Cascade Crew

[Al Hasse]

Let's not forget those men and women who are members and former members of our armed services. If not for them, some of the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted would not be possible today. Tomorrow is set aside to honor these brave men and women.

Also known as Remembrance Day for our Canadian friends.

And a little history....

In 1918, at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, fighting ceased in World War I. Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day (November 11) is a day to honor veterans living and dead who have given so much to protect our country. Now, with our armed forces fighting enemies overseas and at home, Veterans Day is even more significant.

[GREG DAVIDSON]

i for one would like to thank the service men and women one of my best friends served a couple terms in iraq my grandpa was in ww2 and i know a few of the guys in the crew here served, it takes alot of testicular fortatude for doing what you have done and still doing thank you all

[cameron7710]

[RSFreak]

I come from a long line of Army officers (I'm the only one who went enlisted) and I am proud of them all, but I am most proud of my grandfather, a retired Colonel who served as an infantry officer in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Today I salute him and all of our veterans and all of our service men and women because freedom isn't free!

[alloy]

You beat me to posting Al. I just got home from work and was going to do a vets days post thread. But I'm very happy others beside me thought of it. People in the crew are great this way, and one reason why I stay in the crew and not go my own way.

I'm thankful for past, present, and future service men and women that keep us safe and free to lead our lives are we chose.And yes, freedom isn't free, never has been, never will be.

As it says in my location, Vancouver, WA, land of the free because of the brave.

Dan
SSGT USMC Ret.

[rjmcgee]

Thanks to all that have served and continue to serve.

[Jenn]

[Jenn]

Oh and I just want to thank all the hard working veterans for giving me a day of rest

[Dewey316]

Thank you to all of those who servered.

[Al Hasse]

As one of the several in the crew who are Vets, I suppose I should put a "You're Welcome" in there also. And if I had the chance to do it again, I wouldn't change anything

[Xophertony]

thanks again.

[Magman]

Nice post Al! The servicemen and women sacrifice a lot to defend our great nation, endure abnormal hardships and experience things many never will. I'm honored to be an active military member and grateful that I've had the opportunity to serve. Thanks to all the veterans, past and present!

[Quasi-Traction]

Thanks to all who served in the Armed Forces.

happy Armistice day to all the other veterans and armed forces of other nations.

lets not forget that over 21 countries participated in WWI. Especally so since this november 11th denotes 90 years since the "great war".

[Al Hasse]

About the biggest thank you to our wounded vets that I could imagine. Sheldon Adelson, CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, and a vet himself set an example that not many could live up to.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4586625n

[alloy]

I know this is a little late, but I just got this in my email today and thought it was appropriate for this thread.




The Old Man

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty-five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.

The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, "You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age." And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, "Looks like you're having a problem."

He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, "What outfit did you serve with?"

He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all round again and I said my good-bye's to his wife.

I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name........ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society."

I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence.

" Remember, old men like him gave you FREEDOM for America "

America is not at war.
The U.S. Military is at war.
America is at the Mall.

If you don't stand behind our troops,
PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!

Vote smart or don't bother.
If you're just watching the news to get your knowledge,
you're not informed enough to vote.

God Bless America , our Veterans and Troops.

[Kage87Z]

[alloy]

Being a Marine I knew that there were a few inaccuracies in this story, but sometimes you just take things like this at face value and not pick them apart because of the good feeling they give you inside. It was nice thinking that a "few good men" would be so kind to an old man and his wife not knowing who he was beforehand.

Now that I know it's not true, it's kinda spoiled for me.