TO THE SWAMP'S RESIDENT VETERAN THANK YOU SOLAR,
Courtesy of Carol
And from Ivy: "Pome for Solar" you'll just have to squirm a little today and sit still while we thank you...
I am the flag
I look down upon this land called America.
I have been here since this great nation was formed,
I have seen each battle fought
I have seen the heroes die for me, for my country.
Thank you all those of you
Who have kept me flying in the breeze
Keeping this country united as one.
Thank you those of you who have sacrificed your lives,
Giving up all that I may still fly,
Watching over the citizens of this nation.
Thank you all those of you who have ever fought,
I am ever grateful for you.
You risked everything; you faced death each day,
Faced fear, faced many terrible things.
And because of you, my thank you's ring out,
Filling the sky, echoing from the hills
They find their way to the graveyards.
And to all of you still living,
You are a special kind of person.
To anyone who has ever served this country,
And to those serving today,
Thank you.
As I watch life from atop my flagpole,
As I think of all you've done,
My feelings become too powerful for words,
And all I can say is Thank You.
-by Jamie Burns
Today, the nation celebrates Veterans Day. A federal and state holiday set aside to honor military veterans. Historically, it celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, when major hostilities were formally ending at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 with the Germans signing of the Armistice.
President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. Seven years later, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution requesting that the President issue another proclamation to observe November 11 as the official designation. In 1938, November 11 was made the official legal holiday, a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'.
It was not until 1953, when an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner, Al King, began his campaign to extend the celebration to all veterans, not just those who served in World War I resulted in the present day observance of Veterans Day. With the help of a U. S. Representative from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was presented to Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 25, 1954.
The act was amended by Congress on November 8, 1954, replacing Armistice with Veterans, and since 1954 it has been known as Veterans Day. Briefly as a result of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, in 1971 Veterans Day was moved to the 4th Monday of October, but in 1978, it was moved back to the original celebration on November 11 (with the exception of if it occurs on a Sunday, then the following Monday is designated the holiday & if it occurs Saturday then either Saturday or Friday may be so designated).
For me, the most striking reminder of the meaning of Veterans Day, is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall) in Washington, D.C.
For each, this day may hold a personal remembrance - a father, mother, sister, brother, family member, friend who may have served in the military. No matter who that may be for each of us, I hope that we all pause to remember, regardless of one's politics or beliefs, to remember those individuals who bravely served all of us, and to remember those that continue to serve, as they all deserve our utmost respect and honor.
105 comments:
Thanks Coreen and Amen to what you said!
Thanks to you Carol for providing us with this
forum. I sometimes find that expressing anything remotely akin to patriotism elsewhere,
on the internet in particular, is considered unacceptable, but I felt that those who congregate here would not feel that way & was
comfortable stating my sentiments.
Ida is history. Tropical storms always leave the most spectacular "morning after weather" in their wake.
I love patriotism Coreen even though I don't like war. I have a lot of respect for those brave men and women who put their lives on the line for the rest of us.
I got my flag out flying today. Love to fly that flag.
I feel sad and ashamed for what our Vietnam vets had to go through when they came home. I see a significant number in jail due to crimes they have committed as a result of the mental illness that often is the result of the war experience. Many are from the Vietnam era and a few now from the Iraq war.
I always thank them and tell them how proud I am of their service.
Did you ever wonder, like me, where did the tradition of red poppies as the Veterans Day symbol originate?
"On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the First World War ended. Civilians wanted to remember the people who had given their lives for peace and freedom. An American War Secretary, Moina Michael, inspired by John McCrae's poem, began selling poppies to friends to raise money for the ex-Service community. And so the tradition began. The first official Legion Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11 November 1921, inspired by the poem In Flanders' Fields written by John McCrae."
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.
Yes Ivy, those storms can leave some spectacular weather the day after. It's not that spectacular if you have flooding, rivers rising or wind damage. Hope those folkes down south are not having too many problems.
Thanks for sharing that poem with us Ivy. I'd never heard it before.
Ivy,
I was hoping you would offer a poem to commemorate this day. Thanks for sharing.
Carol,
I put my flag out as well. It is windy & no
one can really see it from the road, but I
know it is flying proudly.
Good Morning! And thanks Coreen for the post today. This is from USA today, and I think it says somewhat what Carol talks about in her comment.
"Maybe you've been to a sporting event where the announcer tells the crowd that veterans are present – and everyone rises to give them a standing ovation. Maybe you've heard someone quietly tell a vet, "thanks for your service," or done that yourself.
Americans might disagree strongly about whether the nation should be at war in Afghanistan or Iraq, but in a welcome departure from the hostility that greeted too many returning Vietnam vets in the 1960s and 1970s, it's routine today to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served – and not just on Veterans Day, but year-round. So in that one sense at least, times have changed for the better, and the change could not be more timely." Veterans Day
Solar, Hope you have a great day today, and take the time to treat yourself well.
You're welcome, Coreen. Thanks for creating a memorable thread for us to post our Veterans Day tributes.
When I encounter a serviceman, I say, "Thank you for protecting us."
I was watching the flag out blowing in the wind and this song just called to me.
Blowing in the Wind
Nice that you have the day off today Carol. I noticed that the National Veterans Day Ceremony will be at 11 AM today.
National Veterans Day Ceremony
"A patriotic ceremony honoring America’s military members and Veterans is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery. A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns, followed by a ceremony in the Memorial Amphitheater, adjacent to the Tomb. The event will commence with a prelude concert by the United States Air Force Concert Band & Singing Sergeants at 10:30 a.m., inside the amphitheater." Veterans Day Ceremony
Solar,
As Chloe said so well,
"Solar, Hope you have a great day today, and take the time to treat yourself well."
Many thanks to you & your comrades for going
that extra mile for all of us.
See you all a little later today. Thanks.
Before I leave, just a note about the photo
of the tattered flag. It flys at Lordship, CT & as a result of the wind off Long Island Sound becomes tattered. The locals do replace it at regular intervals.
And if you look at the center of the pic, you can see New York(Long Island) at the horizon.
Yes we should remember this day; and honor those that gave their lives for us.
I don't have or will have the tv. on all day: Instead I have npr in the background when im in my office. I watch very little cable news now; and won't watch any at all today.
I feel that it will be like selling tickets to a sports event. Instead I get, and receive phone calls from other people that served in the military...
All; or almost all of them are very brief..just a greeting, and thats it. Except for my child hood friend.( and other childhood friends) John and I enlisted in the Marine Corps on the buddy system..and see each other at least once a month, and out other buddies (10 of them) that also enlisted in the Marines, and the other branches of the Military. Great fun..for us all....b/c we all grew up together,,and know each other so well and so comfortable with each other..
Chloe, thanks I will treat my self today, just as soon as I Finnish my exercises, going to eat a big stack of Blue Berry pancakes, with honey instead of syrup...
Coreen,
Thanks you for this post, and thank you all for the wishes...
A little while ago I heard this tap tap, roll, tap tap, roll sounding over and over. It sounded like drums playing in the distance for a slow march, like a military march.
I had some other noise going on so I turned that down to listen to where the sound was coming from. It was coming from the water dripping from my shower head. I hadn't turned it off tight enough. I had never heard a water drip that sounded like that before. It was really weird.
Solar, thanks again for your service and to all who served. We just don't say it enough but we are proud.
Thanks Honey, I will tell you something...most vets take the thanks for all of the others not themselves...Me it makes me uncomfortable, a little.!
Well get over it Solar. We love you!
I hope that you don't mind me putting this up for Sea. (kathleen) from TM. I think that this is the right day to get this more viability so it can get done.
http://94campaign.blogspot.com/
Carol,
Can you redo that link. I still haven't taken the time to do a hyper link...thanks
Yes I can Solar:
Liberator Campaign
Beautiful day and my flag is really whipping out there in the wind. I will have to check the little screws that keep it on the pole. Wouldn't want to come home to find it's moved to the next Parish.
Off to do some early week grocery shopping. Maybe I'll look into some healthier food choices. Yuk. I do include them in my diet even though I really like some of the less healthy choices also.
