What an image! It needs no words, and it's what I think of when I walk past a VA cemetery or war monument. Even when we don't agree with what our leaders choose to do with the military, these young men are what stand between us and jealous people who want what we have but have to pay too great a price to take it.
On this Veterans Day, veterans, and the rest of us should being saying SAY NO for Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States especially in the aftermath of her comments dismissing the extent of the Department of Veterans Affairs scandal. Anyone with any love for this country SHOULDN'T vote for Hillary Clinton.
I never believed that in my lifetime I would ever see the democrat party become the Socialist, Marxist, Communist, party in the United States. Nor did I ever believe that there would be two, admitted, and committed Marxists, running in that party, one a proven corrupt liar involved in scandals up to her eyes and who appears guilty of criminal conduct in obstructing justice and running an influence-peddling racket. And the other who is just a sham to make the first on look better.
The office of the President has already been degraded to a point where neither our allies nor our enemies trusts anything Obama, or anyone else in his administration of crooks and liars says. Do we really want to continue a process that could utterly destroy our nation by putting Hillary Clinton in that seat? Having already elected an absolute failure only because he was black, one can only hope and pray that enough voters will conclude that America needs to avoid race or gender to be the only determining factor.
We just can’t just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to change and that something has to be the leader of this country where merit, integrity, and honesty are still the standards by which we select our Presidents .Say NO to Hillary for President.
My daughter's school put on their annual presentation honoring veterans last Friday, and it was an awesome event of speeches, presentations, and songs from the school's choir, orchestra and band.
At the end of the veterans reception they held beforehand, they lined us up by "war fought in" to bring us into the assembly. I was heartened to see we still had some WW II vets among us, all of them in uniform, a few in wheel chairs. A smattering of Korea vets, also in uniform, followed up by graying Vietnam vets, none in uniform but sporting Army and Marine Corps ballcaps.
I fell in with the Iraq and Afghanistan vets behind the Gulf War vets. We were all in civilian work clothes, most of us coming early from work.
I couldn't help thinking, wow, we haven't started a new war in over ten years. maybe there's hope...
I agree. I'm also touched by the one where the older gentlemen in a suit is touching the wall.......with the reflection of the Infantryman in full kit touching the wall from the other side. I'd post a link if not for being on my phone
What's the matter with you...and why the language? AOW does NOT CENSOR...CI is right. Leftwingers don't always comment on matters of appreciation to our war heroes or other patriotism, trust me. That's THEIR problem, not AOW's...
Z, I typically do not ban commenters. However, in the case of This One, the comments are deleted as soon as a blog administrator becomes aware of that individual's spewings.
Is there anything worth dying for, I ask? Show me why I should give up my life. I feel this Gift from God is like a cask That too soon emptied functions like a wife Who pledges love, then treats it like a task, Or welches on an honorable bet –– Reneging, shameless, insolent –– to bask Truculent –– a Booby Trap to Let. How ironic to be born just to regret Duty’s dreary dictates spelling Doom –– Years of preparation to beget Impossible demands shrouded in Gloom. No Innocents should be required to cede Great future hopes to Selfish Monsters’ greed.
Merry Christmas, My Friend By James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporal stationed in Washington, D.C., in 1986
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind, a sobering thought soon came to my mind. For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen. This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more, so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door. And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone, Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene, Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine. Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read? Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man. For I realized the families that I saw that night, owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play, And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year, because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye. I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more. My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still. I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill. So I took off my jacket, the one made of red, and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold, with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold. And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride, and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure, said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right, Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
Thank you for this respectful blog post honoring Veterans Day. Many of us remember parents, grandparents from distant past, and other family members on this day.
It is unfortunate that some bloggers marked the occasion with gratuitous, morbid, and cartoonish insults to Veterans everywhere and a blasphemy against this special day set aside to remember those who have fought and died.
I apologize for engaging in blog gossip, but I attempted to register my disapproval the blog in question but was met with a wall of censorship.
I thank Mr. AOW and all veterans living and deceased of ALL wars for their sacrifice. We live comfortably and free because of their selfless service.
We welcome civil dialogue at Always on Watch. Comments that include any of the following are subject to deletion: 1. Any use of profanity or abusive language 2. Off topic comments and spam 3. Use of personal invective
What an image! It needs no words, and it's what I think of when I walk past a VA cemetery or war monument. Even when we don't agree with what our leaders choose to do with the military, these young men are what stand between us and jealous people who want what we have but have to pay too great a price to take it.
ReplyDeleteOn this Veterans Day, veterans, and the rest of us should being saying SAY NO for Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States especially in the aftermath of her comments dismissing the extent of the Department of Veterans Affairs scandal. Anyone with any love for this country SHOULDN'T vote for Hillary Clinton.
ReplyDeleteI never believed that in my lifetime I would ever see the democrat party become the Socialist, Marxist, Communist, party in the United States. Nor did I ever believe that there would be two, admitted, and committed Marxists, running in that party, one a proven corrupt liar involved in scandals up to her eyes and who appears guilty of criminal conduct in obstructing justice and running an influence-peddling racket. And the other who is just a sham to make the first on look better.
