOTHING but admiration for the fact that we have a black president. I don’t agree with his policies because his policies are dangerous and we are at a 26 year high with unemployment. I don’t like for our troops lives to be played with. Mr. Obama does not have a strategy for winning the war on Islamic Terrorism and he is putting our troops in more danger. He doesn’t listen to the generals yet he listens to people like Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright. This bothers me.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:50 pm
@ David Axelfraud your point is taken. It is too easy to jump from one muslim in the service being a terrorist to having to watch them all. I have seen posts where the question is asked why was he allowed into the service with a Muslim name. This is how it starts and once it starts it is hard to stop. We are doing a dis-service to all the Muslim soldiers that have died or are willing to die for this country.
David Axelfraud
November 11th, 2009
2:52 pm
Gregg, I understand your concern. I was not focused on every Muslim. Just the one who shot and killed 13 soldiers.
Gregg
November 11th, 2009
2:52 pm
Gents it has been good but I have to go and pick up my kids. Enjoy and stay free.
dewstarpath
November 11th, 2009
2:57 pm
- Axelfraud – NOW WHO’S THE HYPOCRITE?
You complain to Gregg about being called names like “axelbum”
- and YES I have called you names (in the past) – BUT WHAT
ABOUT THE NAMES YOU HAVE CALLED OBAMA?
dewstarpath
November 11th, 2009
2:58 pm
And BTW – Gregg’s 11Bravo is a military
occupational specialty, or MOS.