Memorial Day - Least We Forget

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/28/2005 12:17:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

butchbsi writes:

 

Just yesterday I received in the mail a letter signed by Secretary of

the Army Francis J. Harvey and Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter

J. Schoomaker .. along with it was a Certificate of Appreciation and a

U. S. Army lapel pin. I expect that every retiree received the same.

 

 

 

 

Butch,

 

Congrats!!! I feel that everyone should support our troops whether they

support the various wars or not.. Those men and women signed up for the

military

as their job, and as anyone can tell you, you don't have much of a choice in

the jobs that are delegated to you when you are working. The president( if

ya like him or not) is their boss(so to speak) and our armed forces are

mainly doing the jobs that their boss tells them to.. They don't have a choice.

Buy again, enough of my ramblings...

Sending big hugs of congrats your way!

Michelle

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all,

 

Monday we celebrate Memorial Day .. or rather .. we should celebrate

Memorial Day .. http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

 

It appears that the U. S. Army is now beginning to show a bit more

recognition of its veterans.

 

Just yesterday I received in the mail a letter signed by Secretary of

the Army Francis J. Harvey and Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter

J. Schoomaker .. along with it was a Certificate of Appreciation and a

U. S. Army lapel pin. I expect that every retiree received the same.

 

The letter stated:

 

" Dear LTC Owen,

 

America has always called upon the Army to do the hard jobs, and her

Army has always answered the call. We are a free Nation, a Nation

looked upon by billions of people around the world as the standard

bearer of freedoms - freedoms guaranteed by our great Soldiers and by

the veterans who have served our great country in the active Army, the

Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

 

We are an Army of Tradition. Our greatest tradition is service to our

country, and in that service we ask our Soldiers to carry out tough

missions all around the world. Today, answering the Nation's call may

take them in harm's way in our Global War on Terrorism, a war that

touches us all and one that we must win.

 

As today's Soldiers serve, the traditions and legacy passed on by Army

veterans in previous conflicts sustain them so they can do what must be

done to protect our freedoms. Our Army would not be the best in the

world without the service of its veterans who continue to provide

support and exhibit patriotism. You make a difference in today's Army

and to our country.

 

Please accept the enclosed Army lapel pin. It symbolizes the

partnership between our Army, her Soldiers, their families, and veterans

- a partnership as old as the Nation itself. It is a partnership

America has always been able to depend on. As our partner, we hope that

you will wear this pin with pride, as a statement of our shared

commitment to support America's Soldiers.

 

We thank you for the honor of your past service with our Army and for

your continued support of our Soldiers. "

 

The Certificate read:

 

" For outstanding service to the Nation as a United States Army Soldier.

 

You are being recognized for your patriotism and continued support of

the Army family. Your legacy is today's Army and the values Soldiers

exhibit while fighting the Global War on Terrorism. Their efforts are a

direct reflection of your service, and the United States Army and a

grateful Nation thank you. "

 

Whether people agree of disagree with the war in Iraq .. or agreed or

disagreed with my wars .. in Vietnam and Somalia .. is unimportant .. at

least to me and to tens of thousands of other retirees and veterans. We

did our job and it was not a matter of voting on which job we took on.

 

There are few who will disagree with the reasons American Soldiers

participated in World War II .. the below is an inspiring farewell of a

sort for these brave men and woman. The Passing of a Generation.

 

http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/PASSINGOFGENERATION.HTML

 

Happy Memorial Day .. I salute all of you who have served your country

and I hope we all will remember those who we must not forget.

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch