Personally, I think that by law all Veterans should be giving Veteran's Day off.

With that said. I started my day today talking with a co-worker that lives in Virginia Beach, VA. He relayed a story to me that shows how much times have changed.

He meets a group of friends every Friday morning at 06:30 for breakfast at a local establishment. This morning as he was leaving he walked over to a table of four people in uniform and said: "Happy Veteran's Day". They kind of looked at him with a deer in the headlights look. As they are NOT veterans but active duty. As soon as the words left his mouth he realized his mistake, and apologized for the "faux pas" . On his way out, he summoned their server and picked up their check.

My how attitudes have changed, toward the military in the last thirty-five to forty years. Thankfully.

In the summer of 1970, on my way from Fort Dix to my parents home in Queens, NYC, during a weekend pass, I took the bus from Fort Dix to the Port of Authority Terminal in Manhattan. Where I was spit on for being in uniform.
and called a baby killer. Even though, at the time I was still in basic training and an E-1.

I want to pay my respects to all of you out their that have served their countries.

 

Do you mean "faux pas" ("false step")? Dang those French, it's so hard to spell their confusing language!

 

Speaking of veterans, a friend of our family is going to be on the History Channel tonight. The show name is "Heroes Under Fire". 10pm PST (I don't know if that makes it 1am EST or if the History Channel timeshifts.) His name is Lynne Black.

 

I'll add my thanks as well. At least one lesson that has been learned is that our troops all over the world deserve thanks, support and respect. I remember how the Viet Nam troops were treated when they came home.

 

Yes, I did thank you for the correction. I just had a brain freeze and knew my original post was wrong. I just could not remember the phase.

 

[QUOTE=matt_inva,Nov 12 2005, 06:38 PM] Yes, I did thank you for the correction.

 

I didn't see it, but I'm guessing it will be on again.

 

The +1 and I paid our respects to two WWII veterans this weekend - one my lawyer, who was a Marine pilot (Corsair) in the Pacific, and the other my dad, who was also in the Pacific, where he won two bronze stars. Both are still alive and kicking pretty well. Semper Fi!

 

I have the greatest respect for all veterans. I hold the veterans of WW11 in the highest regard. All veterans should be given thanks by those they protect and not just one day out of the year. In church today, the minister asked all vets to stand for recognition. I was honored to stand with those brave men. I felt somewhat unworthy as my service was during peacetime. I joined at age 17 in 1954 just missing the Korean conflict.
I salute you all.

 

Matt, take a look at the thread I posted regarding my Grandad. My pops and my grandfather both served.