What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.

Thank You Veterans! (1 Viewer)

Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant

Guide
Staff member
Happy Veterans Day!

I sent this to our Footballguys readers today. We do this every year. https://www.footballguys.com/updates/?view=1024

I like this essay:

What is a Veteran?

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.

Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.

Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.

You can't tell a vet just by looking.

They are the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

They are the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

They are the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

They are the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.

They are the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.

They are the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

They are the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

They are the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.

They are the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

They are an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

They are a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases, it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU".

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag."

-- Father Denis Edward O'Brien/USMC ******
Click to expand...
 
Uncle Zen is a proud veteran of the US Air Force. I served from 87-91, working on the Minute Man missile systems. My tour started during the cold war and ended with Dessert Storm. Other than basic training and my 2 trips to electronics school in Rantoul, IL, I served my time in Great Falls, MT. Holy moly was it cold up there. While I served honorably, I still feel the most grateful to those that actually served their time overseas during the various wars and campaigns. Those guys truly deserve our respect and appreciation.
 
Joe Bryant said:
Happy Veterans Day!

I sent this to our Footballguys readers today. We do this every year. https://www.footballguys.com/updates/?view=1024

I like this essay:

What is a Veteran?

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.

Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.

Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.

You can't tell a vet just by looking.

They are the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

They are the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

They are the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

They are the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.

They are the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.

They are the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

They are the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

They are the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.

They are the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

They are an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

They are a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases, it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU".

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag."

-- Father Denis Edward O'Brien/USMC ******
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
You always do this so wonderfully Joe
 
When my kids text me Happy Veterans Day Papa, I like to remind them don't forget to thank me for your freedom.

Served 6 years in USN: crypto, electronic warfare & intelligence. Was deployed overseas ~ 925 days, in combat a few times.

These days I'm a paid volunteer at the Brooklyn VA hospital, being trained to be a Mental Health Peer Specialist. I recently graduated from a program called PRRC (psychosocial rehabilitation & restoration center) found at many VA medical centers. I've spent 45 of the last 63 months in full time mental health treatment (PTSD, depression, anxiety.) Very grateful for the VA programs, Wounded Warrior Project, and the widespread public support of our veterans.

I guess I can self-identify as a playwright and professional stage actor these days. Wrote a small piece this year which we've performed several times, and we have two more shows next month. It's based on actual events in my life as well as vignettes of other veterans in the theater company. Never imagined the doors that have been opened since I began sharing my story. It's been an honor to work with supportive theater professionals who have made it their mission to provide creative outlets for combat veterans.

If you know a veteran who is struggling, encourage them to get to the nearest VA medical center. The best way we can help veterans who are having difficulty is to surround them with other veterans going through similar experiences.

You never walk alone.
 
BobbyLayne said:
When my kids text me Happy Veterans Day Papa, I like to remind them don't forget to thank me for your freedom.

Served 6 years in USN: crypto, electronic warfare & intelligence. Was deployed overseas ~ 925 days, in combat a few times.

These days I'm a paid volunteer at the Brooklyn VA hospital, being trained to be a Mental Health Peer Specialist. I recently graduated from a program called PRRC (psychosocial rehabilitation & restoration center) found at many VA medical centers. I've spent 45 of the last 63 months in full time mental health treatment (PTSD, depression, anxiety.) Very grateful for the VA programs, Wounded Warrior Project, and the widespread public support of our veterans.

I guess I can self-identify as a playwright and professional stage actor these days. Wrote a small piece this year which we've performed several times, and we have two more shows next month. It's based on actual events in my life as well as vignettes of other veterans in the theater company. Never imagined the doors that have been opened since I began sharing my story. It's been an honor to work with supportive theater professionals who have made it their mission to provide creative outlets for combat veterans.

If you know a veteran who is struggling, encourage them to get to the nearest VA medical center. The best way we can help veterans who are having difficulty is to surround them with other veterans going through similar experiences.

You never walk alone.
Click to expand...
Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing. Makes this place more personal when you become aware of journeys like this.

22 vets a day commit suicide. So sad. Troubled souls caused by the stress pursuing the luxury of freedom we all experience today. To this day I put my hand to brow when passing a flag.

Some gave all. All gave some.
 
This is a fascinating story about the back story behind Lee Greenwood writing what is widely considered the most "patriotic" song in modern American history. Pretty cool if you can get past the somewhat corny background/atmosphere in which he is telling the story. Personally, as a long-time country fan, I think it's great. And, if this is too off-topic, I apologize in advance. I think it fits the topic of Veterans Day, but my opinion can sometimes be a bit "skewed" from the norm.

