Veterans Day (Eliot, Corinna, Topsfield: credit, home, live)

[JC3]

Happy BD to all Marines...Semper Fi. All the best to the Veterans and to those presently serving. It was a day of reflection for sure.

[RMoore007]

This is a little late but I thought it would go nicely here. It's sobering finding someone from your town. I checked Corinna and Eliot and found names that I recall from the past.

Names of Vietnam War casualties by city and state www.VirtualWall.org

[namder1]

Sorry, had to work, but thought about some lost friends anyway.....

[Northern Maine Land Man]

"Lost friends" is for Memorial Day. Veterans Day is for those of us who survived to celebrate. It's party time.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by RMoore007

This is a little late but I thought it would go nicely here. It's sobering finding someone from your town. I checked Corinna and Eliot and found names that I recall from the past.

Names of Vietnam War casualties by city and state www.VirtualWall.org

That's a sobering list of names, Maine heros that sacrificed their lives - I know it was a national cause, but I cant help but think,,,,, for what?
to deter communism??

I remember almost 20 or so yrs ago when we were going to war with Iraq because of their aggression in Kuwait, I said to one older coworker at the time we should blow them away (Iraq)
He got all serious and said I knew absolutely nothing of what i was saying, and i was better off keeping my mouth shut (which he was probly right)
He teared up and said war is hell, and that for every man thats killed in war, is a son, brother, friend, or even father, I didnt realize he was a vet himself, and was a grunt, saw many others die in combat
He would not speak of his "service" it was too painfull

To look at a list(casualties) of names, or drive by cemeteries that have flags all over the place, really hits home, the older I get, that these men and woman are true heroes

[Northern Maine Land Man]

They also serve who sit and wait. Military wives and families deserve great credit. 41 years ago today my wife would turn on the TV and see burning helicopters. It was a heavy burden for her, not knowing where I was or what I was doing, There was no internet, Skype or video tape. We sent letters and mail service in some fire support bases was intermittent at best. Some mail bags just disappeared, both outgoing and incoming.

What hit home for me was the first time Worcester Wreath sent wreaths to Arlington. A friend of mine sent me some photos he had taken at Arlington. The wreaths were scattered seemingly at random. He asked what it was all about. The caretaker said they were all graves of Maine men and Maine people had sent the wreaths. Maine people placed them and Maine people would take care of them when it was time to remove them.

I was so blown away that the following year I brought the donuts to the Worcester Wreath shop in Topsfield. This year is the 20th anniversary and the goal is to place wreaths on all the graves at Arlington.

[RMoore007]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

"Lost friends" is for Memorial Day. Veterans Day is for those of us who survived to celebrate. It's party time.

Good point. A better time to post a casualty of war site would have been on Memorial Day.And I'm ALL for partying man.

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

That's a sobering list of names, Maine heros that sacrificed their lives - I know it was a national cause, but I cant help but think,,,,, for what?
to deter communism??

I remember almost 20 or so yrs ago when we were going to war with Iraq because of their aggression in Kuwait, I said to one older coworker at the time we should blow them away (Iraq)
He got all serious and said I knew absolutely nothing of what i was saying, and i was better off keeping my mouth shut (which he was probly right)
He teared up and said war is hell, and that for every man thats killed in war, is a son, brother, friend, or even father, I didnt realize he was a vet himself, and was a grunt, saw many others die in combat
He would not speak of his "service" it was too painfull

To look at a list(casualties) of names, or drive by cemeteries that have flags all over the place, really hits home, the older I get, that these men and woman are true heroes

I enlisted in '71 for 3 years to stay out of Viet Nam. I went to South Korea and then Maryland. My draft number was low and I would have been drafted by Feb. that year anyway and more than likely go to Viet Nam. I was 19yo. My other choice was to go live with my grandfather in Halifax. So for me, it was enlist, get drafted or be a draft dodger.

All these years later, I don't feel like a veteran. I feel more like an "abbreviated veteran" or "veteran lite". It was really all just a blur and I was very young and the partying never really stopped form enlistment day to ETS day. Although I suppose I did some good. I took someone elses place in service at least.

So, to all the real veterans, Happy Veterans Week!

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

"Lost friends" is for Memorial Day. Veterans Day is for those of us who survived to celebrate. It's party time.

Exactly, thank you.