Posted on 11/11/2003 3:31:06 AM PST by snippy_about_it
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.
What does Veteran's Day Means to me? I ponder this question and realize it has everything to do with me. Veteran's Day is not a day to depress me. I know I will sit through solemn speeches about our country. It is a day where I should get out and thank the brave warriors who fought and gave our country the freedom we have today.
"Give me liberty or give me death!" These courageous words were spoken by Patrick Henry; one of the thousands of fighters and leaders that went off to battle. Men throughout our country were taken from their peaceful homes to go into war and fight for what is right. Young men bid farewell to their families and departed not knowing what would happen to them when they went out into the great, harsh, cold, and dreadful unknown. These brave warriors trained for the hard labors they would have to face. Then they went off to battle. Some wars lasted only a few months. Other wars dragged on for years. Men had little or no food. The weather was often extreme (cold or hot), and some of these soldiers died from starvation or diseases that spread quickly among the troops. Many of the warriors were extremely tired because they stayed up all night watching for invaders or intruders. A day in a war was extremely busy. There were weapons to make, clothes to replace, enemies to fight, and people to bury. The conclusion of the war brought tears. People mourned over their losses, in sorrow and despair. A few of the lucky soldiers were able to return to their homes and families. They were, however, forced to live with the chilling effects of the war. Most of the warriors gave up their life to battle, and died with honor for their countries.
There have been many wars over the centuries and many young men and women who have risked their lives for what they believed was right. There were people who felt real pain, who knew what it was like to starve, or who went to bed with the sound of helicopters and gun shots overhead. These warriors lived every second of the remainder of their lives in fear. These people should not be considered just soldiers or warriors; they should be considered as war heroes to our nation and country.
So what does Veteran's Day mean to me? I reconsider this question and think about the hardships these men had to go through and face. I realize I should be able to go listen and understand long speeches and be grateful and glad for I get the easy way out. Look how America is today. See how independent and free we are. We have the ability to make our own choices and decisions in life. Without our heroes we would not be where we are in life today. So everyone in this nation should stop and think on one of the most important holidays we have in America... Veteran's Day!
We love our FREEDOM here you see
and we hate it when others are kept in darkness
left starving and wanting because of evil greed!
We VETS took a stand
to LET FREEDOM RING
through the lands
we did our duty to keep
American FREE.
THANK YOU VETS!
bentfeather
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. He is blind so he has a golden retriever named Daisy. After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew that he was doomed, so he let Daisy go, out of an act of love. She darted away into the darkened hallway. Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke James was just waiting to die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy comes back along with James' boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112.
On her first run of the building, she leads James, James' boss, and about 300 more people out of the doomed building. But she wasn't through yet, she knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James' wishes she ran back in the building.
On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapses. James hears about this and falls on his knees into tears. Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive, but this time she is carried by a firefighter. "She led us right to the people, before she got injured" the fireman explained.
Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives. The next week, Mayor Giuliani rewards Daisy with the Canine medal of Honor of New York. Daisy is the first civilian Canine to win such an honor.
Editor's Note: This is a great story which is circulating on the Internet. However, it can't be corroborated with any news accounts. According to rumormill.com, Guide Dogs for the Blind website has an account of a man who was helped from the 78th floor by his guide dog, but the dog did not go back into the World Trade Center to rescue others. I suspect CBS (sarcasm), but enjoyed the story anyway -- as a belated honor to the dogs who have been true heroes -- in Vietnam, at the World Trade Center, and on many of our streets in the service of their police handlers. That's where is Lassie when you need her.
Thanks for the kind words. And a big thanks to Msdrby. She just scanned this picture of my kid sister. My sister was all of 20 at the time she served with the 101st Airborne in Saudi and Kuwait during Desert Storm
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