thank you.

SECOND THAT THERSIS

This liberal Democrat, and proud of that fact, also wishes all Veterans, a happy Veterans Day and thank you as well.

It's Veterens Day, Thanks to all my fellow Vets!

A short story:

Nine years ago today, just after midnight, I told a very close friend of mine that I was gay. It was the first time I ever came out to anyone. We had some tension and then he told me he was gay too. Finally I wasn't alone. Deep down I knew he was gay also and one could feel we were just waiting for the right moment to tell each other. We talked all night, and laughed at the fears we both secretly held that the other was a planted spy. Someone placed in the other's confidence to gain the necessary information to arrest and discharge the other. We carried on for hours in total joy and relief. By the time the barracks were starting to stir with the morning duties of Airmen, I had made my first true friend. One without the nagging secret. Later that day I realized that we had come out on Veteran's Day. How ironic, I thought, to have freed myself on the very day that is set aside to honor me. However, I am mindfull that this day would not be for me and many others if the Millitary knew this secret we held. I served my time proudly and made many friends, but the constant stress of hiding who I was made it a more dificult journey than it had to be. I should have been worrying about bullets and bombs, not sex!

[ November 11, 2004, 07:48 AM: Message edited by: Denver Fan ]

I would like to say Thanks to all of you for the kind words, its very much appreciated. This is a special day for me, this time last year I was in AFghanistan and believe me its very good to be back home. I stil have a lot of friends in Afghanistan and Iraq gay and straight and I'm sure all of them appreciate your words too. There's a lot of very special people on Outsports!! and it always makes me feel better for the nice words.

It's Remembrance Day in Canada.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae, 1915

Great story.

Thanks, veterans!

From Wilfred Owen, one of the great, gay British war poets:

ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
    -Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
   Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
  Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
  And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?
   Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
  The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

You're welcome.

Big thanks for those who continue to serve, such as azairforce.

GJ
Former LT, USN

Thanks to all of those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military. You have my gratitude.

A humble thank you to all who have served.

An extra special thanks to GatorJamie (because I really do like her despite her Gator-ness) and to azairforce because he's smart enough to love the Canes as much as I do. wink

[ November 11, 2004, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: KeyWest Guy ]

Heartfelt thanks and best wishes for my fellow Vets and those on active or reserve duty now.

GJ, you were a USN LT! How extremely cool of you! :cool:

Mike
LN2, USN, 1972-'75
USS IWO JIMA (LPH-2) & USS INCHON (LPH-12)
COMSIXFLT

This "liberal, commie, pinko" wishes all Veterans to know that I support your efforts in the past, now and always in the future. My deepest gratitude and thanks for something you do that I cannot fathom being able to perform myself. My Brother-in-law is an ex-Marine.

Thank you.

Ah, yes, the "Gator" Navy. My first-class midshipman cruise was in USS MANITOWOC (LST-1180). :cool:

Welcome home, Mike.

xxoo back atcha, KWG.

Although this was written to honour British soldiers at the outbreak of World War 1, the sentiment can certainly be applied to any nationality:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

(from 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon, 1914).


Many Americans are probably familiar with the colourful Canadian paper currency. But this year the Mint has introduced its first coloured coin: a special red poppy quarter to commemorate our veterans:

http://www.rcmint.ca/poppy/home.asp

Really good show on The History Channel last night about the last hours of WWI, senseless hours of slaughter in which generals sent thousands of men to die between the signing of the armistice and its taking effect at 11 a.m. that day. Worse, the hushing up of the subsequent Congressional inquiry, in which Gen. Pershing and others were spared censure "because statues were already being erected to honor them."

I always thought WWI was the stupidest of all wars, from how it began through how it was fought and now, to how it so stupidly ended. It WAS the last gasp of a dying mindset, one we're all much better off without. Thankfully, at least one man learned its lessons. In the hours surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK took great pains to ensure that no miscommunication occurred between the US and USSR, drawing specifically upon the miscommunications between the monarchs that launched WWI. This man understood his history and thus was not condemned to repeat it.

I can't say enough good things about THC; its programming is consistently top drawer and a welcome relief for what passes as entertainment on the rest of the TV spectrum. I also recommend its biopic of Alexander the Great, set to re-air this Saturday evening. It deals frankly and at some length with the homosexuality prevalent in the period and in an intelligent, informed way. Check it out after your done watching the day's games! :cool: