Just wanted to say thanks to all of those who have served our country. I am eternally grateful! :cheers:
Mary
:cheers: :cheers: there should be a salute smiley, really there should. :thumb:
put me down for a big thanks as well.
my grandfather on my father's side was a para-trooper at Normandy. still alive. doesn't talk much about it. all he's told me is how he lost his hearing in one ear. (only injury he sustained.) driving accross northern france in a jeep. the jeep next to him hit a land mine. :cookoo:
my wife's grandfather also a vet from same time period. don't know much about his service but his funeral was the first military funeral i've attended. taps, and the 21 gun salute tear me up every time.
to our soldiers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
+1000000000 :cheers:
I was down there recently (going again in Sept) - last time i was there it was a cool, rather windy slightly damp day not unlike the weather in '44 with very few visitors about. The beaches, memorials and the cemeteries take on a sort of calm and you can appreciate the difficulties and the sacrifices made in a different way from the big state occasions.
At Juno beach where the Canadians landed these is a plaque listing those who took part from all over the world, not just the big allies we always think of, from memory there were people from about 40 countries, many had volunteered to come and fight in a faraway war. Makes you think.
(http://www.smileycollector.com/images/patriotic/wesuparmedforces.gif)
great find yama! i love that smiley! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :cheers: :cheers:
if it werent for my f%&ked up health, id be there with em, so i serve in spirit and with hte pat guard among other things :thumb: