Armed forces day / Veterans day.

[Cal Price]

All over this planet there are people who are standing for you. They may not be the same race as you, not even the same nationality or share the same beliefs, they may even be an old enemy but if you live in freedom and democracy these people are defending your liberty.

Honour them, treat them decently when they come home broken and cause the odd problem, salute and celebrate them, get the beers (or whatever is appropriate) in if you have the chance.

I said that.

Rudyard Kipling said this.....

It's Tommy this, and Tommy that
and Tommy go away
But it's good old Tommy Atkins when bands begin to play.

[Caffeine]

I remember, as a 9 year old kid, shopping with my grandparents.   There was a table outside the grocery store with some older (my grandparents' age at the time) guys selling little fake red flowers.   My grandparents chatted with them for a few minutes and my grandfather bought one of the flowers and kept it in his Ford Falcon for many years.   Anyway, I asked who they were and what the flower was, and they told me about war veterans, etc.

Living in south Florida (former retirement capital of the USA), I've had the chance to meet and get to know a lot of WWII vets and their wives.   Some of their stories are incredible, some are funny...I admit I haven't been told a lot of the horrifying stories, because I don't like to ask about those.   But you can see it in their eyes.   I respect them too much to ask them to tell them.   

My father was a Vietnam vet (Marines).   He never told any stories, just his standard line, "The Government doesn't tell you SH1T!"

The old men and women selling paper poppies outside grocery stores on Veteran's Day week is a rare sight these days, but I still see them from time to time.   Even in their 80's and 90's, they still have memories of a long-ago war like it was yesterday.   I get a little choked up when I see them. 

[Toogoofy317]

In ROTC we sold those poppies as a teenager I never really knew why this red little flower. Until, or Memorial day ceremony we would put out crosses all around the lake and in the little park. We put one out for each person from Auburndale who had died serving this country. Then I had to memorize and read this poem at the ceremony and it all made sense.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

I had a very hard time in some spots reading it outloud. It gave me great respect for these men and women who risked it all so future generations have the freedoms we have today.

Mary

[wladziu]

I'm such a sucker.  Just had to open this one.  

You guys don't agree with this:
"There is far to much attention given to the "heros" that are fighting overseas. Its a job! They chose to be there! no one forced them to sign up."  (scott_pa)

?

If I use that same logic when I'm allowed into an ER, maybe I'll just let people die on the table...
"No one MADE you ride that motorcycle - why should I care if you've busted your pelvis and opened your femoral artery?"
"No one MADE you let such stupidity exit your pampered little mouth, why should I try to find the bullet?" 
"No one MADE you wake up this morning, why should I help it continue?"



Guess that some people understand, and some just b!tch because they think they understand.  
And the world keeps on going around.  

[Cal Price]

The Poppies thing is still very big here (UK) we do it for November 11th (armastice day 1918) and the following Sunday is the official "Remeberance day" in UK. I've worked in Flanders and believe me they do grow there in profusion, also on the Somme in France.

I am taking the Bandit down that way in Sept and will cross the Somme before going on to the invasion beaches of Normandy, staying a few days near Mt Sainte-Michelle with some other bikers from around here. I'll pay respect to those marked by lines of white stones all the way along Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah beaches. (East to west order)

[yamahonkawazuki]

hey cal, can i get some pics this if you dont mind sir

[yamahonkawazuki]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTHhEdJZxUY

[Cal Price]

Here's some pix I took on a recent ride to..

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/memorial-menin-gate.htm






The first is a small cemetry known as "Canada Farm" which was a dressing station just behind the line, we stopped there to place flowers on the grave of one of our guys relatives.

The second is "Tyne Cot" in the Ypres salient, the wall on the left has the names of about half to 90,000 whose bodies were never recovered, the others are I believe on the menin gate.

This place is in the heart of Flanders, it was in April a little early for poppies but it will be awash now.
Yama, I am always overwhelmed by those places, Tyne Cot is huge as is the nearbye German Cemetry. I often wonder if all those young people had lived what might they have invented or discovered or done and would our world be different, with so many graves I am sure some would have become great men.

