Thank You!

AMEN!

Anybody who says the young people of today are not dedicated and patriotic ought to go to a basic training graduation. I attended my sons several weeks ago at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and I was amazed!! You could not find a more motivated group of young Americans anywhere. I was so proud of him and my country! Feelings that I have not had in quite some time.

Here's to ALL the veterans, past and present, living and gone, who sometimes have a VERY crappy job to do and do not get near enough recognition.

Les Kramer

My thanks as well. My father and uncles all served in WWII. One work colleague recently returned from an extended visit to Afghanistan. I have incredible respect for the people I've got to know from military backgrounds. For those on RMR, Trip Barber is probably the best example.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

your very welcome!

I invite you to encourage a young man or women to serve. Even a single term of service is a powerful way to build character, fitness, self-confidence, leadership and pride

I represent this to my own children (now only 9, 11 and 13), for them to consider either immediately before or after college

not to mention that my four years were some of the most fun of my life!

- iz

USAF Reg, 1972 - 1975

Alex Mericas wrote:

Amen.

I'm remembering a man who loved to fly who served in the Army Air Force in World War II. Of the 27 men he served with on the B-24 crews, only he returned.

Zooty

Iz,

Might I suggest you have your 13-year-old look at Civil Air Patrol? (at

for more info). Especially since you're USAF...

David Erbas-White

Ismaeel Abdur-Rasheed wrote:

I've bookmarked it, and identified the unit in my area

right nwo all three kids are brown belts in Shotokan, and are working toward their blacks in the next two years. That takes alot of their time (four sessions a week, plus my oldest assists in lower classes as well, so for him it's a total of five sessions a week).

But I'll contact the unit and see what kind of time commitment is required.

thanks for the lead! :o)

- iz

David Erbas-White wrote:

Here hear! Some of my more recent readings of atrocious activities in the Pacific, just boggle my mind.

Yall deserve a big pat on the back for your service!!

Joel. phx

AMEN! THANKS TO THEM ALL!

Here in Birmingham we've had a day and a parade dedicated to vets for many, many years now. I had the day off, so one of my sons and I, took the opportunity to launch a few, with each flight being dedicated to the members of our family that have served or are presently serving. We've had a family member in some branch of the U.S. Armed Forces constantly, since the revolutionary war. I have been told that in all of that time (over 227 years ) we've only gone 6 years without someone in active duty service and that was during peace time. Two of our kids will be going back over seas in January. Are we more special than anyone else? No! We just realize that we have to do something to preserve the things we love most.

We say a prayer of thanksgiving and protection at every meal and several other times a day, not just for our kids but for every man and woman or other familys' member that serves with them. We never forget the sacrifice that any of them have made or will make. They all deserve our gratitude. As Americans, we all owe every freedom and blessing we enjoy to those that spent some portion of their lives or have lost their lives in the service of our country. I hope someday, people realize it all comes through strength, not appeasement.

Rant on liberals, the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Army (son) and Marines (daughter) have your back!

Randy

I highly recommend it (but I'm somewhat biased). You'll see why I'm proud if you go here:

Our CAP squadron cadets won the National Color Guard title this year, and they worked their butts off to do it. They were judged by the White House honor guard, so those guys know a thing or two. They even thought we had a 'ringer' (we have a 16-year-old who is very big for his age, and they thought he must be an active-duty service member 'pretending' to be a cadet, because he did so well with presentation of arms).

I don't know how other squadrons are, but one additional point (and you see it within rmr based on the TRA/NAR rants): in every group I've ever been involved in, be it community service, or AYSO, or PTA, or whatever, there always seem to be a few blankety-blank jerks that make you want to pick up and run. In our squadron (and hopefully in others), every single person I've run into is really committed to making the thing work, and is putting out extraordinary effort, as a group, to help the cadets succeed. Now, we have a large squadron, and we ARE based at Camp Pendleton, so our 'baseline' might be a bit skewed, but I honestly have never been involved in a group that I'm more convinced about the integrity of the individuals involved.

Give it a try, I think your kids will love it.

David Erbas-White

Ismaeel Abdur-Rasheed wrote:

Alex -

Thanks are welcome. A far cry from my younger years watching Viet Vets being harassed and harangued. Nice to be wanted again.

However, I also am indebted to the past and current soldiers, sailors and marines that served and are serving still. Thank you for responding to the call.

Curtis Scholl USAF 1978-1982

Alex Mericas wrote:

Ditto. And I'm especially thankful for a Pharmacist Mate First Class who served on an LSMR during the end of WWII in the South Pacific who got to see, amongst other things, Iwo Jima taken by the Allies up close and personal.

Mark Simpson NAR 71503 Level II God Bless our peacekeepers and our veterans

I too am thankful to all of our Veterans, past, present & future, alive or passed.

In particular, I'm especially thankful to a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, a bombardier on an A-26, who was helping soften up Japanese air defenses to let a certain B-29 reach its target in Nagasaki. They were told to be at least 100 miles away at the proper time. Even from that distance, he later told me, he couldn't believe the destructive force he saw unleashed.

Tim Churchill

You're welcome.

Bill Sullivan

Vietnam Veteran

You're welcome.

Do I get a prize? Maybe a nice rocket kit?

I would also like to extend my thanks to all of the other vets out there. Your service is much appreciated.

Regards, Michael Newton Vietnam Veteran (CVA 59)

P.S. My daughter says hello. She recently joined the Army. Unfortunately, she was sent home about half way through boot camp because they found out that she has a degenerative eye disease (RP) that may eventually cause night blindness. She was heart broken. She was also in the Civil Air Patrol until she reached 18 years old.

Then it's long overdue. Thank you for your service to all of us.

Mario Perdue NAR #22012 Sr. L2 for email drop the planet

"X-ray-Delta-One, this is Mission Control, two-one-five-six, transmission concluded."

As a veteran I say "You're welcome." As an American I join you in thanking all of those who have served this country so well.

Mario Perdue NAR #22012 Sr. L2 for email drop the planet

"X-ray-Delta-One, this is Mission Control, two-one-five-six, transmission concluded."