Contest about Vets and the Military!

[smelvis]

Hey BOTL People

I have about ten address's I would appreciate all who entered pm me your address. I'll wait a few more days. I know I am doing this backwards but trust me I have good intentions regardless of what commonsenseman say's.

Thanks

I will then post the winners and try and put to words my own thoughts on this subject!

Dave

PS I Really need the address's before I can complete this, It looks like I need another 5/6 address's. Thanks.

[tobacmon]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

Don't do it! It's a trick!

As someone who knows, consider yourself warned......

So this was a trick you say---now you tell me---

[GTCharged]

No problem smelvis, take your time.

BTW, great name.

[smelvis]

Okay I will assume by Monday anyone not sending their address does not want to be included. Is that a fair enough time frame, if not someone say so, I would like to pay the winners!

Thanks

[smelvis]

Alright thanks everyone for posting and sending your address's, I will be packaging the winners on Wednesday (Veterans Day) and mail on Thursday.

I will not be announcing the winners until they receive the goods. Yes I do tend to do things my own special sort of way.

Thanks all!

PS
I hope you all have the pleasure of a Vets company on this very special day or do something nice for them.

Many thanks

Dave

[Nurse_Maduro]

Originally Posted by smelvis

Alright thanks everyone for posting and sending your address's, I will be packaging the winners on Wednesday (Veterans Day) and mail on Thursday.

I will not be announcing the winners until they receive the goods. Yes I do tend to do things my own special sort of way.

Thanks all!

PS
I hope you all have the pleasure of a Vets company on this very special day or do something nice for them.

Many thanks

Dave

Bravo, Sir. I didn't actually see this contest until now, so just let me say: Great idea to show these brave men and women some respect, and Kudos to the terrific posts here.

Congrats to all the winners!

[Slaterstogies]

Originally Posted by smelvis

Alright thanks everyone for posting and sending your address's, I will be packaging the winners on Wednesday (Veterans Day) and mail on Thursday.

I will not be announcing the winners until they receive the goods. Yes I do tend to do things my own special sort of way.

Thanks all!

PS
I hope you all have the pleasure of a Vets company on this very special day or do something nice for them.

Many thanks

Dave

i just want to say thanks dave, this is by far my favorite contest i have ever joined and thanks to everyone who joined i hope you vets liked what we had to say!! cant wait to see who won

[tobacmon]

Thx for the contest--this has nothing to do with the contest but wanted to post something that I was confronted with Friday last week.

I was walking the parameter of the complex at work and noticed a soldier in his cammies waiting out front of the building. The Battleship Wisconsin is moored next to Nauticus and will soon be part of our facility. So I go up and let the soldier know I appreciate his commitment and service protecting our country and asked if he was just getting home. He told me he had a medical condition due to the war and would not be returning for a 3rd. tour and was soon to be Honorably Discharged.
You can see/tell something was really bothering him and I talked with him for a good 15 minutes and his wife walked out and is pregnant with child. I told him he did his duty and now he has a family that needed him. I gave him a handshake and he told me he appreciated all of my positive comments and meant allot to him.

Point being, if you take just 5 min. of your time when you see anyone in uniform to just let them know you respect, appreciate and commend them for all they do, it can probably change a life if not save one.

Again God Bless America & the Men/Women of our Military!

[ericb13]

Originally Posted by tobacmon

Thx for the contest--this has nothing to do with the contest but wanted to post something that I was confronted with Friday last week.

I was walking the parameter of the complex at work and noticed a soldier in his cammies waiting out front of the building. The Battleship Wisconsin is moored next to Nauticus and will soon be part of our facility. So I go up and let the soldier know I appreciate his commitment and service protecting our country and asked if he was just getting home. He told me he had a medical condition due to the war and would not be returning for a 3rd. tour and was soon to be Honorably Discharged.
You can see/tell something was really bothering him and I talked with him for a good 15 minutes and his wife walked out and is pregnant with child. I told him he did his duty and now he has a family that needed him. I gave him a handshake and he told me he appreciated all of my positive comments and meant allot to him.

Point being, if you take just 5 min. of your time when you see anyone in uniform to just let them know you respect, appreciate and commend them for all they do, it can probably change a life if not save one.

Again God Bless America & the Men/Women of our Military!

Thanks for the post Paul and thanks for the contest Dave!

[GTCharged]

Veteran's Day today, make sure to show a vet your appreciation!

[The Postman]

Today my wife and I took a little drive in the country to see a display of 133 flags that has been put up to honor Canadian soldiers killed in the line of duty in Afganastan. We did not get to attend, but the funeral for the 132nd casualty of that war, a young man from the city of Saskatoon, was held at a church just south of my house on Saturday. All of these men died while trying to bring freedom to people on the other side of the world. We must never forget the sacrifice they made.

Thank you for this contest Smelvis, it has given us all a chance to think, remember, and reflect.

[Nitrosportman]

yeah vets rock i love hearing their old war stories(wwI/wwII) and im sure people get tired of mine, but it reminds me of being in iraq, pulling guard duty for so long my boy and i would take turns sleeping. We started at 6 hours then switch but we ran out of steam in about a week and were switching off resting every ten seconds. It seemed like an eternity just to stay awake 10 seconds i clearly remember that as my defining moment when i became the man i am now i'll stop rambling now and say thank you to all the other vets who had my back over there and througout the history of our country!!!

[smelvis]

Go figure so many to choose from and I know I said I would send first but this post reminds me of a similar story that happened to one of my Brothers a Marine. Go figure no name no address. I have to say I may be biased but this would be my First place choice, Sir dajone Thank You for the Story and your service. I see so may service personnel without names and address's and I would so love to send some of you active guy's some smokes. it also figures you guy's serve and expect nothing in return, A true Soldier!!!

Everyone on this thread is a winner to me, alas even for me I can't afford to send you all a gift, God I wish I could. I am so Proud of my Vet buds and Vet Strangers and friends from Puff who believes as I that we would be speaking another language if it were not for our Proud and deserving Soldiers.

I am not to proud to admit I have tears in my eye's on this day trying my best to Honor those who Deserve so much more than I, you and our country gives them. As Gunhand say's lets all do more than just use words to let them know. Go to a VFW and have a meal with a Vet. Go to the airport and Greet returning Soldiers give them a cigar and say Thanks Bro!

Tell them with actions, we are all to busy but yet we sit here and post, we shop, we drink, we go on vacations. Give back it just takes your time, which BTW we wouldn't have if it were not for our Soldiers!!!!

I Love you guy's and will stand proudly next to each and everyone of you if a day ever comes when it is needed. My knee's might be shaking (LOL) but I will be there!

Please forgive my wordy emotional response!

Thank You Very Much!

Dave

Originally Posted by dajones

Veterans remember. The experiences we have are not just recalled, but imprinted--and permanently. Doctrinaire winds may blow this way and that across the intellectual wastelands of our campuses , but We. Will. Remember. And what we remember are real life lessons.

Diversity? I know all about it: and I don't need some fancy word (like "diversity") to legislate towards. Indeed, military diversity includes appreciation for different points of view, as well as respect (or true "tolerance") for religious, racial, cultural, and socio-economic differences. We are all green (in the case of Army, anyway).

Here's a story, and a true one: I was stationed for a time in DC and, as you can imagine, a frequenter of many a Capitol Hill bar. I remember (see, "I remember") dancing with a young and slightly tipsy damsel. We got to talking. She asked what I did for a living. I said I was a soldier. She spat in my face.

I stopped dancing. I smiled (after wiping away the spittle) and said, "Thank you." Her head nearly exploded. "I just spit in your face, and you say 'thank you?!'" she demanded.

"Yes," I replied. "Thank you."

"What the f*ck is that all about? Why are you thanking me?"

"Because I am doing a good job."

"What the f*ck are you saying? What are you talking about?"

And I replied, "In how many countries on God's green earth do you think you could spit in a soldier's face and get away with it? America is awesome! Thank you for reminding me that what I do has real value and practical application."

She shook her head. Then she moved close and we danced. She laid her head on my shoulder and clung to me.

Brothers, let me remind you of the words of Charles M. Province, U.S. Army:

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

[Jumes]

Dave, thanks again for providing a thread for people to read the great stories of our vets, and Postman, thanks for reminding me that so many vets from so many countries sacrifice themselves not only for their own country, but for others.

[gator_79]

I'm a little late, It's been pretty busy over here and I haven't been online lately but I still want to say thanks for recognising the sacrifices of all the vets, both past and present. I am proud to say that I am still active duty. Thank You