The office of the President has already been degraded to a point where neither our allies nor our enemies trusts anything Obama, or anyone else in his administration of crooks and liars says. Do we really want to continue a process that could utterly destroy our nation by putting Hillary Clinton in that seat? Having already elected an absolute failure only because he was black, one can only hope and pray that enough voters will conclude that America needs to avoid race or gender to be the only determining factor.
We just can’t just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to change and that something has to be the leader of this country where merit, integrity, and honesty are still the standards by which we select our Presidents .Say NO to Hillary for President.
Anita,
DeleteI don't disagree with you.
However, this post today is not a political post.
My daughter's school put on their annual presentation honoring veterans last Friday, and it was an awesome event of speeches, presentations, and songs from the school's choir, orchestra and band.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the veterans reception they held beforehand, they lined us up by "war fought in" to bring us into the assembly. I was heartened to see we still had some WW II vets among us, all of them in uniform, a few in wheel chairs. A smattering of Korea vets, also in uniform, followed up by graying Vietnam vets, none in uniform but sporting Army and Marine Corps ballcaps.
I fell in with the Iraq and Afghanistan vets behind the Gulf War vets. We were all in civilian work clothes, most of us coming early from work.
I couldn't help thinking, wow, we haven't started a new war in over ten years. maybe there's hope...
That image is great.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'm also touched by the one where the older gentlemen in a suit is touching the wall.......with the reflection of the Infantryman in full kit touching the wall from the other side. I'd post a link if not for being on my phone
DeleteCI,
DeleteWhen you get at change, would you please post a link to that image? Thank you.
Absolutely. Here is the image I was remembering:
Deletehttp://www.wjpbr.com/reflectb.jpg
Thank you for remembering us.
ReplyDeleteWe will never forget you...no way. Thank YOU
DeleteBaysider says it all!
ReplyDeleteThat image is fabulous...talk about a picture worth a thousand words!
ReplyDeleteStriking. Was the old guy slowing down the line in front of you at Bataan, Chosin, or Da Nang? Something to think about.
ReplyDeleteAw, gee, AOW, where are your liberal commenters?
ReplyDeletesad, isn't it?
No they're not. This is a 'safe space'.
DeleteWhat's the matter with you...and why the language?
DeleteAOW does NOT CENSOR...CI is right.
Leftwingers don't always comment on matters of appreciation to our war heroes or other patriotism, trust me. That's THEIR problem, not AOW's...
Z,
DeleteI typically do not ban commenters. However, in the case of This One, the comments are deleted as soon as a blog administrator becomes aware of that individual's spewings.
Thanks, as CI suggested, it is a 'safe place' unless you're THAT awful and spewing really awful stuff...you're right in how you're handling it.
Deletei THINK i heard Obama say our military makes us "exceptional"....wait, is he finally getting it? (naaaaaaaaa)
ReplyDelete________ Is It Worth Dying? ________
ReplyDeleteIs there anything worth dying for, I ask?
Show me why I should give up my life.
I feel this Gift from God is like a cask
That too soon emptied functions like a wife
Who pledges love, then treats it like a task,
Or welches on an honorable bet ––
Reneging, shameless, insolent –– to bask
Truculent –– a Booby Trap to Let.
How ironic to be born just to regret
Duty’s dreary dictates spelling Doom ––
Years of preparation to beget
Impossible demands shrouded in Gloom.
No Innocents should be required to cede
Great future hopes to Selfish Monsters’ greed.
~ FreeThinke
The reality: innocents have been required to be sacrificed so that even more innocents were not sacrificed.
DeleteIf not for rough men, you and I would not be peacefully sleeping in our beds tonight.
Marine Christmas Poem
DeleteMerry Christmas, My Friend
By James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporal
stationed in Washington, D.C., in 1986
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
AOW, Great Pic. Iconic in the true sense.
ReplyDeleteBaysider. Yea...
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciated the free goodies today. I feel I'm being thanked for doing my duty.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this respectful blog post honoring Veterans Day. Many of us remember parents, grandparents from distant past, and other family members on this day.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that some bloggers marked the occasion with gratuitous, morbid, and cartoonish insults to Veterans everywhere and a blasphemy against this special day set aside to remember those who have fought and died.
I apologize for engaging in blog gossip, but I attempted to register my disapproval the blog in question but was met with a wall of censorship.
I thank Mr. AOW and all veterans living and deceased of ALL wars for their sacrifice. We live comfortably and free because of their selfless service.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCORRECTED COPY:
DeleteNot true. Your remark WAS published. I've been on moderation, because of the tons of out-and-out garbage dumped at my blog lately.
I have never believed that sheer VICIOUSNESS and aggressive STUPIDITY should be protected under the First Amendment.
Honest disagreement and sincere criticism are another matter. We can agree to disagree like ladies and gentlemen and at least be civil to one another.