Remember the Veterans and What Could Have Been

Good Morning Papamoka Bloggers - Today we remember our veterans, so Happy Veterans Day!

If being happy is hard, then let us simply remember and honor them. Those who survived and those who died.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm a typical American. Are veterans in every family? I have many veterans in my family. The earliest I can find involved ancestors on my mother's side who fought for the Union in the Civil War. I think he was a general. Feel free to talk about the vets in your own family?

Beyond that I can identify at least one grandfather who fought for the Yankee Division under General Pershing in the First World War (see earlier Poppies post), uncles who fought in the Second World War, my father who served with Elvis after WWII and Korea, and finally my brother who served in Iraq and in the Navy Reserve today. They all deserve recognition for their sacrifices. Happy Veterans Day guys. I hope I speak for the whole family when I say that we honor you all.

It began as Armistice Day Sunday to honor those who died in World War One. In June 1954, President Eisenhower created Veterans Day to honor all veterans who fought for this great country. So, let us remember and honor those brave men and women who suffered for us through so many horrible wars.

They were just like us, but they were also different. They were the greater generations, and the Greatest Generation. We, their children and descendants, honor their sacrifice.

I would like to go one step further, and remember all the children and descendants that never were. The families that never existed. The lives that never got to happen. They are also the victims of war.

Let us remember them all. The soldiers who died, the veterans who lived, and lives that never got a chance to be. War tears humanity apart in so many ways. I only hope our nation has learned that it should always be the last, most desperate act.

Happy Veterans' Day - Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

Veterans Day 2007

For most people this day is just another day and it should and should not be that way. In one respect the service of our military is in service to our people so that our society may continue as a whole. There are no guarantees in America but there is the right to voice your opinions in protest of war. In the other respect, many men and woman in our military have died to make our lives what they are today and should not be forgotten. Many more have survived battle only to be lost and forgotten as the wounded warriors of yesterday.

Watching a documentary called The War by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on PBS today made me thankful for the courage and fortitude of all veterans of WWII. So many lives were lost in the battles of the war and yet they persevered to liberate Europe and ultimately defeat the Axis Alies. Then I thought about the people that survived the many battles during the war and how grateful I am that they did. My father being just one of the many.

One point in the documentary jumped out at me to show the true spirit behind the fighting American military forces in Europe. Upon reaching the Rhine, General George S. Patton Jr. stopped halfway across the river on a pontoon bridge. Since the start of the war he had always wanted to piss in the Rhine, right there in the middle of the bridge, and in front of all of his men, he pissed in the Rhine! Not to be comical but what a pisser!

From my heart to the hearts of all Veterans I submit this humble post to thank you for all that you did in the past, present and in the future. You will never be forgotten by this political writer.
Papamoka

Feel free to link to this post in support of all Veterans.

I'm From Worcester has a great Veterans day parade post from Worcester, MA...

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