It's one thing to have served as many have & I appreciate the sacrifice of that tour of service no matter what the capacity.
However, those who spend their lives serving; whether that be a few short months because of a life cut short by combat or several years of faithful service into retirement; those folks cannot be thanked enough.
There are not enough words to express the gratitude owed to those military men & women.
I am truly humbled by the selfless sacrifice of those who willingly spend their lives serving this nation always at the ready to do what most of us can't even fathom.

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"Free people are not equal & equal people are not free." --- Mackinac Center for Public Policy

I've been surprised that those who hope for peace the most are often those who saw real combat up close and personal. I sat outside a VA hospital about 20 years ago with an old guy who was at Hawaii when it was hit. He had buds on the Arizona. He cried as he told me how he prayed there would be no more wars.
I'm impressed by all who served in combat. I tip my hat to the OP for a personal opinion and can see your point in that. However, I think a life interrupted by the draft was a cold awakening for those who served 3 or 6 years also.
And the citizen soldier of today like my nephew just amazes me. A bantered adjective, but apt. He just left his family and went to train in Mississippi or some God awful place for a tour in Afghanistan. He's missing hunting season here which he loves so much. Idaho is a place of family. Let's face it with the small population just about everybody can point to relatives and in-laws from up near the Canadian border to Twin Falls to Boise. When one goes we all go.
And a whole bunch just left, so there is a guy gonna be missing at the Thanksgiving and Christmas table here in almost every household.
I don't think we thank men enough in our society for bucking up and just doing their damned job.
Not to disparage the courageous women and I've met some who went through hell as nurses, but mostly the wars are fought by men. And most nasty dirty jobs you have to get up early and dress warm for and lay on a hard ground or stick your hands in a place where you might draw back a nub-are mostly done by men.
So thanks, guys! For pretending or sucking up or whatever-the-hell you have to do to shut up the little boy in you who wants to stay warm and safe and go out there and do the really hard chit that makes life better and safer for me.
And thank you to all our Vets today and every day.
In your dedication and excellence, I can see that God truly does bless America.

__________________
214 Days
9 Hours
56 Minutes Days till Christmas

Veterans...thank you for your service...

God bless you all, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.....

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Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS

Thank you, Veterans!

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While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. ~*Leonardo Da Vinci*~

Sorry I missed this and started a Veteran's Day in the Off Topic so if need be combine the one I started into here or just avoid the one I started.

To all active and vets, a job well done....

Thanks for the above GS..

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"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation... One is by sword... The other is by debt."

John Adams 1826

__________________
Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS

__________________
Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS

__________________
Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS

I'll place this article here as I had been saying they are going to Afghanistan but I was mistaken as you can see they are going to Iraq.
We know and are related to many of these people.
God bless 'em all and may they safely return mission accomplished!

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214 Days
9 Hours
56 Minutes Days till Christmas