Veterans' Day

[Birdbomb]

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae

 

[RobinN]

That last photo is beautiful. Do you have someone dear to you, in the service, present or past?

 

[Birdbomb]

My father and my husband and several uncles.

Daddy was in the Cavalry in WW. He served under Gen Patton, he walked sentry at the White House and the Tomb of the Unknown. His horse was stable with Eleanor Roosevelt's and he used to see her ride every Saturday. He was also a Drill Sgt. Right after he hit the beaches on D-Day he was captured and spent several months as a POW housed on an old barn.

Daddy wrote his memoirs a few years before he died and I found them cleaning out their estate. He had an extraordinary military career! I should scan them and make them available.

My husband served 20 yrs in the USAF. He was in the Viet Nam war and saw rocket attacks daily. Then he was sent to Tripoly, N. Africa and served in the 7 Day war there too. We lived in Okinawa for 2 years and retired here at Nellis in Las Vegas.

 

[RobinN]

Please tell your husband thank you.

We have the General Patton's father (the first mayor of Pasadena) tombstone at the church cemetary behind our house, and I believe George was baptized at the church. It gets a bit confusing as they both had the same name.
http://www.churchofoursaviour.org/ql-aboutus.html

 

[brain]

USS Darby DE 218 - Last of the Naval Boiler Steam Ships

My father's ship, the last of the US Navy
Boiler Ships, finally decommissioned, was
going to be used as a Public Museum, but
the US Government scrapped the idea.
This Photo was taken in CUBA

USS Darby DE (Destroyer Escort) 218

Dear Dad,
I love you and I miss you dearly,
I know Agent Orange took your life
prematurely. You were a proud Veteran
and served the country with a heart of
Gold. And even within stepped aside to
serve in the Veterans Hospital as a
Pharmacist. I thank you for everything
you've taught me and then some ...
I love you Dad!
Sharon

TO ALL OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
PAST AND PRESENT ...
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!