To my cousin Tony; Who died on his 2nd tour in Vietnam; Thank you.
To my uncle Roscoe; Who died in North Korea; Thank you
To my father who serve in the Navy and my father in law who landed on Guadalcanal; Thank you.
To all my uncles who fought in World War 2; Thank you.
To All who has served to keep the United States free; Thank you all so very much.

They have my thanks too! I would also like to thank my Grandfather Jessie(WWI)my Father Jack(WWII,battle of the bulge) My five class mates that went to Vietnam of whom 2 made it back. Thank you and I miss you.

Thanks to all of them and

your welcome

Semper Fi

None of my immediate family has served during a war since WWI, but many have contributed as scientists and engineers. As G.Gordon Liddy used to say to any vet he talked to, "Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to freedom". We all owe an incredible debt to those who paid the ultimate price in their service; one which we can never repay.

[beer]

Thanks to any veteran and a SPECIAL THANKS to my friends who's names are on that "black wall" in DC,I'll never forget!!!  Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and remember a lot of good men made all of this possible. THANK GOD FOR THE USA

ditto

Without them we'd be nothing.


Thanks to all who remember us.
you are welcome.

Airborne

You are welcome.

My Additions...

My Dad - Vietnam
My uncle Robert - VN
My uncle Wayne - VN
My uncle Uncas - VN
My uncle Bob - VN
My great-grandfather (I am his namesake!) - WWII

The many others throughout the generations that I have never met in life, but will meet at the Final Muster...

FFZ
SMS, USAF

Semper Fi!

My honor....

Lew

My Grandfather - USMC (Korea)
My Father - USN
My Uncle - USN


Thanks for all they went through.

RyanG - USN

Thank you war veterans who paid the ultimate price against tyranny, oppresion, and the genocide of millions.

saluting lib

long live the Constitution, and long live the [red]U[/red][white]S[/white][blue]A[/blue]

My POW/MIA flag is flying.  

The Other Side Of The Wall by Patrick Camunes

At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that "Black
Granite Wall."  Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and my Sisters wait to see
the many people from places afar file in front of this "Wall."  Many stopping
briefly and many for hours and so that come on a regular basis.  It was hard at
first, not that it's gotten any easier, but it seems that many of the attitudes
towards that Vietnam War we were involved in have changed.  I can only pray that
the ones on the other side have learn something, and more "Walls" as this one,
needn't be built.

Several members of my unit, and many that I did not recognize, have called me to
The Wall by touching my name engraved upon it.  The tears aren't necessary, but
are hard even for me to hold back.  Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my
Brothers.  This was my destiny as it is yours, to be on that side of The Wall.
Touch The Wall, my Brothers, so that we can share in the memories that we had.
I have learn to put the bad memories aside and remember only the pleasant times
that we had together.  Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me,
not to say Good-bye but to say Hello and be together again ...  even for a short
time ...  and to ease that pain of loss that we all still share.

Today, an irresistible and loving call summons me to The Wall.  As I approach, I
can see an elderly lady ...  and as I get closer, I recognize her---It's Momma!
As much as I have looked forward to this day, I have also dreaded it, because I
didn't know what reaction I would have.

Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it must have
been for her to come to this place, and my mind floods with the pleasant
memories of 30 years past.  There's a young man in a military uniform standing
with his arm around her---My God!---he has to be my son!  Look at him trying to
be the man without a tear in his eye.  I yearn to tell him how proud I am,
seeing him standing tall, straight and proud in his uniform.

Momma comes closer and touches The Wall, and I feel the soft and gentle touch I
had not felt in so many years.  Dad has crossed to this side of The Wall, and
through our touch, I try to convey to her that Dad is doing fine and is no
longer suffering or feeling pain.  I see my wife's courage building as she sees
Momma touch The Wall and she approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand.
All the emotions, feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our
touch and I tell her that ...  it's all right ...  carry on with your life and
don't worry about me ....  I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears and
a big burden has been lifted from her on wings of understanding.

I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past.  My lucky charm that
was taken from me and sent to her by my CO .  .  .  a tattered and worn teddy
bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a child .  .  .  and
several medals that I had earned and were presented to my wife.  One is the
Combat Infantry Badge that I am very proud of, and I notice that my son is also
wearing this medal.  I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had
probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq.

I can tell that they are preparing to leave, and I try to take a mental picture
of them together, because I don't know when I will see them again.  I wouldn't
blame them if they were not to return, and can only thank them that I was not
forgotten.  My wife and Momma near The Wall for one final touch, and so many
years of indecision fear and sorrow are let go.  As they turn to leave, I feel
my tears that had not flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops on the
other side of The Wall.

They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulders.  My son suddenly
stops and slowly returns.  He stands straight and proud in front of me and snaps
a salute.  Something draws him near The Wall and he puts his hand upon etched
stone and touches my tears that had formed dew drops on the face of The Wall .
.  .  and I can tell that he senses my presence and the pride and love I have
for him.  He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my
best to reassure him that it's all right, and the tears do not make him less of
a man.  As he moves back wiping the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths,
"God Bless you, Dad ...."

God Bless, YOU, Son ...  we WILL meet someday, but in the meanwhile, go on your
way ...  there is no hurry ...  there is no hurry at all.

As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE there
today, as loud as I can:

THANKS FOR REMEMBERING!

...  and as others on this side of The Wall join in, I notice that the U.S.
Flag, Old Glory, that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and
standing proudly straight out in the wind from our gathering numbers this day.
.  .  and we shout again,and .  .  .  again .  .  ..  .  .  and again .  .  .

THANKS FOR REMEMBERING!

Ditto my eternal gratitude and respect for all fellow vets.  
 Please, don't allow ignorant people to dishonor or taint the memory of our fallen heroes.  About three weeks ago, the Traveling Vietnam Memorial was here at UCF.  After being asked by the VA, I had the honor of doing a 8 hour security watch from 10pm-6am (the campus police refused to set up a 24hr watch). Besides a couple of dumb students- most everyone was very appropriate and respectfull. One girl asked me "Why are all of those names on that wall, only 150 Americans were killed in Vietnam."  After informing this airhead (she probably heard that in one of her commie-revisionist history classes), I explained to her that every name on the wall represented a serviceman who did not return home from Vietnam.  Her eyes got very big, as she looked at the wall and solemnly exclaimed "Ohhh, my God."  

 Another guy, who appeared to be about 20, tried to urinate behind the monument around 3am.  After being Q-Beamed and thoroughly embarrassed, I held him until campus police could arrest him for public urination.  The fact that someone could be so disrespectful to these brave men was enough to infuriate me- I could have ripped that guy's f'in head off!  

Aside from these two, it was great to see that so many still remember our fallen brothers, and it was indeed a great honor to help guard the memorial.

Semper Fi

Mere veterans???? When I came home with a CIB after the gulf war my dad, a veteran of the Korean war, was prouder than I was. He died 3 years later, he was a mere veteran. My uncle Really took intrest in me for the first time I could remember, he is a veteran of Veitnam, he has cancer and won't last long, he is a mere veteran, Seems the family tradition is to earn a CIB. I give thanks to God I have only daughters. Thanks to all vet's.

Ron"s Toys, when I read your 2 part post, I pretty near lost it.  Oh, hell, you guys can call me a wimp, but I cried.  Having left several buddies over there, I have never gotten up the gumption to go to the Black Wall.  I am afraid I would just turn into a big baby if I did.  That was an awesome piece, man.

I also thank those vets that came before me and those with me who never came home as well as those that did make it home.

Larry G-

Don't apologize for anything.  If anybody calls you a wimp, I'll kick their butt.

Jeff

MI ANG

Gary Ray Bryant   SP4  Army  Greenville SC
Died January 25 1966 South Vietnam. Thank You
cousin.

 A sincere "Thank you" to all the veterans past and present who have put their lives on the line - and especially to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country. At the same time, thousands of POW's and MIA's remain unaccounted for - and this is inexcusable.

 Hope or pray that the current administration rectifies this. Americans as a whole must stop and remember what Memorial Day is truly about. Most members of this board fully understand this - but many Americans will go about their business Monday - not taking time to pause and reflect on America's fallen servicemembers.

To those who have served in recent "peacekeeping actions" (like myself)- thanks for staying mentally sane amidst United Nations and NATO run cluster#$$##$. Thanks for trying to be soldiers when our government would have us be NATO's police.

Again - to all veterans past and present. Thank you.   SPC Smith

Freedom ©L.E. Wesch 1998

Veterans Day jogs me

Freedom… we honor the concept.

They died these soldiers, defending it,
defending each other.

I take it for granted each day.

They died for it.

I raise my flag freely each day and
watch it's stripes ripple in the breeze and I am proud,
I write words never doubting my right to do so.

They died that I might.

I speak opinions strongly and sometimes brashly.

Because they fought…I can.

I live where I choose because I am free.
I work at my choice, because I have that choice.
I can say "no" because I am free
I can dream because being free all things are possible.

Many of them can dream no more.

We honor the word freedom perhaps because it is a liberating word.
It is not lonely, dirty, or hungry, it does not weep, bleed, or ache,
it is not bitter, cold or vengeful, it is not foolish, uncertain or brash,
and the shell of a mortal body does not confine it.

But it can be lost.

Except for those who will defend it, those who have died for it,
this fragile concept might just be a dream and we would be naught.


Thank you seems inadequate.

---
About sums it up for me.