A few key parts, in my mind... Greenwood talks about his father joining the Navy after Pearl Harbor, and his parents getting divorced when he was a year old as a result. Later, at about the 9:43 mark in the video, Greenwood appears to get somewhat choked up talking about the song and the words "and I'll gladly stand up next to you" as his father did when joining the war efforts.

The other part that is pretty amazing is that, when asked what is the most memorable time when he performed the song (out of thousands of performances), Greenwood tells the story of singing in front of six presidents and five first ladies at the opening of the Ronald Reagan Museum in Simi Valley, CA.

The first 10.5 minutes is Greenwood telling the story, and the last three minutes are him singing.

God Bless the USA
 
Thank all of you. Appreciate and respect the hell out of you.

When I was the age that people typically go into the military, you would've had to drag me kicking and screaming away from my couch/TV/computer. Lazy punk. A lot has changed by now though. (Now it's a smartphone instead of a computer.)

I have benefitted all my life from the freedom you guys protected.
 
Golden Gopher said:
This is a fascinating story about the back story behind Lee Greenwood writing what is widely considered the most "patriotic" song in modern American history. Pretty cool if you can get past the somewhat corny background/atmosphere in which he is telling the story. Personally, as a long-time country fan, I think it's great. And, if this is too off-topic, I apologize in advance. I think it fits the topic of Veterans Day, but my opinion can sometimes be a bit "skewed" from the norm.

A few key parts, in my mind... Greenwood talks about his father joining the Navy after Pearl Harbor, and his parents getting divorced when he was a year old as a result. Later, at about the 9:43 mark in the video, Greenwood appears to get somewhat choked up talking about the song and the words "and I'll gladly stand up next to you" as his father did when joining the war efforts.

The other part that is pretty amazing is that, when asked what is the most memorable time when he performed the song (out of thousands of performances), Greenwood tells the story of singing in front of six presidents and five first ladies at the opening of the Ronald Reagan Museum in Simi Valley, CA.

The first 10.5 minutes is Greenwood telling the story, and the last three minutes are him singing.

God Bless the USA
Click to expand...
This song will always warm my heart. The final trial of basic training at Fort Benning Georgia was called the Crucible. It was a long long march in full battle rattle. You then set up WWII like sleeping encampment area. It was winter so you just slept with every piece of clothing you had. Brutal. We trained all day. We trained most of the night. Fake attacks with smoke bombs and night fire stuff. Then the return long long march back. Covered in blisters and exhausted we arrived back and they had huge fires roaring and this song on repeat playing. It was a "you did it" moment. It was your first welcome to the club gesture. It was 25 years ago, yet that song takes me back to that moment of accomplishment and love of my country. Everytime
 
I liked this @KingPrawn post in the Eagles thread and thought it fit here too
KingPrawn said:
Just a side note. During halftime of Sunday's game the NFL honored WWII veterans that landed on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago. This group of veterans participated in the 80th Anniversary celebration in Normandy back in May/June. My 100-year-young uncle was one of those honored at halftime.

Sometime after the game the group of veterans and their chaperones went out to dinner. An Eagles fan at the restaurant noticed the group and picked up the tab. So thank you to whoever that Eagles fan may be.
Click to expand...
 
IHEARTFF said:
I liked this @KingPrawn post in the Eagles thread and thought it fit here too
KingPrawn said:
Just a side note. During halftime of Sunday's game the NFL honored WWII veterans that landed on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago. This group of veterans participated in the 80th Anniversary celebration in Normandy back in May/June. My 100-year-young uncle was one of those honored at halftime.

Sometime after the game the group of veterans and their chaperones went out to dinner. An Eagles fan at the restaurant noticed the group and picked up the tab. So thank you to whoever that Eagles fan may be.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Absolutely love this. Those old school soldiers always warm my heart. I ALWAYS take a moment to say hello and show appreciation to those older folks in the military hats when I'm out and about. I always separate veterans into two groups. Those that chose to serve and those that were literally forced. Those WWI, WWII and Vietnam people that were drafted are not the same as someone like myself that signed up. All my opinion. Imagine if we had a draft today?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

JohnnyU
MFL Waivers on Wednesday, but games on Wednesday
Replies
8
Views
463
da_budman
D
J
From the outside looking in...
Replies
3
Views
184
BobbyLayne
BobbyLayne
Ministry of Pain
"Eye in the Sky" that suddenly is influencing NFL games
Replies
46
Views
2K
IHEARTFF
I

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Top