A good day to find someone and say, “Thanks”

10 comments to A good day to find someone and say, “Thanks”

• Kris, in New England

  November 11, 2007 at 7:06 am

  Having just returned from vacation, I can say that I was blessed to have the opportunity to say Thank You in this way, several times. First to an older gentleman (and I mean that word in the finest sense) who was a reservist in the 50s. Then to a Vietnam-era pilot (never did find out what he flew). These were casual conversations – the first at lunch, sharing a table in a busy dining room on a cruise ship – he kept apologizing for talking and telling stories; we kept telling him that we didn’t mind, that we loved to hear them. The 2nd standing in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean on a private Bahamian island. They began as innocuous conversations – the kind you have with strangers sharing a vacation experience. In the end, these men taught us much about honor, dignity and sacrifice.

  I would have like to have met the members of the USS Chemung reunion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Chemung_%28AO-30%29 ). 6 men and what we believe are their wives – celebrating “Refueling the fleet all over the world” (as it said on their t-shirts). Never did get to meet them – saw a lovely picture of them from one of our formal dinner evenings. Would have loved to have heard their stories, let them talk on as long as they wanted.

  We owe them that much, at least.

• Parrothead Jeff

  November 11, 2007 at 7:06 am

  Lex,

  THANK YOU !!!

  Thanks for the years of service to our country, for keeping my family, my friends, and me safe, and also thanks for your writings.

  Have a GREAT day!

  Jeff

• Marianne Matthews

  November 11, 2007 at 9:02 am

  Am trying today to thank you and the other Protectors I read on the Internet, for all you do and have done to protect us and our great country. You, and other Protectors like you, have illuminated my life and helped me to live in freedom, to learn from my mistakes, to immerse myself in the glories of living my long life here in this great country.
  Thank you, Lex… and thanks to all of your commenters who gave up part of their lives to protect us, the civilian citizens of this great country. We are so very grateful.

  Marianne Matthews

• Kristen

  November 11, 2007 at 11:44 am

  Heartfelt thanks to my father, my husband, my brother-in-law and to you and the other veteran and active-duty military who congregate here. I was raised with all the blessings of freedom and the prosperity that flows from freedom. My children will have the same blessings. The guarantors of that freedom are not politicians, but those who put their lives on the line and stand watch on the wall. I pray for all of you every single day.

• Grumpy

  November 11, 2007 at 2:31 pm

  Lex, I’m going to take a little different view of this issue of “Veterans’ Day 2007″. This is NOT just a day to THANK YOU for what you have done in the distant or recent past. This would include the future veterans of today who are now serving on active duty in whatever capacity But this is a day to honor who we have become or are. Each man’s or woman’s battle is different, therefore, their service to this Great Nation is different. Lex, THANK YOU, for having this blog and putting up with us all. To the Marines, HAPPY BIRTHDAY and THANK YOU, from a “zoomie”.

  Respectfully,
  Grumpy

• Barb

  November 11, 2007 at 4:16 pm

  Grumpy – completely agree with you. The Vets of today, standing on the line or serving on a ship right now, deserve those thanks too.

  Thanks to you, thanks to Lex, and thank you to every one in uniform. I appreciate your service!

• shira

  November 11, 2007 at 4:24 pm

  Thank you Lex!

• The War in a Nutshell

  November 11, 2007 at 6:28 pm

  [...] read the rest. H/T to Lex for finding this [...]

• Babs

  November 11, 2007 at 9:19 pm

  Being the mother of a son serving I found the statement that Veterans Day and Memorial Day were rather close in association to be rather poingant…
  Thank you everyone that has survived to keep the candle lit for those that have gone before and the support for those that go now.

  As Snake would say,
  Respects…
  Babs

• FbL

  November 11, 2007 at 9:22 pm

  Thanks to you all for what you’ve done–serving in peacetime or wartime, you’ve stood between us and the darkness. For that, you will have my everlasting love and appreciation.

  As I wrote on my blog,

  “On Veterans Day we remember our family members who have stood so tall to defend our liberty and ensure our safety, who have confronted the difficult questions we only play with as spectators, and who by their black-and-white decisions allow us to live in a time and place where we get to debate gray theoreticals.”

  How could I NOT lose my heart to each one of you?