Johnny's tribute to our military heroes past and present.
To all the veterans here at the Den: God bless each and every one of you, and thank you for your brave service!! You are the TRUE heroes!! :)
Today is a very important day in our nation's history. It is a day to pause and reflect and remember those brave men and women who went to war to preserve our freedom, our nation's veterans, past AND present.
It was started way back in 1918, when a treaty was signed to end World War I, but during the 1950's, it was expeanded to celebrate ALL veterans of ALL wars in which they served. Not only World War I veterans got the recognition: so did the veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Falkland War, both Iraq wars, and other wars are saluted and remembered, too. During the day, there will be speeches, recognition of our veterans, parades, special concerts or tributes, and pauses of reflection for those veterans who "didn't come home"; and it is always a sad, sad day, especially for those families who lost loved ones in battle.
But unlike earlier times, a lot of people here in America have seemed to have forgotten our veterans, especially if they are old and/or sick. A lot of these veterans are in nursing homes or in hospitals, and they don't get a lot of visitors. They have also treated the veterans of the Vietnam War or Korea very badly, calling them "Baby-killers", "Murderers", or worse, spitting on them, and even hitting them or throwiing things at them. A lot of the vetrans don't get good health care, and a good many of them have many physical or emotional problems. Some are so bad off they are living on the streets as homeless people. I have seen several veterans who are living in the street, and it is alwyas upsetting because nobody seems to care for them or want to help them in any way, to make their lives a lot better. They are left out in the cold, without a friend in the world.
But I am NOT like that. I may only be a kid by adult's standards, but I choose to remember our veterans who chose to defend our country. If it had not been for them and their sacrifices (some sacrificed with their very lives!), I would not be enjoying my freedom as an American today. Because of them, I can enjoy all the benefits of being an American, even though I am technically not a native American citizen (I was born in Germany, but I came to this country when I was just a few months old). I can say what I want or eat what I want or wear what I want, and (hopefully) nobody will get mad at me. We also would be at the mercy of our enemies, so this is why we have to go to war, so as to defend ourselves. Now, war is never pretty, but sometimes that is the only way to make things right or to solve serious problems.
I also choose not to forget any veteran because my grandpa Armand Moliere' (he's my mom's dad) was in World War II (he didn't ACTUALLY figtht, but he DID serve our country, in the Army-Air Corps, when he was a young man), and to me, he is a hero. He chose to defend America, and he did it in the best way a person can ever hope to do! I also have a friend who is in the Marine Reserves, and he went into the MArines right after September 11, 2001 happened; and he went to Afghanistan for over a year. I am glad to say that he only got hurt once during his time in the Marines, but after he healed in the veteran's hospital in Afghanistan, he was soon back in action, trying to flush out the enemy. He DID get hurt, but compared to a lot of people in battle got, he made it out easily, and he emerged from his wartime experiences ALIVE, which is nothing short of a miracle!
I owe my very life to people like my grandpa Armand Moliere' and my friend Roberto Sormiento, and to others like them. I am glad, very glad, that they did what they did. They both knew they had a very important job to do, and they both did it extremely well. Both went above and beyond the "call of duty"!
God bless our veterans, past and present, and may we always remember them, what they did to ensure our safety and freedom! And may God make us appreciate their courage and bravery in defending our nation! May we NEVER forget them, and may we treat ALL our veterans with the dignity and respect that they so rightfully deserve!!
~Written by Johnny Sandusky, on November 11, 2005 (Veteran's Day). :)
Amen, Karen - and I only wish that our far too often callous politicians and legislators had the wisdom, and the compassion, and the understanding, of young Johnny.
Now THIS is honour indeed, Karen... the youngest saluting the oldest, which is how it should be... knowing that it is the children who are our future and that they usually shame us with their fire and enthusiasm where we are hard and cold. Beautifully written and expressed as only you can, this is one of your finest and noblest writes, I think. The stirling spirit of devotion and support shines pure and true here! Bless you and thank you. LOL Kate xx
What better way to celebrate our freedom, and the veterans who got it for us and keep it than by going to school and using our academic freedom, broadcasting and celebrating the freedom of the press, and writing, to celebrate our freedom of thought. If we can afford it, we should also travel, to celebrate our freedom of movement.
Amazing how you can do all this....thanks gal for this once more great tribute!!
Love Tinka
Reviewed by Tracey L. O' Very
11/11/2005
Karen Thank you so much for this heartwarming Honorable Tribute. I'm in Tears. they started with that picture and just stream!
Thank you to all the Veterans past present and future.
Salute!
My thanks to all Veterans. Offering this line in the VISION JAMMER, a selection on my BIKER CHRONICLES CD I have recorded at the studio.
"In Nam, the Vision Jammer existed from self-teachings on the power of fantasy and illusion. It kept him alive and delivered him home safe, but not sound. No Vet ever came home sound. War fragment reminiscence floated on top of whatever was left of gray matter. His hard shell toted a disgusting amount of unwanted foreign steel---the proud, red, white, and blue result from enlisting for Uncle Sam." Copyright 2005 Keysta D. Lorean aka Sage Sweetwater.
An illustrated developmental history of the American military chemical and biological protective respirator for use against war agents, this work provides photographs of actual respirator specimens and several useful appendices, in addition to its en
An illustrated developmental history of the American military chemical and biological protective respirator for use against war agents, this work provides photographs of actual respirator specimens and several useful appendices, in addition to its en