[wladziu]

I often wonder if all those young people had lived what might they have invented or discovered or done and would our world be different, with so many graves I am sure some would have become great men.

Well said. 

[pandy]

I am sure some would have become great men.

They did become great men and women, every one of 'em.  

In the U.S., we have a group of riders called the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). They provide escorts and flag lines for soldiers coming and going, as well as escorts for our fallen heroes.

They're (we're) mostly cruiser riders and veterans, but they (we) welcome sportbike riders, cagers, ANYONE who wants to bring some joy into the lives of our soldiers/veterans. The first time I pulled up on my bright red sportbike (and with a friend on his bright green Ninja), I was a bit worried about how we'd be seen. We were welcomed with open arms and open hearts! The BEST way to spend part of a day is to see the look of astonishment on the soldiers's faces when they realize we're all there for THEM.

I <3 our soldiers and veterans.

[scottpA_GS]

I'm such a sucker.  Just had to open this one.  

You guys don't agree with this:
"There is far to much attention given to the "hero's" that are fighting overseas. Its a job! They chose to be there! no one forced them to sign up."  (scott_pa)

?

If I use that same logic when I'm allowed into an ER, maybe I'll just let people die on the table...
"No one MADE you ride that motorcycle - why should I care if you've busted your pelvis and opened your femoral artery?"
"No one MADE you let such stupidity exit your pampered little mouth, why should I try to find the bullet?" 
"No one MADE you wake up this morning, why should I help it continue?"

Guess that some people understand, and some just b!tch because they think they understand.  
And the world keeps on going around.  

!!!You pulled that out of context A$SH0LE!!!

Link to the whole post. http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=48219.0

.. That was said because of things being sent to the troops (care packages) And too many people like YOU feeling good about YOURSELVES by sending candy and putting a magnet on their bumper. I didn't say you shouldn't support them... (And Im not totally saying that doing any little bit is a bad thing) I said they are doing it because they want to.. I said YOU should help and DO MORE DIRECTLY! Not sending candy and playing  cards. Supporting your soldiers is great when done the right way not just with good intentions. I was in the military!!! I went overseas. I CHOSE TO DO IT! "I" did what I know was right and dont think I am special or need anyting more for doing it.

If you served you would know, Its not about "you" the soldier. Its about your fellow soldiers and your country. There are no "heros" in the military, there are just good soldiers.

I earned the right to say what I said by serving with my fellow soldiers, fighting by their side and standing  by them while dying and wounded. I took direct action to protect them, their familys and our country.

.. What did you do for your soldiers?

Not saying that troops dont deserve a bit more but... THEY SIGNED UP FOR IT! Thats the difference.

If there was a draft I could see things a bit different but there isn't... You choose to join the Military. I did my 4 years and went over seas and had no complaints. I had no bills, got paid well, fed well and got everything I needed from the USAF.  I made over 20K TAX FREE in about 6 months! I always get a bit pissed when I see the fund raisers or "send crap to the troops"... They get PAID! They dont need care packages! Even if you feel you are doing good contributing to these things about 80% of the troops dont get your packages anyway! When they do they often give the items to Iraqi/Afghan children or needy family's... Is that where you want your "care packages" to go?

Also, most of the dollar amounts in that letter are BS! If you are KIA your family gets MUCH more than 100G's and life insurance, social security, health bennies etc... There is far to much attention given to the "heros" that are fighting overseas. Its a job! They chose to be there! no one forced them to sign up.

Ask most anyone who served, they will be on the same page. Its people who didnt serve that feel the need to contribute by sending boxes of crap to service men/women. If you really want to help, help a VET! Volunteer at the local VA or VA hospital...

</rant>

[yamahonkawazuki]

as ive said befor scott. thank you. BUT, Ill still consider them as heroes as i do public servants. and will support them as such even with the boxes of "crap" as you call it. i do the volunteer stuff on many levels as well

[spc]

1.) There are no "heros" in the military, there are just good soldiers.

2.) I earned the right to say what I said by serving with my fellow soldiers, fighting by their side and standing  by them while dying and wounded.

1.)I have a feeling that anyone who knew Lt. Murphy (USN), Cpl. Dunham (USMC) , Pfc. McGinnis (USA), MA2 Monsoor (USN), SFC Smith (USA), MSgt. Gordon (USA) or SFC Shughart (USA) might have a differing opinion.  (Hmmmm, no Airmen there and that's all of 'em since Viet Nam)
2.) You served with Soldiers??? I thought you were an Airman.  Were you OK without AC and plush beds every night?

[wladziu]

.. What did you do for your soldiers?

Tried to give my life for 3 of them.  That's all.

LT gave the order to leave us, in the middle of a firefight.  So, I said goodbye to my wife and family, and crossed some wires in my tank.  Didn't know if they were the right ones.  1 out of 50 chance (number of wires in the bundle) that I'd be electrocuted with enough DC voltage to stop my heart.  
I happened to pick the right ones, and the fuel pump started back up.  



The LT tried to court-marshal me for breaking orders.


They never said thank you.  




Just like you haven't.  






But, I'd go back and do it again.  








Watched my best friend get his brain splattered all over the road.  Cars running over little chunks of it, like pieces of a dead squirrel.  
He was a cook.  Wasn't even supposed to be outside the wire.  
Never signed up for combat; he just wanted a better life for his kids.

The best man at my wedding came back home brain-dead.  His dad talked him into joining, for the college money.  Told him to drive tanks, because it was "manly".  
Couldn't go to the hospital to watch them turn the machines off.  

I see the people I've shot in my sleep at least once a week, zombies coming into my house to take me back with them.  I'm on medication to keep me from standing up in bed, trying to fight them off.  
I'm scared of everyone I can see, and have to constantly remind myself they're not trying to hurt me.  Including my wife and family.
I only eat one meal a day; I haven't had an appetite for 6 years.
I can't get to sleep until 6 am, without medication, for the past 6 years.
I'm constantly ashamed of myself because I'm not missing limbs or dead like my buddies.
I'm addicted to things that can get me killed, so I bought a motorcycle, and I'm only really happy when I run wide in the corners.
My brain chemistry's changed to the point that I'm on a standing migraine prescription.  Sometimes I can't tell red lights from green lights, and I don't know why.  
I can only trust people after I've seen them fight, now, to know how truly honorable they really are.  
I constantly try to gain everyone's approval, even the ones that don't like me, just to have another mission, another fight.  
When I try to stop, it only gets worse.  

If I admit any of it, people only laugh.  People say to find therapy, but years of therapy hasn't worked.  I'll be like this my entire life, now.






And, I'll never have a chance to go back and get it right.  So people like you stop saying things that hurt.  

[yamahonkawazuki]

ty lad. it can be a tough road so i hear

[wladziu]

Yeah, but I'm the @$$hole being threatened with a ban. 

[annguyen1981]

Yeah, but I'm the @$$hole being threatened with a ban.  

^^^
This is why

You bring the forum troubles everywhere with you... if you've gonna fooking complain, KEEP IT IN ONE THREAD!  Also don't start a new thread because you got all butt-hurt and you feel the need to rant.

[Toogoofy317]

WOW seriously guys you are some insensitive Flucks! A hell of a lot of you have opened up threads ranting about what we hate in our life me included! It gets a little to close to home and resort to name calling on both ends.

Honestly, a thank you for his sacrifice would have sufficed! But, instead you call him a butt flucker wow I think I need to take a step away from here!

[yamahonkawazuki]

No mary please do not. you as well as this forum holds a special place in my heart. this forum AND ALL of its inhabitants/members. lad I personall yhtank you , scott as well as any and all military , from whichever country you happen to call home. PERSONALLY thank you, and your family as well, because although usually not stationed with you. they are serving wiht you, this goes for public service personnel as well. police fire, ems even teh volunteers of such services. 

[Cal Price]

from the first post in this thread...

treat them decently when they come home broken and cause the odd problem,

'nuff said.