just watched a show on HBO about PTSD after watching it was so humbling thanks you so much vets for all you and your familys gave!!
thanks again
ray
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
The plaque following the Remembrance Ceremony outside CPR's Calgary HQ today.
John
As a Navy veteran It is still a grand privledge and still my duty to give thanks to all those who serve or have served. During my many travels seeing the world through a 'porthole' I found out first hand that this is the greatest country in the world. I remember places where most of the population lived in grass huts, some places where entire families lived in cardboard clad shacks with a piece of tin as a roof, no running water, or electricity, and quite literally, they had nothing of value to their name.
Our standard of living is the best in the world and it is because of those gallant heros that fought and died on the battlefield that gave us the things we have today with the greatest of these, our freedom. I'm proud that I had a chance to serve my country even though it was a tough way to make a living, and my greatest respect will always go out to those that never made it home. They are the true heros in my book. May God bless them all!....chuck
I will remember. I am a US Navy vet. A younger brother who is a 'Nam vet, US Marines passed away two years ago.
Another younger brother, a 'Nam vet, US Army passed away six days ago. He will be buried in Randolph Center, VT next week.
I go to a VA center nearby quite often so the military is never out of my mind.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
As a veteran, thank you for the post. As a citizen of the United States, a heart felt thank you to the thousands who endured far greater hardships than i did. Uncle Sam chose not to send me to Vietnam, his choice, I was thankful. After my tour and finishing college, I returned home via a differerent route one trip. There was a bridge with a palque, bearing the name of a former HS classmate. Later, when I went to the Vietnam Memorial, I made sure to look him up.
My childhood memories are more of Memorial Day than Armistis Day, as the older folks kept calling it. The ceremonies that our little one room school carried out included patriotic songs, reciting of the Getteysburg Address and Flanders Field, decorated the graves in the cemetary behind the school, then marched a mile to the other cemetary in town and decorated those veterans graves. We had a few veterans in town and my parents had friends that were veterans, but they seldom talked about "things." One fellow had been on a ship that had been hit, the resulting fire burned off part of his nose and ears. It was hard not to stare, but I was in awe of the sacrifice he and others had made. During my HS years I always played in the band for Memorial Day and Veterans Day and more than glad to perform for them. Each year I had a greater and greater respect for the veterans of the "Greatest Generation." Now I see veterans of my own age leading the parades with cars carrying the few remaining WW II veterans. My hat goes off to all to all of them.
My son has done two tours with the Air Guard in Iraq. It's a chilling feeling when he's there, but I am proud of his chosen field. I am proud of all the young people that are serving today in all branches of the military and I support them.
My layout plans include a Memorial Park of some sort. It's my thank you that I can say in modeling.
Again, thank you for the post. Thank you to my fellow veterans and a thank you to those who are preparing to serve.
Now, to Abblebee's tomorrow.
Best wishes to all,
With Remembrance Day tomorrow, I thought I'd bump this with another story.
THE VETERAN ON OUR TEN DOLLAR BILL If you look at the back right-hand side of a Canadian $10.00 bill, you will see an elderly veteran standing at attention near our National war memorial in Ottawa. His name is Robert Metcalfe and he died last month at the age of 90 years.
That he managed to live to that age is rather remarkable, given what happened in the Second World War. Born in England , he was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the mainland where they found themselves facing the new German warfare technique - the Blitzkrieg.He was treating a wounded comrade when he was hit in the legs by shrapnel. En route to the hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank, which then miraculously ceased fire. Evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade, two of the sister ships sailing with them were sunk.After his recovery, he was sent to allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy . En route his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck .In North Africa he served under General Montgomery against the Desert Fox, General Erwin Rommel.Sent into the Italian campaign, he met his future wife, a lieutenant and physiotherapist in a Canadian hospital. They were married in the morning by the mayor of the Italian town, and again in the afternoon by a British padre.After the war they settled in Chatham Ontario where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county and on his retirement he and his wife moved to Ottawa . At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences.One day out of the blue he received a call from a government official asking him if he would care to come downtown for a photo shoot.He wasn't told what the photo was for or why they had chosen him. 'He had no idea he would be on the national currency,' his daughter said.And now you know the story of the old veteran on our $10.00 bill !!
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I'll be the 4th generation in family to enlist. I'm AIT in the US Army. So I honor my fellow NCO's and OIC's.
Well said Brent.
My father did not talk about his war experiences, although after he died this fall as we were going through his stuff, a clipping from a Victoria paper came to light. Turns out he was in the Battle of the Bulge, after spending most of the war in Scotland logging as part of the Canadian Forestry Corps. He ended up in Normandy 3 days after D Day.
I do know he was proud to be asked to go back twice to Europe to participate in anniversary celebrations but other than that, was not willing to talk about it.
We do try to educate our kids about why the poppy, and why it is important to remember.
Thanks to all who served, especially those who did not live to become veterans.
God bless the soldiers and Vets.
I live near the Abraham Lincoln Memorial cemetery and I heard that a funeral's passing through on Thursday. If the creek don't rise, I'm gonna be out there holding an American flag.
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
As an early Vietnam-Era veteran, and grandfather whose grandson-in-law has served in Iraq and will deploy to Afghanistan soon, no one here is not honoring and praising all veterans, dead or alive.
Sorry, if any thought otherwise.
Richard
mechengr I am a veteran and although this post is not about Veterans Day directly, I think it important to note that "our patriotic news media at ABC" have been directed NOT to wear a US flag lapel pin. Certainly don't want to offend anyone!!!! To me, this shows a a total disrespect and unpatriotic attitude toward the USA as a country. I wonder if ABC will even mention Veterans Day on the 11th.
