I know this is late and I apologize...

Remember
Written by Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC

It was the Veteran, not the reporter,
who has given us the freedom of the press.

It was the Veteran, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It was the Veteran, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to fair trial.

It was the Veteran, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Veteran, who salutes the flag,
who served under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protestor to burn the flag.

This was my grandfather, he was a veteran...

This was my dad, he was a veteran...

This was my nephew, he was a veteran...

They were all brave men who did their duty to this country. Two came back, one lost his life doing what he loved. All three served their country honorably. All three did their part in making the world a little safer for you and me. I'm very proud to have had those three brave men in my family.

Victories require validation.
Each act of violence must file its brief.
The loss of loved ones must find consolation,
Ennobled by some passionate belief.
Regard, then, all the murdered of the ages,
Aghast at all the words that justified,
Not without cause, the ever righteous rages,
So small against the sum of those who died.
Deliverance depends upon the wages
A veteran might earn on either side
Years hence, when hate has given way to grief.

Have you thanked a veteran lately?

Veteran's Day
Disabled American Veterans
History of Veteran's Day

In Flanders Fields
by Colonel John McCrae

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.

Explanation of the poem and the significance of the poppies

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Para-Bellum: Thank You
Winds of Change: Remembrance Day, 2004
Argghhh: Veteran's Day, 2004

If you have a Veteran's Day post, please feel free to ping this entry.