Warbird Information Exchange

... it's an honor as always ...

Parades are fun, handshakes and hugs are good, speeches are for those who need to hear speeches, medals are for those who collect medals and promises are usually broken. What else is new?
Until you've been on the receiving end of bullets coming your way and you've sent bullets the other way, there's nothing that any of us can compare to h e l l on earth like a veteran can.

Veterans day, Memorial day, shinny boots day, whatever you want to call it day, their just another day for veterans. Every day is a veterans day and everyday is a day that we must honor them and care for them. What we do as free humans is not enough for them, it's never enough and it will never be enough. Many of us do our best to honor and appreciate their service, but it's simply not possible to do enough for them. They can't be honored enough.

It doesn't matter when, where or how you served your country, it's the simple fact that you served and that's enough to be placed in everlasting honor and respect. Those of us who walk around all day and complain about daily life issues and make it so easy to take for granted our freedoms, also make it so easy to disconnect from those who had and do stand on the wall to keep us safe.

I know there's many veterans who frequent this silly forum and have put up with my nonsense from time to time and most likely more than they should, but I have dedicated much of my time and efforts (much of which is far and away from this website) to doing all that I can to help and honor all of you who served, and to try to never take what you have given me for granted.

I sincerely hope those of you who suffer and struggle are seeking help. I sincerely hope that you live with some sort of protection and strength to cope with your demons. Please know that there are those of us who are honored to try to help. Not just today will you be held in rarefied air, but tomorrow, the next day and the next day and every day ....

I wish all the veterans a peaceful day today.

The link below never gets any easier to read, but I still keep it in mind as it reminds me of the horrors that so many veterans are suffering. So remember when you honor our veterans today on the internet, remember to think and honor those who struggle with civilian life and those who live on the streets as well.

God bless them all. Muddyboots God bless you as well. I hope your doing OK.

http://gawker.com/i-am-sorry-that-it-ha ... -534538357

_________________
Zero Surprise!!...

Mark I thank you for those well chosen words and all you bring to this site

Thanks Mark, I only served just under 25 years.

I'm about to leave the house for dinner with my dad, he served 38 years, RAF-RCAF-CAF.

A special day.

Spent the day in Emporia, Ks., where Veterans day was originated. I didn't wear anything to stand out as being a vet myself, but kind of sat back and watched from the sidelines at a local convenient store/coffee shop.
Sipping on my hot cup of java by the front door, I was touched by the attitude of young and old alike in this pretty much liberal town.
There were a few S.E. Asia vets sitting at one of the tables, wearing their hats and tee shirts proclaiming the various branches of service they served in, drinking coffee and buying lottery scratch tickets....seemed to be a daily meeting place for them. As customers were coming and going, paying for gas and different sundries, the majority of them stopped to shake the hands of these vets, and thank them for their services.
Some , I noticed were friends of these vets, some not. Some introduced themselves as Afgan, Iraq, vets, thanking each other for their service to this nation. Even the college kids here, I thought, expressed their appreciation to these vets in a higher than expected ratio than anywhere else I'd seen before.
Being a Viet Nam Era vet, I felt that I didn't deserve to magnify myself, as I didn't do anything spectacular except to make formation and draw my rations until my time of enlistment was done, didn't want to rain on these hero's parade....but that's ok, I thank all of you vets out there for your service, and may God bless you and our great country.

You mind if I magnify you a bit? ...... THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GARY for your service. I hope you and your family had a wonderful day yesterday. It's an honor to be able to type a few words for you.

Mark

_________________
Zero Surprise!!...

I'm always hesitant to post any photos with me in them as my photo is probably still hanging up in your local post office, but this was certainly not about me. This was a trip I put together a few weeks back. Several vets and I went and did what has become an annual trip outdoors to do things that old guys like me should no longer be doing haha.

Below are a couple of photos of a Yosemite CA half dome hike we did .... as I'm working on slowly tearing myself away from internet forum nonsense and putting more effort into things like this. Much less drama lol.

Although I'm still in relatively good shape, these 'kids' made me feel like I was 90 years old. 4 days of hiking (42 miles) and finishing with this big ole rock to climb. Wonderful kids and a wonderful time with them. Bless them all.


Back side of half dome.


Final leg up the half dome are the cables. You can just see them in this shot.


On the top of that big rock. I should have planted a flag lol


Yah I know, ain't getting any younger.


Young men and women. Beautiful people all of them and a beautiful place to spend time with them.

_________________
Zero Surprise!!...

A different group of vets, a different trip, this time it was hiking in Big Sur.
Again, wonderful humans and I thank them for allowing me to spend time with them.

And you see? No! I don't spend all my waking hours in front of a computer screen playing on internet forums lol.








I favorite part of these trips ....

_________________
Zero Surprise!!...