Some veterans bear visible signs of their service... A missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a **** death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot,
"THANK YOU"
Author Unknown

 

My father is a Vietnam Vet, My two granfathers were in WW2 and I had a great uncle that was a sniper in WW1



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I myself have been in the Army National Guard for 11 years and was in Iraq for OIF III(04-05). I love the Guard I just reenlisted for 6 more years (the Bonus bought my Intimidator) so in tribute i have the National Guard License plate complete with the DOT offical US Veteran stickers on it.
My grand father was a WWII vet Purple heart and Silver star. I alo have two uncles that are Vietnam vets.

My Older brother was also in OIF I and OIF III. we got to see each other in Iraq our paths crossed from time to time. (it was fun I out ranked big Bro)

I come from a family of Vets and I love the US Military I would like to thank all the people here who have served or have had family serve this great country.

 

[align=center]We Salute our Troop's[/align][align=center]for their Service, for their bravery.[/align][align=center]Forthe braveof the past, andthe Present.[/align][align=center]Thank You, for your Service, and protecting[/align][align=center]our freedoms.[/align][align=center][/align]

 

[align=center] [/align][align=center]Grandpa `Dave ~ Solara Slayer ~,[/align][align=center]Even in bad times, I still count my blessings.[/align][align=center]I am thankful 2 `be free, to be who I want 2 `be.[/align][align=center]Not everyone on Planet Earth can say that.[/align][align=center]I am thankful.[/align][align=center][sm=americanasmiley.gif][/align][align=center]Thanks, MCF Members for your posts to our Veteran's[/align]

 

My dad served in the US Marines. He was shot in the abdomen. They told us for years as kids part of the shell was still in him. When he had open heart surgery they pieces and removed them.




My g/f/s dad was in the Navy but never saw any fighting.











Um ...Dad. Where's mom?

 

Well, like blazerman3 I served in the U.S. Air Force, 1971-1975. I think Vietnam ended about two weeks after I got out. My dad and two uncles served in WWII, and my grandpasaw some heavy-duty actionwhile in the Army during WWI.

Wars are such a terrible waste. If the politicians and heads of state had to be involved on the front lines, I think they would come to an end - and quickly.

 

Thank you to ALL of those who have served and are currently serving our countries, whether in war or peace time. A BIG THANK YOU!
My father served in Europe in WWII. He helped release the prisoners from one of the death camps in Germany the day the war ended. He doesn't like to talk about it much, or at all. He laid communications line for the Army Air Corp.
Again, THANK YOU to all of those who haved served our countries, and God bless you for bringing you home.

 

A short video honoring soldiers.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ideoid=2736336

Let's also not forget all the MCF memberswho are currently serving, and can't be here today.

 

HEY WHATS UP GUYS I WANT TO TELL EVERY ONE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UR SUPPORT IM IN IRAQ NOW BEEN FOR A WHILE AND STILL HAVE ALOT OF TIME LEFT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!