Thank a veteran

[BabyRider]

WHAT SENATOR JOHN GLENN SAID:

Things that make you think a little........

1. There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during January.... In the
fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's
just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of
Iraq.

2. When some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state
the following:

a. FDR...led us into World War II.
b. Germany never attacked us: Japan did.
From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per
year.
c. Truman...finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea
never attacked us.
From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,334 per
year.
d. John F. Kennedy. ..started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam
never attacked us.
e. Johnson...turned Vietnam into a quagmire.
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per
year.
f. Clinton...went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent.
Bosnia never attacked us.
He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by
Sudan and did nothing Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
g. In the years since terrorists attacked us President Bush has
liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put
nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot,
and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.

The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but...It
took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch
Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.

We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time
than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy
the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police
after his Oldsmobile sank at Chapaquiddick

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in
Florida!!!!

Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB! The Military morale is high!
The biased media hopes we are too ignorant to realize the facts.

But Wait, there's more......................

JOHN GLENN (ON THE SENATE FLOOR)
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13

Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do
for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard
Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu
speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men
and women in the armed services do what they do for a living.

This IS a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served
think of the military.

Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn): "How can you run for Senate
when you've never held a real job?"
Senator Glenn (D-Ohio): "I served 23 years in the United States Marine
Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by
anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program.
It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a
nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to
the bank."

"I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day... to a veteran's
hospital and look those men - with their mangled bodies - in the eye, and
tell THEM they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at
NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus
Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell
them that their DADS didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day and
you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried
than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags.

You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that
those people didn't have a job? I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum; you
should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were
some men - SOME MEN - who held REAL jobs. And they required a dedication
to a purpose - and a love of country and a dedication to duty - that was
more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this
country possible. I HAVE held a job, Howard! What about you?"

For those who don't remember - During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an
attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA. Now he's a Senator!


If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English
thank a Veteran.

[BabyRider]

Jives...Can you tell I'm a TAD fed up with all the B.S. about how wrong the U.S. and G.W. are? Just couldn't take it anymore!!!

Thanks you Jives, and all the other vets (and teachers!) out there...

LC, this is for you, too!

[BabyRider]

Thank you for adding so eloquently to the message I was trying to send, Jives.

[lady cop]

Thankyou Babyrider for including me as a LEO, but i would like to note here that my Dad was one of Oppenheimer's people, in a major capacity,and went on to design reactor vessels for nuclear submarines, as well as many other notable accomplishments for which our government honored him....... and my Uncle, his brother, was instrumental in putting up those manned space flights. i am very proud of them on many levels. they WERE of the GREATEST GENERATION.

[BabyRider]

LC, IMHO, anyone who puts on a uniform to defend the people in this country deserves acknowledgement. And it comes far too seldom. I was reading another thread here, people griping about our troops, and I've had ENOUGH!

You should be proud of your family's accomplishments!

[valerie]

Thank you for bringing this up, BR, I think it's very important.

Some gave all, all gave some. (Billy Ray Cyrus)

I try to conduct my life day to day with thinking of our vetereans. I
owe them so much. My father, a Marine on Iwo Jima and in the Pacific
Theater.

And I wish people would THINK more about that greatest generation.

Just this morning, coming back from my walk, on a busy street here
in my city (2 lanes each way, left hand turns and side streets) I
saw a couple waiting to cross, and they were going to have a long wait.
I saw them from quite a ways away, I recognized the lady from her
red car coat she always wears. I have seen them over the years,
and then just her for awhile, and I thought she was widowed. Imagine
my delight when I saw her husband with her this morning. With a cane,
yes, but still doing his best to stand straight and tall with military
bearing. I couldn't take it any more, so I stepped out at a slight break
in traffic and started waving people down. When I got all the cars
stopped, I told them to come on across. They did, with smiles on their
faces. I said something about wishing the cars would stop for US...
it's the law, fer cryin' out loud. Then as they were almost across, I
sort of patted the man on the shoulder and told them both to have a
nice day. They thanked me, but I could tell they wanted to believe it
was just for me saying have a nice day, but they really meant for
stopping all the traffic. I wish to heck I could do it every damn day,
they both deserve it. Stupid commuters in too much of a hurry to
stop for people like that. People who probably the highlight of their
day is to take a short walk to the donut shop for a donut and coffee.

Whew. Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack, but it does get my goat.

[Peg]

My dad was in the Air Force, but growing up, he never mentioned it much. If he did, it was about the places he had been. I thought the military was very exotic. I wish when I were younger, I had understood what it is really all about. Working with veterans, a majority of WWII vets, it has given me a new appreciation of what our military goes through, has been through, and the lasting effects on some.

[greydeadhead]

My uncle was at every major conflict from Normandy on thru Berlin.. then went to Japan as part of the rebuilding force there. Another uncle was at Chosin in Korea, 3 cousins in Nam, 2 came back, myself.. 4 years floating, flying and sinking in the USN, authorized to wear 2+ rows on my chest.. my daugher enlisted in the ANG and leaves for boot camp 3 days after graduation... nuff said..

[A Karenina]

Originally Posted by Jives

A lot of kids these days say they are going into the military. When I ask them why, they respond:

"I want a college education"
" It would be cool to fire machine guns"
"I want the technical training so I can get a good job when I get out."

I always remind them that when you volunteer for military service....you are volunteering to give your life for your country. You always hope it won't come to that, and you try your best to make sure it doesn't, but if you are ordered to charge a machine gun nest, you HAVE to do it.

You must ask yourself first, "Do I love America, and all that we stand for, enough to give up the single most precious, irreplaceable thing in my possession for it.....my life?"

Wow! Well put! My son has been talking for almost 2 years about joining the military. We've talked about this endlessly...first, I asked him to wait, for lots of reasons. Lately, he's shown a maturity that does me proud.

This is precisely what I said to him. Would you die for this, John? Would you give your legs, your health, your mobility? You don't know what will be asked of you. Don't sign those papers unless you are ready to offer all of you.

So he waited, thought long and hard, and finally signed up. He'll be a field medic, for reasons of his own. He's leaving Labor Day weekend for boot camp. I feel really good about his decision because I know he's thought deeply about it, what it means, and what the consequences might be (as well as anyone could).

It was kind of funny...when he told me he was signing up a few months ago, I was pushing him in a way I rarely push. I wanted to know the motivation. He finally told me very softly, "Patriotism, Momma. I love my country." And that was that. I gave him a huge bear hug and told him how proud of him I am. I wouldn't offer up my son for anything...but since he has chosen to offer himself up and for the best reasons, I can live with it. And be proud.

Jives, I hope your message is heard by all the kids you come into contact with.

BR, love ya.

[A Karenina]

Originally Posted by Jives

(Jives wipes a tear from the corner of his eye)

Stop that...it's contagious...(wiping my own eyes).

He's a wonderful person, though I guess all parents say that.