I am a veteran and although this post is not about Veterans Day directly, I think it important to note that "our patriotic news media at ABC" have been directed NOT to wear a US flag lapel pin.
Certainly don't want to offend anyone!!!!
To me, this shows a a total disrespect and unpatriotic attitude toward the USA as a country. I wonder if ABC will even mention Veterans Day on the 11th.
The election is over, turn off Glenn Beck and take a Valium.
Everybody posting here is praising the Veterans.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
CTValleyRR Blaine -- I'll grant that our veterans deserve more than two minutes, but as a Vet myself (and married to one, to boot), I'm grateful for ANY appreciation. Both this week and Memorial Day, we see far too many people who have no idea what we are "celebrating" with the National Holidays. Just to reflect (and not exactly in my own words); We wish to honor those who had the courage to place their frail bodies between their homes and war's devastation, and especially those who paid the ultimate price for doing so. And parents, PLEASE teach your children WHY they don't have school on Thursday, and what that holiday represents and means.
Blaine --
I'll grant that our veterans deserve more than two minutes, but as a Vet myself (and married to one, to boot), I'm grateful for ANY appreciation.
Both this week and Memorial Day, we see far too many people who have no idea what we are "celebrating" with the National Holidays.
Just to reflect (and not exactly in my own words); We wish to honor those who had the courage to place their frail bodies between their homes and war's devastation, and especially those who paid the ultimate price for doing so.
And parents, PLEASE teach your children WHY they don't have school on Thursday, and what that holiday represents and means.
Yes, Veteran's Day is more than just taking advantage of the sale at WalMart.
The greatest experience I ever had was driving the D-Day survivors around on a Veterans Day parade about 10 years ago. These were the men, who, on the day of the Normandy landings, were the first out of the boats. I got to hear their stories, told to me personaly on a one on one setting. One man I spoke to had his whole platoon killed while still in the boat, he made it to shore and fought from the beach to the Rhine and never got a scratch. The next gentleman I spoke to took 27 bullets in Normandy and survived. Two men I spoke with were CMOH winners, one held off a company of panzers for 3 days with small arms fire, the other man threw himself on a grenade that turned out to be a dud. I served in Panama, GWI, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and compared to the D-Day survivors, I've got nothing at all to talk about, nothing whatsoever.
Next time you see an old man with one of those envelope hats declaring him a WWII survivor, treat him with the upmost respect, pay for his meal, give him you seat or parking spot and remember he went through a hell you could never imagine to secure your freedoms.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
This ol' grizzled ex-Army Sgt. appreciates all the kind words for Veterans. And to all the Veterans out there: I salute you one and all.
Wayne
Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.
Thanks be to all those who serve- past, present, future.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Brent, thank you for sharing that video. As a vet, I thank you, and thank all my comrades in arms.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Some gave all,All gave some 3rdAD
Santa Fe All The Way
far too few remember or are taught that it is to remember the ending of the Great War at the Th minute of the Th hour of the Th day of the Th month. if history has taught us anything it is that we can disagree about the why and where for of a conflict and still support those that are putting their life, their family and lively hood on the line for the rest of us. a free meal is small reward for the great sacrifices that are made by those that would put themselves in harms way for others.
Being a veteran (and a young one to boot),Veteran's Day is special to me. I've worked with many different nations, and career fields. The EOD community is small around the world, and we work, play and mourn like family. Thanks to all the guys/gals on here who are veterans with me, or have family who are/were.
I would ask everyone to take a mintue to look at EODmemorial.org. It's a site dedicated to the EOD Memorial in Niceville, Fl. Hallowed ground for the EOD community. Thanks.
kyle
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
President Theodore Roosevelt Speech at the Sorbonne Paris, France April 23, 1910
v
PUGET SOUND LINES
"Service, Pride and Efficiency"
In the US, it is a national Holiday, but probably half of our population doesn't know it!!!!
Thanks to Agent Orange, I'm about to celebrate my last Veteren's Day with a free dinner at Appleby's!!! Yea Applebys!!!
Our Veteran's deserve more than 2 minutes.
November 11th should be a national holiday for all of us to give thanks who those that put their lives on the line so that we could enjoy our freedom. 177,000 Canadians paid the ultimate price, while other's remain scarred for life.
I am so proud that my future daughter-in-law is a graduate of the Royal Military College, and served 8 years as a tank commander.
Blaine
Blaine's
Commit random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.
In Canada November 11 is Remembrance Day. Leading up to it there are many events that help turn our attention to our fallen and Veterans.
For me it brings back memories of the the stories my Uncle Al would tell me. In the summer 1976 I had gone up to a town called Kaslo in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, to help him build his house. I was nineteen. Though we had spent thousands of hours together fishing on Kootenay lake he had hardly ever mentioned the war when we were together. Often a blank stare would come over his face and I knew he had slipped back to the horrors he had faced.
As the days and weeks passed the house went up and that stare would often be there. One day during a lunch break he just opened up with a horror story that occurred two days after he landed on Juno beach on D-Day. It involved his two best friends he had been with since he had signed up in 1939. Many other stories soon followed and I really learned a lot about where his mind would travel to when that blank stare would return to his face.
He signed up in 1939 when Canada declared war and immediately was sent to Europe. He finally got home in the fall of 1945. He had a very close family and had not seen them in six years.
He had a good life after he got home even though he was often pulled back to a time he would rather forget.
He was my hero.
Here is a link to a short video that makes the rounds in Canada around this time of the year. Have a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlrrAWCTRg
Thanks for listening.