Pome for Solar (you'll just have to squirm a little today and sit still while we thank you...) (^_~)
I am the flag
I look down upon this land called America.
I have been here since this great nation was formed,
I have seen each battle fought
I have seen the heroes die for me, for my country.
Thank you all those of you
Who have kept me flying in the breeze
Keeping this country united as one.
Thank you those of you who have sacrificed your lives,
Giving up all that I may still fly,
Watching over the citizens of this nation.
Thank you all those of you who have ever fought,
I am ever grateful for you.
You risked everything; you faced death each day,
Faced fear, faced many terrible things.
And because of you, my thank you's ring out,
Filling the sky, echoing from the hills
They find their way to the graveyards.
And to all of you still living,
You are a special kind of person.
To anyone who has ever served this country,
And to those serving today,
Thank you.
As I watch life from atop my flagpole,
As I think of all you've done,
My feelings become too powerful for words,
And all I can say is Thank You.
~ by Jamie Burns
My 7:46 post should have read: I make, and receive phone calls.
Dang.! Ivy, thanks, I could not sit, so I stood; and still squirmed thru it all.
I posted this at TM. I was talking about a cpl of friends that did not make it back:
I just remembered a kid named Jack...for a joke when we played football,,I sometimes used to call for him to go up the middle...and I would tell everybody not to block. This wasn't a regular game, but practice, or a pick-up game that we used to have, all of the time. Jack would get creamed..and come after me...but he played real good for the rest of the game...he was pissed and wanted to change sides...he got even a few times....I do remember him well.
There is another guy; that was named Jamie....whenever we would be short a guy; for a game; we would knock on his door; his Mom used to tell me to get lost (she was not too fond of me) anyway, we would ask him too play....if we got a no from his Mom,,,we would wait and kidnap him..most times when he was sent for milk or something from the nearby little neighborhood store....he was always late getting that milk home...his Mom blamed me....
.I used to tell her " hey Im innocent over here I tell You" that last part was just made up for Bethy...just to show her that it all started out at a young age.. that is people always blaming me for one thing or another.:-)) That's how I remember them...most times.
To the Swamp's resident veteran:
Pic for Solar
Carol,
It's like I was sitting right there at the swamp with you..maybe one day???
thanks again.!
Carol,
If you want to email me Solar's pic,
I would gladly add it to the top of the post,
for all to see immediately.
Coreen,
You Gals are too much...have a little tear, that just dropped onto the treadmill...oops sorry that was sweat..but that's the way U all are making me feel..thanks
Solar,
Pretty sure that it is unanimous, we all think
the world of you...
Well, I think I sent it Coreen. I tried from photobucket but after typing in that dumb capta 200 times, I gave up. I just copied the pic and sent it in an email.
Coreen, throw in that flag pome Ivy found also.
Carol,
That pic made me feel so good that I put it on my screen..it will rotate with other favorites now.
I think I got it....
For a minute I thought I was in the twilight zone! Everything disappeared.
You were....with me trying to re-set the post.
I still cannot get the spacing correct.
Good, We're back on the same thread again.
Coreen, those spaces are probably just lines where you've hit 'enter' a few times at the end of the last sentence.
The picture's overlapping aren't your fault either. I think the program messed up on them.
That flag picture is really nice Carol. How'd you get that over writing on it for Solar?
Chloe, the pictures on mine are not overlapping, the spacing on the edit showed
properly, & on the preview, but then
it spread out, but I am not going back....
You can do it with photobucket. That's the first time I tried anything like that.
It's great Coreen.
Coreen, You just go into the area that have too many spaces and hit your delete but in there, slowly, until it's where you want it. Each time you hit delete, it will remove a space.
This site does mess up pictures sometimes. Sometimes, when you fix the spacing, it will change the pictures, but I wouldn't worry about it.
that's delete 'button'
Carols right Coreen. It's great like it is.
I put my flag out on the wharf and the wind had it standing out pretty. I wanted our swamp in the background.
I was over on photobucket for a few minutes myself today Carol to quickly upload those Halloween pictures. While I was there, I noticed how many different things you can do there, and when I get a chance am going to go back and play around with it.
