Memorial Day

[Silberpfeil 376]

[Wrench 10,184]

There simply isn't enough way to say "Thank You" to those that gave everything.

[+EricJ 4,362]

I was going to post it, but I see Silberpfell beat me to the punch. Never forget...

Edited Monday at 05:49 PM by EricJ

[+Trotski 946]

As an ex Serviceman, from a 3 generation military family, My Grandfather lied about his age, and joined the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1915, when he was only 15, wounded in action on the Somme in 1916, and carried the scars and horrors of the trenches for all his days, My Father joined the RAF in 1940 as a Flight Engineer. and flew in B24's in Costal command, and remained in the RAF until 1977 as first a trainee pilot on B29 Washingtons, until the RAF thought it was a great idea to insist all Pilots and Navigators had to have a commision, at which point my Father reverted back to Flight Engineer, as he had no desire to be an Officer. He retiired as one of the Senior Master Engineers in Transport Command., after leaving Bomber Command,  and moving across to Trasport Command, He flew  "sneaky Beaky " missions over Germany in a Chipmunk, apparently as a "Check Pilot" for trainees.......Hmmmm ok, then flew in Vallettas, Hastings, Brittannias, and finaly the Short Belfast. My Mother was in the WAAF during WWII gaining the lofty rank of LAC, and demobbed after VE day in 1945. I Joined up in 1976, went for training as a Telegraphist, I hated it, so went for a remuster board, however, there were no open trades at the time so they offered me a General Duties position, which I declined ( Very politely believe it or not ) So the discharged me on the proviso I returned to my local Recuitment Offoce within 12 months, and I would be accepted back in a new trade immediately. So, I joined the local TAVR unit  ( Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve) and served in the Wessex Regiment as a signaller, until I went and re enlised in the RAf in 1978 as a proud member of the Rock Apes ( RAF Regiment) Serving in many different places, including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Germany and Cyprus, with a little holiday in Iraq at the end of my service life. I wouldn't change a thing. Yes there were shitty times, yes there were losses, yes there were great times, and yes there are fabulous memories. So, I raise a glass, to ALL Warriors, in the air, on land, and at sea or under it. It matters not from what country you come from, or what flag you defend, at the end of it all, we are ALL BROTHERS and SISTERS in Arms I salute you all past, present, and future.................................PER ARDUA