The photo of Grandfather in his Navy uniform
Always a favorite of mine
And the pictures of my mother, proud Navy Wave
A woman ahead of her time

Dad, a corpsman on submarines
6 months at sea every year
Sent me pictures and postcards from every port
Signed, I miss you, Kitty my dear

Uncle Jimmy picked the Coast Guard
And in the Army was my Uncle Joe
Uncle Eddie served in the Air Force,
All of them far from home.

I grew up on military bases
Protected transient life
All my friends were military brats
Our moms were all military wives

I married a Viet Nam Veteran
When he died I sang Long May You Run
Twenty-one rider’s revved up their engines
No need to shoot any more guns

I do not take Freedom for granted
I am proud of our Military
God Bless our Troops, bring them home soon
And God Bless their families

... amen

Amen from me too.
The best way to honor our vets is to do what we can to not make their numbers larger, after all, that's what THEY fought for.

Well said, Kitty! And a huge THANK YOU to all veterans everywhere.
'Specially our buddy Nathen!
<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/tiedye.gif" width=17 height=17>

Well said all of you. To all veteran's everywhere ... thank you.

Kitty, that was so beautifully written, thanks for reminding us what we're supposed to be remembering today.

That is a nice poem. We met a dude yesterday who lost a leg in Nam & has an artificial bionic leg. So sad what happened to the Vietnam vets. May God Bless the veterans & their families...

Wow!

I recieved the following email this afternoon and am going through too many feelings to hold by myself. I thought I'd post it here...a reminder that our Vets need our support . It seems the government has pleanty enough time and funds to send our military into battle, but when they come home, it's another story.


LB Combs was a Viet Nam Vet, a dear friend of mine. I saw him for the last time this summer at a yearly festival that we attend and he asked if my band would play "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" for him. We did...it was the last song of the festival with several thousand voices booming....
I heard from him once more after that, a quick call so he could share a wonderful prayer he heard an old woman pray...(here it is..)

"Prop me up on every leaning side, Lord
Prop me up on every leaning side..."

He and I went tree planting one day and set out dogwoods all over the neighborhood, sort of little surprises. The one planted in my front yard is big and healthy...
Well, here's the news I got today:

-------------------------------
<B>Hey All -

This is never easy -- to pass sad news around the circle. But I need to let
y'all know that LB Combs died this week - actually, it looks like it was on
Veterans Day, which is rather poignant. Sadly enough, he committed suicide.

He has been struggling with depression for some time now, struggling w/ the
Vets Admin. trying to find his way through the red tape for benefits and w/
Social Security for disability, but you can imagine how hard it was to maintain
momentum on that trail.

He was living in Harodsburg, Kentucky trying to make a go of it in horse
country, but it was a struggle. I've been in touch w/ 2 of his friends there and
they're taking care of things, animals, etc. LB did leave a will and they're
following his wishes and keeping us posted. Nancy Sluys and another friend,
Jeff, will be going to his home next week to help gather up his belongings --he
had no family except his family circle of friends.

It looks like there will be a memorial gathering in Greenville on Saturday,
Nov. 22. As more info develops on that, I'll pass it along.

Love to all - Diane </B>

******************************************

One more war casualty.
Please help us DEMAND that our Vets get the Health benefits they were promised.
RIP LB

So sorry to hear about your friend. May God be with his friends & those who loved him. So sad. Mike has an Aunt who lived near Harodsburg, Kentucky & is in an old folks home now with Alzheimers. We went up there to visit her once when she was in good health. Beautiful area of the country...