I wanted to provide a list of the Medal of Honor recipients from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars so that you have one place in which to read their story. These are just brief descriptions, but give you an idea for future research into these American heroes:
* Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Navy. Led a four-member team against between 30 and 40 Taliban fighters in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan. When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his injured colleagues. Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. His actions deprived him of cover and exposed him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his headquarters, Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. He continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded.
* Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Marine Corps. While attempting to search vehicles for weapons near the town of Karabilah, Iraq, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Dunham. In the ensuing struggle, he saw the insurgent release a grenade. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Without hesitation, Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his colleagues from the blast.
* Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, Army. Manned a machine gun as an insurgent dropped a grenade into his vehicle in northeast Baghdad. Reacting quickly, he yelled grenade. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety, McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.
* Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, Navy. While providing protection from a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq, an insurgent threw a grenade that hit Monsoor in the chest. He threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of two teammates.
* Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Army. He was helping to build a holding area for prisoners of war near the Baghdad airport when his unit was attacked by a company-sized enemy force. As the fight developed, Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and he organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers.
* Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti, Army. He was shot as he attempted for a third time to rescue a wounded comrade while conducting combat operations in the mountains near Gowardesh, Afghanistan. The actions took place as he ordered firepower that broke the enemy attacks and killed 22 enemy fighters. President Barack Obama will present the award on Sept. 17 at a White House ceremony.
Weeks after the death of a mentally unstable pop star, the press is still pawing over Michael Jackson. They missed the boat on 1LT Brian Bradshaw and they missed the boat on Daryl “Shifty” Powers. Who is Shifty? He was a WWII hero portrayed by Peter Youngblood Hill in the HBO series “Band of Brothers.”
The following eulogy was written by Jim Radel.
It is 11 March 2006, 11:35pm somewhere on Interstate 81 just south of the Pennsylvania border. It is raining and everyone in the vehicle is asleep, except for me of course. I have been up for the past 40 hours, with the exception of a one-hour nap at the gas station waiting for the Burger King next door to open, yet I am feeling pretty good and a sense of accomplishment has settled over me. Even the fact that I need to be back at work in less than 14 hours does not bother me. What would make a group of grown men and a small boy get in a van and drive 11 ½ hours each way without a break? It is the once in a life time chance to spend a few moments with an elderly man who also happens to be an American hero.
Let me explain, my name is Jim Radel and I am a WWII re-enactor. I participate in several big re-enactment events on the east coast, and go to local middle and elementary schools to give hands on living history programs about the life and equipment of the WWII soldier. I am also an avid service rifle shooter and competitor, which led me to combine my favorite hobbies and enter the John C Garand and Springfield Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio sporting my WWII military gear.
Since 2002, I have attended the Matches portraying a WWII paratrooper. After the 2002 Matches, I returned home and as soon as put my gear away I got a call from a friend who was an actual WWII paratrooper with the 101st airborne 506th E Company. The guys of the famed E Company were brought to the public’s attention recently by the mini-series Band of Brothers, written by Stephen Ambrose. The re-enacting group I belong to had worked with the 506th before, so I knew several of these heroes. My friend called to ask my re-enactment group to provide our biggest honor yet, a memorial jump in the Currahee Veterans Memorial Jump at Chambersburg, PA. We were also invited to the E Company’s 58th reunion and a flag presentation for Maj Richard Winters. At the reunion we provided an honor guard dressed in WWII uniforms complete with weapons and equipment. While attending the event, we got to talk to all the attending vets quite freely. Being a shooter as well as a re-enactor most of my conversations turned to weapons and different tactics. While at the reception we were dressed in full combat gear. Along with my gear, I had my CMP rifle with me and was doing my usual impression. That was when a soft-spoken gentleman approached and asked if he could see my rifle. When I turned around much to my surprise there stood Daryl “Shifty” Powers. Shifty was considered by the men of 506th to be the best shot with an M1 rifle in the entire E Company. I handed the rifle over to him, and watched this surprisingly quiet man from Virginia. If you didn’t know his past you would never guess this man jumped from airplanes to strike fear into the enemy in WWII. As Shifty handled my M1 he related some stories about his personal M1 rifle from the war. He remarked at how nice his rifle was and at the condition it was in. What he said next completely caught me off guard; he asked if he could buy my rifle! I told him as politely as I could that this rifle was not for sale. Though he asked again and stated that he had wanted one ever since he turned his in at the end of the war. I asked him if he could remember the serial number of his rifle, I thought he might since soldiers were required to memorize the serial number of their weapon and failure to do so often resulted in push-ups. He never batted an eye and gave me the last three digits. He then told me he had only bothered to memorize the last three digits because the chances of someone else having the same last digits were really slim. As soon as he told me the number I had an idea.
