Veterans Day!

Today a good friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to a Veterans Day Ceremony in a nearby neighborhood.. I had never been so, I agreed... I always try and bring my children to anything that honors our Heros. I feel that we are in our second generation of children who are not taught to respect, encourage, and be grateful to those who have sacrificed so much for their freedom.
My husband I have purposed it in our heart to make sure my children are taught these things...


Here are a couple pictures that my good friend took *I forgot my Sd card... some photographer I am huh?*

Here is a Veteran checking out Gabes dog tags...


My son, always makes sure that he gets signatures from those who serve or have served in our military.. he did have a shirt, and that is full so, he now gets his helmet signed..

They were all so HONORED to be signing his helmet... they thanked me.. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?? One of them thanked me , for how Gabe was dressed and HUGGED ME ?? I made sure to let them know that THEY were the ones worthy of Thanks! One of the older gentlemen, he had tears in his eyes as he signed Gabes helmet.... which, brought tears to mine.

THIS was the highlight of Gabes day.. when this flew overhead!

The older gentlemen, who got tears in his eyes when signing Gabes helmet.. actually cried REAL tears when requesting a copy of this poem that was read today......

A Veteran Died Today

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast ,

and he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past.

Of the war he had fought in and the deeds that he had done.

In his exploits with his buddies they were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,

all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away,

and the world's a little poorer for a veteran died today.
No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way;

and the world won't note his passing, 'tho a veteran died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,

while thousands note their passing and proclaim they were great.

Papers tell their life stories, from the time they were young,

but the passing of a veteran goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land

some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife,

goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?
The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives

are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.

While the ordinary veteran, who has offered up his all,

is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago,

that our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians and their compromises and ploys,

who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,

would you really want some cop-out, with his ever-waffling stand?

Or, would you want a veteran, who has sworn to defend his home, his kin and country, and would fight until the end?
He was just a common veteran and his ranks are growing thin,

but his presence should remind us we may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the military's part

is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,

then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say

Our country is in mourning, for a veteran died today.
Unknown
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Also at the end, they gave the defination of a Veteran....

A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, honorably discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.'

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now, if that doesnt stur up something in you...