Never Forget

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Detachment Charlie

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Venice, FL
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
 
Thank-you all Veterans, Thank-you all who currently serve, most of all Thank-you to all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Freedom.
 
Thank you for all the past, present and future members of our armed forces. Salute
 
Not likeing crowds or ceremonies, I made my visit to Fort Logan early today. Just visited a few old friends and reflected a lot. A salute to those that have and are serving!
Dan

Veteran and damn proud of it!
 
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Thank you to my Grandfathers, WWII and Korean War; to my BILs, Iraq and Afghanistan; my cousin, Iraq; my mom, Alaska national guard; and some of my dear friends' husbands who are stationed all over the world right now. Thanks to the wives, husbands and families who share their loved ones with the rest of us.
 
SharpsDressedMan said:
^^^Pretty much says it all, but kind of off topic for a gunboard..........
Click to expand...
Is it really? Without the sacrifice of those who died, would we have the freedoms to own firearms and discuss them freely. A word of thanks to those that preserved these and other freedoms isn't political, it isn't religious or what have you. It just an expression of appreciation for what we have, shown to those that provided it.
 
We could thank all the mothers on Mother's Day, too, or recognize Father's Day. It's coming up soon. Or thank all those that have "served" as politicians, on the 4th of July. Still not firearms related, which is a rule that gets brought up here a lot when someone is off topic.........
 
This year I'm remembering those who died removing the Imperial Japanese forces from our land and waters, and defending Alaska against further invasion, 70 years ago.
 
Sharps, your first and second amendment rights were won and defended for you by people who have risked life and limb - literally - for them. Some here have killed with guns, others have dropped their eyes and mumbled pained condolences to the wives, mothers, or children of people killed by guns. I've known two men who've been captured at gunpoint and held as POWs for periods of time - one of weeks, the other for a year. I know guys who've lost limbs... while wearing my own country and service's uniform, I met one old British gent who wore a Flanders poppy for all his mates on Remebrance Day (same day as our Memorial Day, same reason) who lost his left leg below the knee to a bullet in WWI, and then lost his left leg ABOVE the knee in WWII- they were that hard up for soldiers. All of these men would tell you Memorial Day- and our gratitude for their service and their family's support- has a LOT to do with guns.

edited to say: I'm sorry if that come off harsh, maudlin, or preachy... i'm having a bit of hard time with it just now.
 
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Not gun related...? Jeez.

Most humble and respectful regards to the men and women who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be Here today!
 
This is all I'm going to say further. I've seen the moderators shut down a lot of threads here, many of which I thought were interesting, even though slightly off toplic, or drifting to same. It irritated me then, and I'm sure it will in the future. But then I thought, what the hell, they have a job to do, and if they want to be sticklers about the topics, fine. Then along comes a patriotic "off topic", and they seem to be taking a nap. I don't mind rules, as long as they are fair to all, and enforced equally. FWIW, my dad was heavy weapons infantry in the Phillipines & Japan from Oct 42 on. It's not like I don't care or respect our troops (I served Army myself). Just pointing out that we need it one way or the other: enforce the rules the same, or cut some slack to topic drift, etc.
 
Carentan O Carentan
by Louis Simpson

Trees in the old days used to stand
And shape a shady lane
Where lovers wandered hand in hand
Who came from Carentan.

This was the shining green canal
Where we came two by two
Walking at combat-interval.
Such trees we never knew.

The day was early June, the ground
Was soft and bright with dew.
Far away the guns did sound,
But here the sky was blue.

The sky was blue, but there a smoke
Hung still above the sea
Where the ships together spoke
To towns we could not see.

Could you have seen us through a glass
You would have said a walk
Of farmers out to turn the grass,
Each with his own hay-fork.

The watchers in their leopard suits
Waited till it was time,
And aimed between the belt and boot
And let the barrel climb.

I must lie down at once, there is
A hammer at my knee.
And call it death or cowardice,
Don't count again on me.

Everything's all right, Mother,
Everyone gets the same
At one time or another.
It's all in the game.

I never strolled, nor ever shall,
Down such a leafy lane.
I never drank in a canal,
Nor ever shall again.

There is a whistling in the leaves
And it is not the wind,
The twigs are falling from the knives
That cut men to the ground.

Tell me, Master-Sergeant,
The way to turn and shoot.
But the Sergeant's silent
That taught me how to do it.

O Captain, show us quickly
Our place upon the map.
But the Captain's sickly
And taking a long nap.

Lieutenant, what's my duty,
My place in the platoon?
He too's a sleeping beauty,
Charmed by that strange tune.

Carentan O Carentan
Before we met with you
We never yet had lost a man
Or known what death could do.
 
Wow. This went from like, mildly drifting to someone dropkicking the driver and yanking the steering wheel. At this point it's not only offtopic, but also massively political and the moment someone mentions NWO ... sorry. Not THR material.
 
Okay, I guess this has gone about as far as it can go.

I do have to say, however, that I've always loved "In Flanders' Fields."

I'm also grateful to all those who sacrificed for our liberty. The closing of this thread should not be seen as negatively reflecting on veterans. Rather, it is an effort to foreclose what should be a well earned tribute turning into something less. It's too bad that there seems to be some risk of it drifting off in that direction.
 
Those who have been around here for a while know that there are certain occasions for which a strict "gun-related-only" requirement is not enforced. Memorial Day, November 11th, VE and VJ days, Pearl Harbor...
 
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