I told Shifty I thought I knew where I could locate a rifle as nice as mine for a reasonable price, so he agreed to let me find him one and not purchase anything until I contacted him. When I returned home I approached my local CMP club and laid out my plan. I wanted to present a CMP rifle to Shifty Powers as a gift from the Northumberland Point Township Sportsman’s Association. That’s when Denny Chapin, our club president, contacted CMP Chief Operating Officer, Orest Michaels, at CMP South and told him Shifty’s story. We hoped to find a rifle with the same last three digits as Shifty’s wartime rifle, and asked for CMP’s help. Orest thought for a moment and then asked how soon we needed the rifle. We told him we could wait for the right serial number, and that’s when he agreed to help us. I then contacted Boyd’s Stocks to see if they could supply a walnut stock set for this project. The people at Boyd’s were great! They thought that this was a very worthwhile project and were happy to be a part of it. I let them know what I had in mind for the stock and they set to work. Three weeks later a package arrived at my home with a beautiful carved and finished M-1 stock set. It had the 101st airborne patch, tab paratroop wings and 506th Currahee crest. It was just gorgeous, but I still did not have a rifle to put in it.
Months passed then Denny got a call from CMP, “we have your rifle.” He called me and we got the funds shipped out right away. The rifle arrived and I set to work cleaning and installing the new wood.
Shifty had only one requirement for his rifle, it MUST shoot as well as his old one did. A close inspection of the rifle revealed it was an original barrel receiver combination with a 42 dated barrel. After checking and gauging the bore and muzzle, I took the rifle out to the range. I started with 5 clips of M-2 ball and set out to zero the rifle. After 5 shots I had it in the black on an SR1 target, so the second clip was for group. It held the nine and ten rings at 100 yards so I felt it would be just right. Now it was time to call Shifty and tell him I found a rifle for him.
I called Shifty and asked him if he remembered the conversation we had at the reunion. He did, and he asked if I had found him a rifle. I let him know we did, though I did not tell him about the serial number because that was to be the big surprise. He asked if it shot ok, and I assured him that he would be pleased with it. Then he wanted to know how much it cost and I told him it would be a gift for the sacrifice he made for his country. Shifty did not want to accept something so valuable, though I told him he had little choice since the deal was done. I wanted to find a good time to present it to him and in talking with him on the phone I found out his birthday was in mid March; I knew that would make an unforgettable birthday present. I discussed it with Denny and we set the date.
The Friday before Shifty’s birthday I set out with my dad, Richard Radel, my son, James Radel Jr., Dennis Chapin, the club president, and my friend, John Gilligbauer, an NRA Instructor. We left right after work for the 11 ½ hour drive to Shifty’s home in the mountains of Virginia. Shifty greeted us with a warm smile when we arrived at his house around 8:30 a.m. We handed Shifty the plain brown box that CMP ships all its rifles in, the simple box did not to give a clue about the gem that was held inside. As he opened the box and pulled out the beautifully re-finished rifle Shifty gave a small gasp. “This was too much, I can’t believe how nice it looks!” he said. He looked at the stock; saw the carved jump wings, 101st screaming eagle and Currahee crest. He ran his fingers over the carvings and along the full length of the stock. I asked him to look at the serial number. Shifty just stared for a moment and then he started to shake his head. He simply could not believe we were able to track down his old serial number. Was it Shifty’s wartime rifle? We do not really know, but I would like to think that in the big scheme of things this was just one of those small things that worked out for the best.
After the presentation, we took Shifty’s rifle outside and with some ammo we just happened to have in our van, we put some rounds downrange. I had the opportunity to shoot with one of the best rifleman of WWII, and as an added bonus Shifty spent time that day helping my young son with his shooting. It was a moment I will always treasure. After a much too short visit we had to leave and begin our long journey home. As we gathered our things to leave, Shifty was still shocked that a bunch of Yankees from Pennsylvania would go so far out of their way for a southerner like him. But for us, Shifty Powers is so much more. We said our goodbyes and started the long trek home, which brings me back to the beginning of my story. It’s dark, raining and I’m exhausted though right now I feel great!
