Veterans Day 2011

3 Responses to Veterans Day 2011

1. Lou Ruchser says:

   October 26, 2011 at 1:11 pm

   Roger: this great but you forgot to include the cameras recently installed in the torch. Which provide a tremendious view of the surrounding area.I believe you can access the view from the computer. Try Google
   • Bear says:

     October 28, 2011 at 3:05 pm

     Lou, you’re right, there are live webcams which all can view at:

     http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/statueofliberty/
2. Bear says:

   October 26, 2011 at 1:47 pm

   Waldo,

   I wanted to thank you for the courage of posting your Veterans Day message!

   Perhaps that is our greatest achievement! I remember the day our local radio station alerted us all to the fact that the local war protests were targeting the main gates of Ft. Lewis when one of our local Stryker Brigades was deploying to Iraq.

   Citizens and veterans turned out by the THOUSANDS to send a positive message to our troops that America supported them compared to the few war protesters that showed up. I remember standing in the soaking November rain holding our A Troop guidon wearning my Cav hat alongside Bud Caine who was a Cobra pilot that served with the 1/9th Cav in Nam. We saluted every passing military vehicle as the wind and rain blew in our faces and received many salutes in return from our young warriors. It was an absolutely MISERABLE day but we had to be there to give our young troops a positive send off and let them know that America stood by them and not let their last image of America be a few war protesters who despised them or their mission.

   I think of you and Gary Swartz standing guard at the Wall in D.C. when the war protesters ATTEMPTED to use the Wall, a very sacred place to all of us, as a backdrop for their war protests in D.C. They failed, miserably, thanks to the thousands of veterans who surrounded our Wall where the names of our fallen Brothers and Sisters are enshrined in Honor.

   I think of those wonderful ladies like Lois G. and Sharon H. that have organized and sent literally hundreds of Care packages to so many troops in Iraq and Afghanistan providing many necessary items like pocket warmers to take the chill off in the mountains of Afghanistan not provided by our military

   It truly has been a collective effort that we never saw while we served in Nam. “Never Again” is alive and well thanks to thousands of grateful Americans and Vietnam veterans across the land.

   Unfortunately, our mission will continue as we have thousands of troops yet deployed in Afghanistan and none of us know what the final outcome will be in Iraq as Iran will attempt to fill the vacuum when all our troops depart Iraq.

   And America must make a lifetime commitment to the many disabled Troops and their families of this terrible war. You and I know, firsthand, the impact of PTSD and that there is no real cure, you just learn how to deal with it. Add to that the trauma of TBI and lost limbs that many of these young warriors and their families will be dealing with their entire lives is truly difficult to comprehend.

   God Bless,

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