SwiftVets.com

[LewWaters]

November 10, 2007

It may be very difficult for many to understand, but there exists a segment of our society, a minority within, that willingly place themselves between our enemies and the rest. That segment has always been there throughout our history and will remain there in the future.

They come down from the mountains. They come from the cities of the North and the Bayous of the South. They leave the beaches of California and Florida. North, South, East and West, they leave the comfort of their homes and loved ones to volunteer for America. Young and older, Black, White, Brown, Red and Yellow skinned, historically male, but now female too, they come with no desire of praise or large salaries, but a desire only to see America remain the freest nation on the planet and to see others share in the freedoms we do.

Not all face battle, but many do. Some pay the ultimate sacrifice and end up forgotten by all but family, loved ones and maybe those that sent them. Some never return, lost forever, their fate unknown to all who know and love them.

Others return wounded, broken in body or mind. They may face a life of scorn by the very ones they were protecting. All too often those who wish to use them to further political agendas and who could care less about them use them as political props. They are looked upon as victims instead of as the heroes and patriots they really are.

Many desire to return to battle alongside their comrades as soon as possible, missing limbs and fitted with prosthetics. Lifelong friendships may be forged after the battle ceases while others shun closeness, fearing the pain of losing a friend during another battle.

Our media pages and reports are filled with bad news and claims against them. Some of our politicians denigrate their sacrifices for political gain. And still, they continue to come from all corners of the nation to fight for our freedoms, liberties and to keep our great nation free.

These are the ones that fill the ranks of our Armed Services and our Veterans Groups. They are America’s Veterans.

I once received in email what I consider to be the very best Definition of a Veteran I have ever seen.

“A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'” (Author unknown)

That is Honor. An Honor that too many Americans no longer understand. That is the courage to leave everything behind and possibly travel to far lands to face an enemy to keep people you don’t even know free or to free a people you also don’t know.

I am one who has a very difficult time affixing “Greatest” to any generation as every generation has faced their trials and tribulations. World War Two gave us many who traveled far to fight oppression and tyranny. Many were forced into the Military and many others volunteered.

Korea and Viet Nam were similar but with the Korean Veterans simply being forgotten and the Viet Nam generation facing the scorn of a thankless nation for many years. Yet, the Viet Nam generation had a greater percentage of volunteers than did the World War Two generation.

Today’s Military and Veterans of the current battles are 100% volunteer, no one is forced into the Military against their will. How can we rate these Soldiers, Airman, Sailors and Marines any less than earlier Veterans we consider “the Greatest?” I cannot.

As we reminisce and celebrate another Veteran’s Day, let us recall that we still have several in Harms Way, doing what many of us did before, facing an enemy to keep America free. Facing an enemy to free an oppressed people.

America owes its Veterans, all of its Veterans, a debt of gratitude. It is a debt that can never be adequately repaid. We can never regain what we gave up in our youth to face the enemy. We can never repay what others give up today to keep us free.

The best we can do is honor and respect them, teaching our children to also honor and respect the sacrifices they made and are making today.

Until such time that the world stops producing despots, tyrants and those who feel they have a right to rule all others, we will keep on producing Veterans and they will continue coming forth for all of us. I thank God that they keep coming.

To all my fellow Veterans, Welcome Home!

Lew
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Clark County Conservative

[Me#1You#10]

Hand...Sa-LUTE!

That was one of your best Lew. Well done my friend.

[BuffaloJack]

Thank you Lew.
An excellent tribute to our men and women of honor and grit.
Past and present.
Jack
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Swift Boats - Qui Nhon (12/69-4/70), Cat Lo (4/70-5/70), Vung Tau (5/70-12/71)

[LimaCharlie]

Thanks Lew, very well done!
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I was going to become an anarchist, but they had too many rules.

[LewWaters]

I thank all of you. #1, I feel this was one of the better ones I ever wrote, possibly because I could put more heart into it.

Welcome home.
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Clark County Conservative

[Deuce]

And Lew,

That's a great oneline response to those who ask 'Will America remain THE beacon of freedom when somebody else becomes the next great economic engine(like China)?'!!
The answer is of course we will.

[Theresa Alwood]

One thing that people who have never served fail to understand is the common bond between those of us who served...which goes across generations, genders and even services ( ); there is a sense of kinship and sense of respect and a sense of understanding of what we hold dear and what our values are. The words God, Honor and Country goes to our soul...we feel it, we breathe it and we live it. Most of us who are no longer active duty even if our minds and bodies and goverment disagrees with us - would return back to active duty regardless of age and serve this country again without any reservations. We are proud to have served and we are damn proud of America and all she holds dear. We may disagree on certain issues but our values and strengths are what bind us together and understand each other and even while some of our own family members do not understand us; others who have served do. It is the very fiber and core of who and what we hold dear and while others may not understand or appreciate it; we still would do it over again and again and again.
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Born to raise a little hell!

[LewWaters]

Well said and spot on, Theresa.
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Clark County Conservative