Posted: 5/29/2006 8:50:04 AM EDT
|
I wanted to take a few minutes to thank everyone who has ever held the red, white, and blue dear and served our country proudly. To the fighting men and woman who help keep our shores guarded, the world free of terror, and the lives of Americans safe, I give you the deepest thanks possible. To Edward, my thanks for serving this country as well as creating this wonderful community. What started out as a simple infatuation with the AR-15 rifle has birthed a family of thousands who fight to ensure our freedoms and do everything in their power to support our brothers in arms. To my Father and Father-In-Law, thank you for your service in Vietnam. Men like you are shining examples of what it takes to be Americans and how your love for this country brings us all strength and hope. You both have been great warriors and great fathers, now enjoy your time as grandfathers and know that I will raise my kids with the same passion for this country as you did. To those currently overseas, I pray for your safe return and want to extend all of our thanks for all you do, day in and day out. (Special shout out to a very good friend of mine, "Haze", who just completed his second tour in Iraq as a combat medic.) AR15.Com will always be here for your stories, prayers, and to hopefully provide you with any support you may need. As another Memorial day rolls by, it's our duty to remember and honor those who have given their lives to protecting freedom. Without their sacrifices the world would be a very different place. God bless you all and god bless America. |
|
By the way, I realize I often pick strange times to honor our soldiers, but with all the chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan, I felt it important to remember the dead and to honor the living who are making the same sacrifices today. So go out and enjoy the day with your family and remember all of those who have given of themselves in life and death to make it all possible! |
|
I say the names of those three I knew who were young in Vietnam and got no older. Tim Shanower who I went to school with died as a Marine, John Winborn was a friend of mine at Ft. Bragg, and Steve Warner died when I got in country. I had to go up north and help finish his work. This isn't my day. It's the day that belongs to those who have gone before us to keep this country safe even when too many of our citizens seem to despise our Constitution, our traditions and our role in the world. I took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies; foreign and domestic. I resigned my commission after my 6-year obligation was completed, but I was never relieved of my oath. I did my best to keep the faith and stay the course. I still do that after all the years. Thanks for thinking and honoring those who gave it all in all the wars we've had over the last 2+ centuries. The 11th of November is my day and all the rest of us who made it back. The banks will close, the post office will close, and I'll probably be at work. But, like my brothers, I'll know. Thanks for the memory. Thanks for remembering. May God bless and keep you all. Groucho |
|
Good sentiments GoatBoy and thank you. My son who is serving, and I, keep in communication through this site. Seems appropriate for us. He's a team member also. We both have gotten very useful information from this site that keeps him safer and lets dad sleep a little better. We all sleep better for those that served, God bless them. GM |