POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

Veteran’s Day 2010: Thanks

To all those who served, or are serving now, a grateful nation sets aside a day to say thanks.

Each successive generation stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before them.  They who have since quit the field are grateful and proud that another generation has stepped forward to answer their country's call.  This sentiment is captured nicely in this cartoon from 2004.

Instead of palavering on and accidentally making this about me, when it is about the continuum of us, I'll quote a far more eloquent scribe; from Cap'n Lex:

Military service is hard, even in peace time. People are asked to surrender a portion of their freedoms to better ensure the freedoms of the rest of us. Discipline is enforced; great exertions are called for, there are separations and privations. They are taught to run towards the sound of the guns, to stand in the hatch and fight the fire, to shove the throttles up and fly into the maelstrom. In short, they are conditioned to willingly go towards things from which every rational fiber screams to flee. They are taught, and most of them eventually come to believe, that there is something more important than themselves. That some things really might worth dying for, whether those be noble principles, those they left at home, or those on their left and right.

In this land we are graced with a vibrant political culture, but it was Washington’s guns and musketeers who gave it to us. We enjoy the remote fastness of our island home, but it was Decatur, Farragut and Porter who scoured the seas to defend our ocean ramparts. We have human freedom and increasing dignity here at home, but not before three million boys in blue and butternut contended the terms of that freedom. We have liberal democracies here and abroad, but not before millions more marched forth asking for nothing more than a patch of earth to be buried in, should it come to that.

Well said indeed sir...As is this moving personal observation from McQ at Blackfive.

So from this use-ta-bee to all the others, and all who currently are, you have my my heartfelt thanks.

And at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month take a moment and pray for all of the real heroes that gave all their tomorrows so that we could enjoy them today.

Rocketman