The Story below hit the wire today. This is a long time coming, in fact it is about 37 years too late. I could never understand how CSMs could be commandants of NCO academies on military posts world-wide but we had an officer in charge of the Sergeant Major Academy. I don’t know if oxy-moron or conflict of interest are the right descriptions, but either way it was just wrong. I am glad to see it has been corrected.
FORT BLISS, Texas — The next commandant of the Sergeants Major Academy here will be an enlisted Soldier, breaking a 37-year tradition.
Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Chandler is scheduled to take charge of the academy today. The school provides the Army’s highest level of education for noncommissioned officers.
It had been commanded by an officer since it was created in 1972, but Chandler’s appointment changes that.
"Having a command sergeant major in charge of the academy is just indicative of how much trust and faith we put in our noncommissioned officers," said Col. Donald Gentry, who commanded the academy for the past two years. "It also is indicative of how far noncommissioned officers have progressed in their education."
Gentry, described officers as "architects" who make the plans, and noncommissioned officers as "engineers" who get things done.
The change in command structure will be accompanied by a retooling of the school’s curriculum to provide enlisted leaders with a strategic understanding of battlefields, something that had been reserved for officers.
"As the complexity of this persistent conflict we’re in continues to grow, we as senior noncommissioned officers have to understand the bigger picture," Chandler said.
Urban battlefields faced by Soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world demand that leaders of squads and other small units be able to make quick decisions. The consequences of a bad decision can easily be recorded on a cell
phone and broadcast to the world, creating a propaganda opportunity for the nation’s enemies, Gentry said.
"It’s the complexity and speed of things," he said. "There’s no time to report, have a decision made somewhere else and then have that decision travel back down."
In the past, academy students, each with a decade or two of Army service, would gather to share their experiences. They were looking for problem-solving ideas not found in field manuals. In the future, the studies will be more academic with courses similar to those offered to Army officers, Gentry said.
Within three or four years, Gentry said, the academy should be providing master’s degrees.
"Not only will our graduates be able to speak the same language as their officers, they will be able to translate strategic and operational goals down to the Soldier," Gentry said.
In 1981, as the all-volunteer Army was establishing itself, the average educational level for a noncommissioned officers was eighth grade, Chandler said. Now, 94 percent of those who graduate from the Sergeants Major Academy have some type of college degree and more than 50 percent of those are bachelor’s or master’s degrees, he said.
"It indicates a willingness and understanding of how to learn," Gentry said. "Those are the traits that have made them the backbone of the Army."
Saturday was really the ONLY day of the Milblog conference, but Troy and I got in early to be able to attend some of the events and spread our message of You Served domination. So, when I say “Day 2” it’s really Day 1 – the only day. Since I already did a Day 1 post, that would be quite confusing and I make you as confused writing as I am on a daily basis, our entire societal structure would collapse in on itself, anarchy would prevail, and the nature of man would be forever confounded to the pursuit of learning how to create fire all over again. So, for the purposes of simplicity and out of a sense of service to mankind, I titled this post “Day 2”. Continue reading this post…
I’m an admitted fan of General Petraeus. When the annuls of history are written, his name will be mentioned alongside such great leaders as George Patton, Omar Bradley, Ulysses Grant, and Norman Schwarzkopg.
In this video, GEN David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, speaks at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, MA. Pentagon
Congratulations to Nick Parker, winner of a You Served HD Flip camera. Nick was one of a only a few military history buffs who answered all 25 of our tough questions correctly on his first try.
Readers are still able to take our Ultimate Military History Quiz any time. Check back with us in April when we will unveil a new Quiz and giveaway!
25 moderate-to-difficult military history queries to challenge our passionate readership. Think you have what it takes to get them all right ? Take the Quiz Now.
We’ll be compiling a Leaderboard to show the top scores – submit your name and blog/website (optional) to claim your place among the top scores! This option is presented upon completing the quiz, along with an option to email it to your friends to see if they can stand up to your score.
**Bonus: Any participant who gets a perfect score on their first try automatically wins a FREE You Served T-Shirt and is entered into a drawing to win a You Served HD Flip video camera. We’ll announce the winner on March 23rd!
March 5, 2009 By You Served Editorial Staff
Posted in Military History
We stand some 5 years from the centennial of the beginning of World War I, and WWI vet Frank Buckles may be around to commemorate it.
He is (incredibly) one of 2 remaining WWI survivors who certifiably served in the US forces in the first ‘Great War’. Our brave 2 join some 21 other surviving service members around the world who are still with us today.
It’s incredible to consider that these people are still with us today, and perhaps one of the reasons they are is that many of them were extremely young when they served. For instance, Harry Landis was eighteen when he signed up for service. While he never saw combat in World War I (having signed up near the end of the conflict), he did attempt to enlist again in 1941 in order to fight in World War II and was rejected as being too old.
Frank Buckles himself was only sixteen when he joined the United States war effort after lying about his age. He was turned down several times and finally was able to join in 1917, though he also never actually saw combat. He was later captured by the Japanese during World War II and held for more than three years.
Harry Patch, who is currently 110 years old, won seven medals for his service with the British Armed Forces during World War I. Echoing sentiments expressed often in recent years, he has stated “Too many died. War isn’t worth one life”.
World War I
Fought from 1914 to 1918, World War I was a major conflict that drew nearly the entire planet into the fray before it was over and left nearly ten million dead and another twenty million wounded. But despite seeming like ancient history, World War I is still very much a memory for between 23 and 34 people living today.
Stats
23 living people today have verifiably served during World War 1. Seven more men served after the Armistice or in other conflicts during the time period (like the Russian revolution), and four more people claim to have served but cannot fully verify their service. Breaking it down in terms of country, there are
•Three veterans in Australia
•One in Canada
•Four in France
•Two in Germany
•Four in Italy
•One in Poland
•One in Turkey
•Three in the United Kingdom
•Four total, 2 official service members, in the United States
Recap
While it is, at first thought, incredible that there are still survivors of the first World War amongst us, these amazing men and women should be appreciated for the incredible glimpse they offer into a facet of our history.
But moreover, they should be lauded for their sacrifice and bravery in the face of what was, no doubt, an incredibly difficult struggle. A salute to Frank and to all from You Served!
A Canadian singer named Terry Kelly wrote a song called “A Pittance of Time” (you can watch the video on my YouTube page at www.youtube.com/chcknhawk). He was inspired to write the song after hearing a store announcement while shopping asking the customers to observe two minutes of silence to honor the Veterans. When the announcement was made almost everyone ceased their actions except for one man and an inspirational and moving song was created.
This November 11th, we, too, have a chance to honor our Veterans. The one day set aside each year in the United States to honor our Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines is but a “pittance of time” in which each of us can take a moment on the liberties and freedoms that our servicemen and women protect for us. These individuals are willing to guarantee these rights for you with their very lives and we ask for just one day per year to remember and honor them.
In that spirit, the You Served blog and VAMortgageCenter.com has put together this Virtual Veterans Day Parade. In many cities across this country, our military is still disrespected as the city councils have put politics over patriotism. In honor of those patriots frustrated and powerless about this, we offer you this special parade. On behalf of each of these floats and in honor of all Veterans, the VAMC is making a generous donation to Soldier’s Angels’ Operation Valour-IT, which helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.
Grab your lawn chair and find a good spot as we set off on our virtual “parade”:
GRAND MARSHALL Name: CJ Grisham
Blog: A Soldier’s Perspective
You Served Float: American Flag
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “We owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans that cannot be realized by setting aside a single day. Veterans Day is a day to honor and pay our respects to those who chose a career in service to their fellow Americans. We remember the sacrifices made on our behalf and should seek out ways to show our appreciation. Even Veterans themselves owe a great deal of gratitude to those that came before us. They have secured a country worth fighting for on our behalf and continue to do so selflessly.”
VICE GRAND MARSHALL Name: Claire
Blog: Knee Deep in the Hooah
You Served Float: “I picked my banner image because it represents the blog that has kept me connected to my own veterans during deployment.”
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day of profound thankfulness in our home. We spend the day in grateful thought and prayerful remembrance of all Veterans, alive and fallen, past and present, who have sacrificed for this Country and for our Freedoms. We remember these things throughout the year, but Veteran’s Day is our formal time of joyful and grateful commemoration of the sacrifices they have made and the benefits we have been selflessly given as citizens of a free Country.”
Parade Participant Name: LL
Blog:Chromed Curses
You ServedFloat: Gold Star Mom Float
Comments on Veteran’s Day:”On this Veteran’s Day, I don’t just think of and remember all those in uniform who are serving, I think of their families too. The hardships they go through, the crushing losses they sometimes endure. I’ve been fortunate to be in contact with a few Gold Star Families and they have shared some of their stories and lives and grief and love for their children with me. And along with those who serve, they should be remembered and hugged on this day.
