As with some of the comments in my post about my grandpa, the military instills a selfless mindset that is not just in the “Greatest Generation, but to all generations of soldiers.

We owe a lot to all soldiers, grunts, sailors and airmen. They all protect our freedoms and liberty we take for granite far too often.

Thank you for our service, and thank you to all that serve or have served.

All of you who served and suffered for us, nessa, we are forever grateful. I did 3yrs. as a Navy Nurse, (not in wartime) and it could/would never compare with what you all have gone through on the front lines. But I was proud to serve my country and I too would go back in a heartbeat if they called.

Nessa, this is beautiful:

I put my heart and soul into my service, but I came away with riches undreamt by Kings.

our Nation, defended our Freedom, and risked all for US.

Thank you!

and that friend of yours is RIGHT ON, thank you and thanks to ALL that have served, are serving and have paid the ULTIMATE PRICE so that indeed WE ALL may enjoy the FREEDOMS that come with being a citizen of the United States of America! There has NEVER been a Country like her and there NEVER will be!

Incredibly well written – incredibly moving.

who do what you do, truly believe that anyone else would do the same if they are able. That is greatness of heart in my book.

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Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

When ya comin’ back down here ? We need to lift a pint (or 20) to those who won’t be able to join us.

Anyway, that’s about the size of it with many of my friends…… They want or need the thanks……… They know.

So……

Thank you.

http://conservative-outlooks.com/2010/05/28/memorial-day-or-not-2/

Thank you for your service to this country.

Thank you for your service to our country. That comes from my heart.

Any time I see a soldier, I will ask if I may shake his/her hand and then I thank them for their service. I had the honor a few weeks ago of buying a soldier a meal before he was returning to Iraq. You can’t imagine the 100-watt smile I received from this man. At the very least, he knows some of us really DO care.

Sometimes I think how little we do for our troops for what we get in return.

THANK YOU, Nessa.

I’ve avoided commenting until now because I never served in the military, and therefore it sometimes is difficult to communicate on the same level. But I have to comment on this last part of your post:

“Thank you for allowing me the Honor and the Privilege.”

This is what those of you who DO probably never recognize. It is we, those for whose freedom you fight, who feel privileged and honored by those of you who do what you do. We do not appreciate only those who serve in combat, although that’s pretty huge. We appreciate the MPs, the logistical folks – everyone who is part of the effort.

Every single American owes a huge debt of gratitude to all of those who have served, and so many of us know that.

Thank you, Nessa. And many thanks to your family who supported you while you protected us. That is no small task.

They’re so good, I’ll just copy them here for ease of reference:

When Michelle Obama experienced pride in her country for the first time a few months ago, deep down, beneath a layer of disgust and another of contempt was a kernel of pity. What a miserable excuse for a life she has led and I can say that. I can make that judgment. My life has been the polar opposite. America has given me a lifetime of pride and accomplishment, shoulder to shoulder with America’s finest, America’s sons and daughters.

I won’t claim to speak for others in my shoes, but for myself…

No thanks are necessary, please save your thanks for those better than me. I put my heart and soul into my service, but I came away with riches undreamt by Kings. Thank you for allowing me the Honor and the Privilege.

My sentiments exactly. There were days when I hated the bureaucracy of “this man’s Army,” but even on those days I felt so very privileged to be in the service of the nation and would not trade a second of it for anything.

My flag is flying today in memory of those who gave the last full measure of devotion to this wonderful country. Now we must honor them by doing our utmost to get out the vote in the remaining primaries and the general election on Nov. 2. We must make sure our current warriors come home to a republic, not a thug-run democracy.

For Liberty,
ColdWarrior, PC (that’s “precinct committeeman,” not “political child!”)
Conservatives, UNITE! CHANGE the Republican Party and save the world by UNITING INSIDE the Party as precinct committeemen. NOW!

was participating in 2 of three county events here in New Castle County Delware. Diane and I went to the Memorial Day Service at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery and then to the Memorial Day parade on Delaware Ave.
While the Bugler cracked a number if notes during TAPS, I still chills me to hear it played live.
The parade was made up of the typical cadre of various Veterans groups, Gold Star Families and two local High School bands, there was also a contingent of three very small groups of war protesters. While I vehimently disagree with their idiocy, I served 20 1/2 years for them to have the right to parade as they did.

The local Marine Corps Recruiting station provided the parades’ Color Guard. Also a moving sight. I saluted the flag of EACH organization that paraded the Colors. After it was over, the young Marines came to the bar we were watching the parade from. My bill, plus thier first round of Guiness came out of my wallet with out so much as a second consideration.

For I do not know if those men will again carry the Colors, or if the Colors will carry them, next Memorial Day.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can still read it in English, You’re Welcome
Deskpilot, AM(H)1 (AW), USN (Ret)

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We didn’t have identical experiences, but many of us had the same experience. Thanks for putting it into words.

BTW, that Ft. Bragg paratrooper in the door of the C-130 would really be nervous if he thought about the front-end crew in the 130 being mostly trainees too. We ALL felt good when the mission was over and everybody landed in the DZ instead of downtown Fayetteville.

I don’t know about you, but I still have the occasional dream about going back into service.