Happy Veterans Day
Way back before I became a police officer, I had entered the recruiting process to join the Marine Corps. As it happened, the LAPD gave me a job before the Marines did. Looking back through the years today, I can say I’ve had a police career I can be proud of, but I nonetheless regret that I didn’t serve my country in the armed forces. To those who have, you have my endless gratitude and my apologies for not expressing it more loudly or more often.
Anyone interested in arousing that same gratitude in himself on this Veterans Day should find satisfaction in reading Lee Habib’s piece on Dick Winters over at NRO today. Winters was one of the Army paratroopers featured in Stephen Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers and the HBO miniseries of the same name.
We have the remarkable fortune of living in the freest, most prosperous nation in the history of the world, and today we honor those who helped to make it and keep it that way. Happy Veterans Day.
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Mar '11
Re: Happy Veterans Day
I've been listening to podcasts from a site I found a few days ago: the Pritzker Military Library. Lots of authors (Carlo D'Este, Jeff Shaara, Max Boot, Max Hastings), but today I've been focusing on the interviews with Medal of Honor winners, and reading some of the citations.
Just thinking about what all of the soldiers and sailors went through for my freedom makes me feel humble - and very fortunate.
Edited on November 12, 2011 at 12:37amMar '11
Re: Happy Veterans Day
And Jack, there are many kinds of service. First responders don't get their own day, but you know you are important when your budget is the first thing they threaten to cut.
Somehow the Department of Cookie Pushing never gets mentioned.
Aug '10
Re: Happy Veterans Day
Jun '10
Re: Happy Veterans Day
As a civilian, my job is to keep America free and just--keep it worth any heroic military member giving up life or limb for. It's the civilians--particularly the ones who vote for liberals--that have fallen down on the job. We're still great, but the fork in the road is close ahead.
Re: Happy Veterans Day
Thank you, Jack, for your acknowledgement and for your own service over the years. You guys are on the front lines here at home, and the risks and dedication your line of work requires cannot be overstated.
Dec '10
Re: Happy Veterans Day
Thank you, Jack, but I won't pretend that the linked article pleased me. The tone was disrespectful and sophomoric, when in the author's voice, and all else was swiped from Ambrose and other biographies,
I appreciate that this guy, Habeeb, pointed out something that other outlets were overlooking. But he did so by cribbing other people's work and behaving petulantly, when he spoke in his own voice.
With pleasure, I linked friends and family to other things I came across, today, that might make them smile with gratitude. The tone of this piece precludes me from sharing it with others, as the author's tone diminshes the topic.
Thanks to all, for their service.
Nov '10
Re: Happy Veterans Day
Today at our co-op my son recited In Flanders Fields (John McCrae, d. 1918) and my daughter recited Prayer of a Soldier in France (Joyce Kilmer, d. 1918). We do this each year; it's my small way of keeping faith with those brave souls and others like them who gave the last full measure of devotion.
My heartfelt thanks to those who have served. May God bless you and yours.
Mar '11
Re: Happy Veterans Day
Thank you, Dave, for your service.
Oct '10
Re: Happy Veterans Day
Brother Dunphy,
My story is roughly the same. I wanted to join the military, but I couldn't make the cut when it comes to a medical issue. It wasn't substantial enough to keep me out of law enforcement service. I'm a former police officer now and I'm glad I got to at least do that much, but one of my great life's disappointments was not being allowed to serve in the military. I adore the people who do that for us and I'll be the first to admit that I'm a little jealous of them.
Edited on November 12, 2011 at 3:49pmRe: Happy Veterans Day
Percival: I've been listening to podcasts from a site I found a few days ago: the Pritzker Military Library. Lots of authors (Carlo D'Este, Jeff Shaara, Max Boot, Max Hastings), but today I've been focusing on the interviews with Medal of Honor winners, and reading some of the citations.
Just thinking about what all of the soldiers and sailors went through for my freedom makes me feel humble - and very fortunate. · Nov 11 at 3:24pm
Edited on Nov 11 at 03:37 pm
Percival: Thanks for leading me to the Pritzker site. It's fantastic.