I love what you did with that overlay. It would probably be a good way to personalize Christmas Cards with a favorite picture.
Maybe I can make my own, after I get Emma's Christmas picture, and do the editing on photobucket, then either email them or make printed copies to mail the regular way.
I love what you've done with your photobucket. And I love experimenting on the computer. I used to spend hours doing just that, and I'm hoping I'll get the time again to try out a few new things.
It would have been better if I could have had a pic of Solar in his jammies with the flag but maybe next year.
Yes, that was a perfect shop, with 'our' swamp as the background.
I have that exact stand you have, but mine has an umbrella on it. I think I got it at Sam's Club (it's 'really' heavy). I thought it was pretty ingenious of you to get one for your flag.
Yeah, Solar. Where's that pic???
Promises, promises!
That's; go head and tease me now.! you just set me up for that..all that mushy stuff.....well i don't wear any jammies HA!
Solar, How were those blueberry pancakes?
That's= that's it
You hear that Carol?
He won't wear any jammies.
Now this is getting very interesting....
Chlo,
Good as any restaurant, and better. I also took some frozen strawberries,and pineapple bits, and put them on top...worked it all off with a little more exercise.
If someone wants to exercise a little longer than usual...drink about 12 oz's of very cold water...this will cool you down even before starting to work out; and give you about 20 minutes more of endurance for working out..then a gulp now and again during the work-out for keeping things limber on the inside....
With no jammies, that may limit where we can post his pic. That could also get me on the other side of my bars.
Chloe, that is my umbrella stand. I have a flag holder attached to the camp. I used that stand to hold the flag so I could take the pic of it against the background of the river.
Go ahead; and play around with that notion; and then I will tell you all what I do wear.
That cold water also burns up more calories Solar. So you get even more from your exercise routine.
Those strawberries and pineapple actually made those pancakes a very healthy meal. Low fat too. Hungry Jack has a new multigrain pancake mix, that you just add water to, that is 'very' good, btw. My favorite syrup is dark corn syrup. Probably the worst in the world for you, for all I know, but I LOVE it so much(and I don't eat them that often).
Try Honey on them...not im not telling you honey, im saying to try honey on your pancakes is all, ok hone....., is what to try on them
I was laughing so much, that I couldn't do it right...try the damn honey......
".try the damn honey......"
I'm not putting no damn honey on my pancakes. I like corn syrup. So there!
I'll put honey on my biscuits though. Does that make you feel better?
Mule.!!
Guys,
Thanks for the pre-exercise cold water tips. I didn't know that. I'll give it a try, now that I've got my elliptical up and running again. Strapping my laptop on the machine gives me more incentive to stay on it longer. It may not be the most intense workout, but has to be an improvement over sitting on my keester. I read a while ago about a study that showed "fidgety" people burn more calories and weigh less. The idea supposedly was to keep moving. There was some guy who outfitted his workstation, including the computer, with a treadmill.
It was a joy to re-open today's thread and see the updates and new picture. Today's thread is a beautiful tribute to the veterans in whose honor we mark this day.
Ivy,
The thing about strapping up you're laptop, is it bouncing around...my do some damage no?
Local honey is supposed to help boost immunity to pollens and outdoor allergens. I keep some on hand.
For syrup, my fave is the real maple stuff.
Ivy,
That's why long distance runners, go for that cold bottle of water at the table..they are not thirsty, as much as they drink it to cool their internals
I alway's laugh when they throw it on themselves...but i did it too..
Solar,
I don't think so. The elliptical is quite stable. The treadmill bounces more because you're pounding it. This laptop is the "baby" one I take on trips, so it's more used to jostling. I put cushioning around it so it won't slip.
Coreen,
Did you see on the news this year's National Christmas Tree is from Easton, CT? How cool for your town!
Ivy,
Don't tell that to ...U know who. The Roman soldiers used it to heal, and stay fit.. they marched homes to their honey too....sorry couldn't help it.
Solar,
Who know who?
Now I can't find confirmation of the Christmas tree-Connecticut connection...I hope I heard that right...I was shushing Hubs so I could hear the story. It was on NBC Nightly News.
Ivy,
Shhh Chloe, she needs some honey to sweeten her up a little..she told me that she wasn't going to use no "damn honey" when she gets like that; no telling what she will do...so you didn't hear anything from me...later
Ivy,
I have another little exercise trick for you: Sometimes when Im feeling like im a little sluggish..I take a 10 min. nap just before....no more, and not less; you will feel refreshes, any more and will be sluggish.
I was going to tell this to Tony; but forgot.
Ivy,
You heard it right... the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is on its way from Easton, CT
today.
Believe it or not, there was no news about it
locally, until after the fact.
I first heard it while I was driving this noon
time on NY radio
First Look!!Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from Easton, CT
Trying again, the link did not take.
First Look!! Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
from Easton, CT
Coreen,
That tree is beautiful. What a shame to cut down a 60 yr old tree though. Although she did say it was an honor to give it up. Did they pay her for it?
"when she gets like that; no telling what she will do."
LOL Solar. You best remember that too!
Guys,
I just read further there's a bit of a sad story that goes with the Christmas tree. The lady who donated it had purchased her property last year because it was ideal for her horse. In the meantime, since her tree offer was accepted, her horse has had to be put down.
The rest of the Connecticut Christmas tree story
Coreen,
Nice tree.! Did you see to the right. a pic of Spitzer; the x- gov. is going to give a lecture on ethics...funny no?
I was thinking the same thing Chloe, how much money did she get for it. It would have to be a pretty penny, a really pretty penny, for me to give up that tree.
Solar,
I know'd I need a nap after exercising, but I never thought of taking one before! Great suggestion...
Chloe,
Thanks for the e-mail about the hyperlink. I have been lazy about it, and will do it soon. I do try it here where im posting now? or do i go somewhere else..I think that's all I will need to know for now; sorry about the honey. U-sweet.!!
No, no, the tree is donated to Rockefeller Center, no one gets paid for it. Shelton, CT
sent one a couple of years ago as well.
By the way, the National Christmas tree in DC
has always been decorated by GE. GE's corporate headquarters is down the hill from my
house about 4 miles. There is a big, live tree
at the GE entrance that they decorate each year
in exactly the same decorations as the one they do for DC.
I am hoping to get a photo of the GE
tree for you, they are already putting up the
netting that covers the tree for the decorations, they usually light it just after
Thanksgiving.
You can type it right in this comment box, and test it right here by previewing.
Or you can type it on wordpad like you've been doing with the posts you don't want to lose, then copy and paste it here in the comments, then hit preview.
Or, You can just continue giving us the address the way you have been Solar. It works fine for us too. All we have to do is copy and paste it into our address bar.
Carol & Coreen, How thoughtful of you both to post the pics of the flags and honor our service people and all those who have served and sacrificed in order to protect all of us.
Solar, a special thanks to you for your service to us and our country.
Solar, did you enjoy your blueberry pancakes? That is my favorite breakfast .
Ivy, a perfect pome for today by Jamie Burns.
Coreen, How exciting that the Christmas tree is from your town. I read the link about the tree. It said the tree was growing over the woman's septic tank. I wonder if that is why it grew so big.
Solar, enjoyed your story of you and your friends growing up, especially the story about you and Jamie.
Jan, yes I did. Glad that you liked the story of my buddies..I don't usually talk about them, but needed to over at TM; and decided to bring them over.
Good evening Jan. How was your day or did you get the day off?
Hi Carol, I worked today. The School children were off and city offices but not the Univ of NM. I am pretty pooped and think I am getting another cold. This is the worst year for illness that I have seen in a long time. Of course, I see little kids and moms with little kids.
I apologize for missing you guys. I am working on the baby quilt and get really into it. I will keep up with your comments and come in and out.
Ivy, that is such a sad story about the woman who donated the tree.
Good night
I see there is someone from Broken Arrow OK who is checking in here. Hello Broken Arrow - I am from OK too.
Hey Chloe, is that you in Houston - the map says someone in Houston is on here. If it is you - "hi there"
I guess I lied about the "good night"
Carol, did you have a good day off. Sounds like you did some grocery shopping today.
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