Salute to Veterans

“Stand Tall
==========
patriotism
plant the flag
symbolism
body bags

men crying
buildings down
people dying
all around

more tanks
body parts
enemy flanks
brave hearts

eternal days
forever nights
atheists pray
by exploding lights

lovers long
don't ask why
right or wrong
fight or die

white flags
peace accords
wheelchairs
hospital wards

young and brave
innocence
fall parades
monuments

green grass
headstones
tidy rows
finally home

freedom lives
duty called
sacred honor
gave it all

freedom fighters
heroes, all
be proud
stand tall

-------
(c)Fritz Barnes, 1999”

“Veterans deserve our respect and gratitude that they were willing to put themselves in harm's way and fight for our country.”

“Ditto! Thanks vets!”

“To My Dad; WWII combat vet. in Europe and a dentist in a MASH unit in Korea. Thanks Dad!”

“To Grandpa- Royal Canadian Mounted Rifles- Captured in Ypres (WW I) ...we remember!”

“For my brother, Born 10 MAR 49, KIA RSVN 15 JUN 68. He instilled in me a love for the outdoors. Gone, but certainly not forgotten.”

“Thank you vets everywhere! All gave some, and some gave all. Happy Veteran?s Day!

Does anyone know of any organizations that handle care packages to the troops over seas? I tried the Red Cross and the USO but neither one do it.”

“I have been told that the military has suspended all such programs due to security.”

“I never thought of that. Thanks.”

“Sucks bad don't it?”

“Amen to that. Anybody gonna make a donation to Amvets this year?”

“Already have Markar. And to the Vietnam Veteran's Crisis Support Center.”

“To Dad, Uncle Gary & Uncle Tom (Vietnam) Both Grandpa's and Great Uncles's: Joe, Ed, Butch, John, George, and Marty (kia - Guadalcanal)

and...

all the vets that served, and are serving our contry today.”

“The young Marine came back from the war, with his toughest fight ahead of him. Merlin German waged that battle in the quiet of a Texas hospital, far from the dusty road in Iraq where a bomb exploded, leaving him with burns over 97 percent of his body.

No one expected him to survive.

But for more than three years, he would not surrender. He endured more than 100 surgeries and procedures. He learned to live with pain, to stare at a stranger's face in the mirror. He learned to smile again, to joke, to make others laugh.

He became known as the "Miracle Man."

But just when it seemed he would defy impossible odds, Sgt. Merlin German lost his last battle this spring — an unexpected final chapter in a story many imagined would have a happy ending.

"I think all of us had believed in some way, shape or form that he was invincible," says Lt. Col. Evan Renz, who was German's surgeon and his friend. "He had beaten so many other operations. ... It just reminded us, he, too, was human."

___

It was near Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 21, 2005, that the roadside bomb detonated near German's Humvee, hurling him out of the turret and engulfing him in flames.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080525/ap_on_re_us/memorial_day__miracle__marine”

“An American Hero”

“A crisp salute to Merlin German, SSG Paul Johnson, Matt Weber, and all those who so freely gave their lives in the service of others. Thank you all and may you rest in peace.”

“Semper Fidelis my brother!!!”

“...so sad.....*tears*
:(”

“Here we go....

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/veterans.health.insurance/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.”

“I'd like to see how this plays out...”

“Oh it might be DOA in the Senate ( I think they have already said that) but to me even the THOUGHT of doing this is reprehensible.”

“That's not what I'm saying. All too often dramatic stories are created by one party or another that appear very controversial at first glance. After a day or so, when things sift out, the original story appears not be the case at all. It may be different this time...or not.

There are some on trail talk (not to mention any names) who post these stories to gain some sort of edge in there ongoing partisan war with evil as they see it, not giving a damn one way or the other about Veterans or the military. They are merely party hacks and political opportunists, part of the problem and not the solution.”

“Sorry but I guess I kinda think it is news when the President (that would be the Commander in Chief) even makes a comment to this effect.

Now some may see me as "counter-revolutionary but things like this really bother me.”

“I think of you more as "counter-evolutionary". You're not a big, bad rebel, just a hack.”

“To even let something like this get a glimmer of the light of day and not issue a stinging denial at first glance just shows how much of a neophyte this guy is.”

“ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ”

“some of us veterans already do.”

“LOL..still snoozing there nimble?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.


"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it." ”

“That kind of starts my day off angry.”

“I am sure he "means well"...Sass I am ticked too..but hey its not a surprise.”

“Nope, and that is exactly why I voted for McCain. I knew Obama, never having anyone in his family or himself having served, would not do a good job of taking care of all my guys who have served and are serving right now.
That is solely what I based my vote upon.

And you all can just keep your "Obama cares, he's bringing them home" bull#&%!$ to yourself. It's wishful thinking. (no, I'm not bitter at all)”

“LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw”

“There was an Iraqi Vet, leader of a Veterans group on MSNBC last night. I really couldn't believe it when I heard it. It's completely politically stupid on the one hand and a total insult to Veterans on the other. I really expected better...”

“WAIT..>nimble..."You expected better."????WTF


PLEASE OH PLEASE tell me ONE thing in this guy's past that would have led you to that?

well its gone

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/18/obama-drops-controversial-health-care-plan-wounded-veterans/

(for now) but I wonder if he starts using some of those political ploys how long it would take? I mean with the lap dog liberals in the Congress.....”