These Gold Star Families don’t have their veterans with them for you to thank. They have memories and smiles and tears and a flag and a headstone. We owe them as profound a thank you as those who currently wear the uniform and those who stand straight and salute the flag and at one time in their lives, wore the red, white, and blue patch on their shoulder. And please, make sure to include the WHOLE family. Fathers and siblings often get overlooked for mothers and wives and children. None love more or less, none feel the loss and pain differently.
To all of you who have served, serve currently, and those who have died under our flag and in uniform, you have my profound thanks and love.”
Parade Participant Name: Troy Steward
Blog: Steward Family Website : Bouhammer.com
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” I think it should be a recognized national holiday for veteran’s. I.E. Employers should be mandated to give any Veteran’s working for them that day off. It should not be optional. I mean if Mass. has its state Patriot’s Day that employers based in Mass. are forced to recognize, why can’t vets be given one more day off then the standard 9 holidays a year.”
Parade Participant Name: SSG Big
Blog: The War on Big Tobacco
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Listen. I want everybody reading this to get off the computer. Go outside and walk around until you find a party. Drink a cold beer and smoke a cigar. Flirt with the girls at the party. Drink every freedom down. Take time to laugh at the good times and bad. I don’t want your prayers right now. I don’t want your ceremonies or your wreaths. I just want you to enjoy the freedoms that I can’t enjoy right now. And by the way, flashing convoys of soldiers when you pass them in your car on the highway is the most sincere patriotic gesture. Just wanted to clear that up.”
Parade Participant Name: Mr. Wolf
Blog: Blackfive
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” A day to recognize that our country is built upon the backs of the workers who innovate and advance us, and helping to protect them and permit them to achieve, a military that is willing to sacrifice everything to give all that chance to work.
A day to remember that there are those who gave all, those that sacrificed family and personal gain to provide for others. A day to honor those who know that ’service’ is a commitment- a calling.
And a day to remember those we have served with- our brothers and sisters who have made service what it is- a chance to share, to grow, and to bond with others we’d never have a chance to otherwise.”
Parade Participant Name: Greyhawk
Blog: Mudville Gazette
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “It is the Veteran
It is the Veteran, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Veteran, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Veteran, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the Veteran, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Veteran, not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the Flag,
who serves under the Flag,
whose coffin is draped by the Flag.
Parade Participant Name: Terri
Blog: A Soldier’s Mind
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day set aside for all of America to stop and think about the thousands of men and women over the years that this nation has been in existance, who have willingly made the necessary sacrifices to ensure that we as American citizens can continue to enjoy the freedoms that our nation’s forefathers envisioned for us. Too many of us stop to think about why we have the freedoms and rights that we do. Veteran’s Day is a day that all of us need to really do that, instead of taking what we have for granted. If not for the men and women who have served and who continue to serve, our country might not be known as “The Land Of The Free.”
Parade Participant Name: JP
Blog: Milblogging
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “It’s a day for us to celebrate all veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed so much for our great nation.”
Parade Participant Name: Yankeemom
Blog: Yankeemom
You Served Float: “My float is a tank with cigar smokin’ Tankers all over it.”
Comments on Veteran’s Day:”Veterans Day is a very, very special day for me as I think of all those who wear the uniform of the greatest force in America and those who came before and all they have done for me and mine. I can never repay them, so much they have given me. But I will never forget them. They are my family.”
Parade Participant Name: Andi
Blog: Spouse Buzz
You Served Float: “A big, strong Hemi engine that keeps the floats moving forward”
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day for my family to reflect on what it means to serve our country, and to pay tribute, in some way, to those who have served, past and present. This reflection has evolved over time for me. There were pre-9/11 Veteran’s Days, and now there are post-9/11 Veteran’s Days. Pre-9/11, we knew our family could become personally involved in some war, in some region at some time, but post-9/11, our family knows what it means to serve in a time of war. We have begun a tradition in our house. On Veteran’s Day, we set aside time to do something, even if it’s a small something, to recognize the importance of the day. Visit a Veteran’s cemetery, make a small donation to a Veteran’s Charity, wear a flag pin on a lapel, call a friend or family member who is serving. There are tons of possibilities, and while reflection is nice — and important — doing something tangible, for us, makes the day even more special.”
Parade Participant
Name: Indian Chris
Blog: Wednesday Hero
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “We should never forget what these brave Men and Woman do for us. They sacrifice so much and ask so little. Take the time to thank and remember these people this Veteran’s Day. Just one “Thank You” can brighten up their day.”
