SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

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Feb 21, 2003 | 10:47 AM

ramlovingvet

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DTR'S Chaplain

Joined: Jun 2002

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From: Brookings Orygun

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Greetings Fellow Diesel Heads. I have organized a Joint Veterans Support our Troops Rally in Brookings Oregon For Mar 2nd. We expect Hundereds to attend. Are any of your Small Towns doing this? If Not Why???? We as Americans can not let a Vocal Minority undermine the Safety and Moral of our troops as happened to our Brothers in Nam. Let them know we are here for them!!! Get out there and get Vocal. Stand Up Proud for our Service Men and Women.. Returning Soap Box to Corner for next User.. Your turn Top ;o) God Bless Out Troops Richard Sloniker Commander VFW Post 966 President Curry County Joint Veterans Council

Feb 21, 2003 | 11:26 AM

shortround

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Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 161

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From: In the middle of Weather Dry Creek Farm in Avilla, Arkansas

Re:SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Thought y'all might enjoy this. Standing Watch The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep in perfect contentment, or so it would seem. So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A defender, I puzzled, some twenty years old Perhaps a Security Forces troop huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts, to the window that danced with a warm fire's light then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice! .. I'm here every night" "It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red white and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home, I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat, I can carry the weight of killing another or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers who stand at the front against any and all, To insure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone. To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled is payment enough, and with that we will trust. That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Feb 21, 2003 | 11:41 AM

ramlovingvet

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DTR'S Chaplain

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 912

Likes: 4

From: Brookings Orygun

Re:SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

[quote author=shortround link=board=10;threadid=11253;start=0#107405 date=1045848374] Thought y'all might enjoy this. Standing Watch The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep in perfect contentment, or so it would seem. So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A defender, I puzzled, some twenty years old Perhaps a Security Forces troop huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts, to the window that danced with a warm fire's light then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice! .. I'm here every night" "It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red white and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home, I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat, I can carry the weight of killing another or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers who stand at the front against any and all, To insure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone. To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled is payment enough, and with that we will trust. That we mattered to you as you mattered to us. [/quote] Wow thats Great Thanks Shortround GO N A V Y!!!

Feb 21, 2003 | 12:02 PM

shortfieldbreak

Registered User

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 117

Likes: 0

From: Seattle, WA

Re:SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Thanks Shortround. That captures the spirit of what it's all about.
[move]GO NAVY!!![/move]
-SFB

Feb 21, 2003 | 01:46 PM

shortround

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Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 161

Likes: 1

From: In the middle of Weather Dry Creek Farm in Avilla, Arkansas

Re:SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Looking back and remembering. The week before last, we had the 1/2 scale exact replica of the Vietnam Memorial in the area for a few days. The "Wall That Heals" as it is called, travels across the nation to speak, not only of the loss, but of the lives of the 58,200 odd men and women inscribed. I met a lady there. We both approached the wall with apprehension, read, or I think a feeling of not knowing what to expect after 30 odd years of trying to forget. I looked at a number of names, touched them, and said hello to friends that in turn, touched back through that black surface after all these years and told me there was no need to be sorry. As I was leaving, and trying hard to maintain the hard, cold, macho image that all of us are supposed to show, I noticed that the lady had stayed in front of one of the panels for the entire time I was there. She looked up from the panel and ask if I would walk with her back to the parking lot. As we walked, we talked a bit of the memories of those names we saw. We sat at a bench and cried, me for crew, friends, buddies, she for a husband that she was with for 3 days before he shipped out. A lot of hurt fell on the ground that day, not all of it, because it will never leave till we die, but much of the bitterness is now gone. Lady, REFLECTIONS is dedicated to you. REFLECTIONS You look quite handsome today, In your dress uniform, your brass gleaming in the sun. I admire the devilish merriment that is always present in your eyes, with a hint of the fire and passion in your soul. Your lips are curled as always in an impish grin, just seconds from laughter. Your shoulders are broad....broad enough to rest my head and my heart And that same lock of hair is again curling onto your forehead. I reach out to touch your face, anticipating the warmth of your kiss and the strength of your embrace; to put my fingers through your hair, I reach out.............But my fingers touch only cold smooth glass, a hard wooden frame, and letters - etched in warm black stone. THE WALL OF HONOR by Roger Heard, USMC '66-'70 Upon this honored wall of stone You're together again and not alone Together you laughed, together you cried Together you fought, together you died Together you stand in history Upon this wall for all to see Each name evokes a young man's face A warrior that stood to take his place To fight and die for liberty So others could live a life that's free If there's a place where Heroes stand Surely you've gone to join their band You've left the horrors of war behind To cross death's bridge and hopefully find The peace denied you in this life Of endless wars and constant strife Together you walk with head held high No storm clouds gather to darken your sky The Black Man, Red Man, Brown, and White Will walk as one, no more to fight You're not forgotten and will never be This stone bears witness for all to see Each one of you made the sacrifice And paid with life, the ultimate price Each one who died left a few of us here To show the world with a fallen tear We'll never forget and will always stand true To the memory of each one of you As long as there's life within my breast I'll take my place and stand with the rest And when it's my time to leave this land I hope you'll welcome me to your Heroes' band. HELLO, MY BROTHER by Dee Kosier Hello, my brother. You're having another bad day.... You don't have to say anything- I can tell by the grim lines around your mouth and the thousand yard stare in your eyes that is only momentarily replaced by fleeting seconds of terror. Your hands are trembling I know what demons you are fleeing, what awful horrors you are reliving .....over and over again..... Although I was not there, and retelling is not the same, you have shared your terrors with me... I know what you dream for I dream your dreams. Your nightmares have become my own. I don't fear the horrors of the dreams... my terror comes from being so inadequate to quell your pain. I don't know the words to take away what you are feeling I can find no special balm to ease the raw pain of your emotions. Although my dreams start as yours, they always end as my own... As I try to put my arms around you and your brothers and sisters to comfort and shelter you and ease your pain... but there are too many of you and my embrace cannot hold you all And my terror lies in failing you And in my dreams I see the faces of those who could bear it no longer... my friends I was helpless to help... Jon, who used a shotgun to end his pain.. Derek, living forever lost in the nebulous world of the committed insane Frank... dying of liver failure from his escape into a bottle. But we must remember, my brother.. that this is now. We are both hurting and must try to help each other. That war is over... forgotten, never, but over nonetheless. Things that happened then are of the past. Done. Completed. A far cry from the Sunday School lessons of our youth- but necessary all the same. And NOTHING, NOTHING you could tell me of things that happened then Will change my feelings for you now. I accept you as you accept me... imperfect beings trying to do the right thing in a world where right and wrong are inextricably twisted together. I am here now. Sit here beside me. Take my hand, my comfort, my acceptance, my respect, my love. You are home, brother, and you are safe.