Parade Participant Name: Toni
Blog: Bear Creek Ledger
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day to appreciate the service and sacrifice of our Veterans toward keeping our country free and safe. I think about those amazing American Revolutionary soldiers, their courage to fight against all odds for something so idealistic as the right to live in a free society. I think about each generation of Americans who have had to fight to keep this liberty. It’s important to promote and recognize this day so Americans and their children don’t forget the blood and sacrifice it has taken to keep our freedom and liberty.”
Parade Participant Name: Kathi
Blog: Mail Call! Supporting the Troops
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” I think it’s important to always honor, and remember, our veterans.”
Parade Participant Name: Flashbangfury
Blog: Fury’s Fiancee
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” I can’t think of a symbol other than our American Flag that could represent my Veteran’s Day float. Countless Veterans have worn her, saluted her and sacrificed so much for this flag and our country. Our flag is a source of pride for our Veterans and I believe it symbolizes their strength, courage and honor. Our Veterans have stood for us and fought for our freedom. Every day we should honor our Veterans, not just one day of the year. Thank you to all our Veterans!!”
Parade Participant Name: Miss Ladybug
Blog: Miss Ladybug
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Where would we be today without our veterans? On Veterans’ Day, we should honor all our veterans, from the Minutemen of the Revolutionary War who won our independence from England, to those who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War, the Doughboys of World War I, the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of World War II who defeated the Axis Powers in Europe and the Pacific, and the ones who fought communism on Korean Peninsula and in Vietnam, and in more recent years, those American Warriors who defeated Saddam Hussein after he invaded Kuwait, to today’s Veterans who fight against the Islamic terrorists around the world, giving the people in Afghanistan and Iraq the opportunity to determine their own destinies instead of living under repressive regimes, as well as all the veterans who played a part throughout our history in preserving our freedoms and bringing freedom to people around the world.”
Parade Participant Name: Earl
Blog: Just the Library Keeper
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “I have never felt the need for Veteran’s Day, but I always wanted the country to accept my service and that of all the others that wore the uniform — and I have always felt betrayed by my countrymen and politicians for Vietnam (not the fighting there – for the laughing at us being fools enough to think we had honor and dignity…) well, be a better person than I, and support your service people – don’t throw them away, they will give everything for your protection – everything.”
Parade Participant Name: Lela
Blog: Harmless Beyond a reasonable doubt
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day should be about something more than a day off from work, or a day to get your Christmas shopping started, or a day to rake your fallen leaves. Veteran’s Day is a day of Rememberance. It should be about remembering those who put their hopes and dreams on hold when duty called. It should be about remembering your grandfather, uncle, or cousin who served in the military. It should be about remembering the boy or girl who lived down the street who is overseas right now, serving our Country in the armed forces. Most of all, Veteran’s Day should be about remembering just why it is that you’re proud to be an American.”
Parade Participant Name: Mr. Hooah!
Blog: Delta Bravo Sierra
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Every day is or should be Veteran’s Day. Our country would not exist were it not for the martial spirit of our fighting men throughout the ages. These men made great thoughts concerning freedom and liberty a reality. The price paid in blood, sweat, and tears must never be forgotten.”
Parade Participant Name: Susan
Blog: Susan Katz Keating
You Served Float: “A float covered with pansies in the colors of the Korean War Service Medal, with a banner reading, “Never Forgotten.”"
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “This is in honor of my Dad, who served in combat in Korea. He is no longer with us, but I have his CIB on my desk where I can see it every day. I will never forget that his service to America meant the world to him. I am grateful to all verterans, and hold them in my heart always. On this day, though, I specifically want to honor my dad and the soldiers who served with him in the not forgotten war.”
Parade Participant Name: KY Woman
Blog: Little Drops…..Into the pool of life.
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “This Veteran’s Day, I stand proudly to honor the men in my life who have served The United States so well. 4 generations of my family’s men. The past, the present, and the future… May no one forget the sacrifices and hardships they and scores of their brothers have made over the years to protect our freedoms from the tyrants of the world. What would our country be without them?”
Name: CJ Grisham
Name: Claire
Name: LL
Name: Troy Steward
Name: SSG Big
Name: Mr. Wolf
Name: Greyhawk
Name: Terri
Name: JP
Name: Yankeemom
Name: Andi
Name: Toni
Name: Kathi
Name: Flashbangfury
Name: Miss Ladybug
Name: Earl
Name: Lela
Name: Mr. Hooah!
Name: Susan
Name: KY Woman
