11/11/2009

14 Responses to “Veterans Day 2009”

1. Just about every generation of my family has served, except the present one. One of my uncles from way back was a colonel in the union army, and had his horse shot out from under him over nine times. Great uncle Jessie was gassed during WWI while serving on the French lines under Pershing. They didn’t have enough advance warning of the attack to get their masks on in time to prevent some nasty stuff from happening, so he was disabled when he returned from the war. We still have his gas mask. They all put me to shame.

   Dmac (a964d5) — 11/11/2009 @ 12:53 pm

   
   

2. Thank you, DRJ! My thanks also to my Brothers and Sisters who both preceeded, and followed me.
   And, for all those members of the Corps,
   a belated Semper Fi for 234-years of intrepid service in the cause of Freedom & Liberty!

   AD - RtR/OS! (11f16f) — 11/11/2009 @ 12:53 pm

   
   

3. A tip of the cap to all my fellow veterans, and their families, for their honorable service to our great country.

   JD (4827fd) — 11/11/2009 @ 12:57 pm

   
   

4. btw, tonight at applebees you can get free food if you prove you are either in the military or were a vet. its a limited menu for the free stuff, but it looks pretty good. i told everyone i knew about it.

   And sure, applebees is doing this out of mixed motives, genuine love of our soldiers combined with the hope to get positive press. we can be annoyed by that or encourage it. personally i would rather encourage it.

   Anyway, thank you to all the veterans and the people now protecting us and spreading freedom around the world. Some of us still appreciate you.

   A.W. (e7d72e) — 11/11/2009 @ 12:59 pm

   
   

5. If Applebee’s thinks that they will get goodwill for giving some token recognition of veteran’s, they are absolutely right.

   Dustin (bb61e3) — 11/11/2009 @ 1:07 pm

   
   

6. Sounds like a good place to have dinner tonight.

   AD - RtR/OS! (11f16f) — 11/11/2009 @ 1:12 pm

   
   

7. I think I prefer Armistice Day.

   Soronel Haetir (2b4c2b) — 11/11/2009 @ 1:14 pm

   
   

8. Thanks to all the veterans for fighting for our freedom. To the vets who post here and comment here Thank You for your service to our county. If you are like me, it may look grim considering the fools we now have in Washington, but we have been through worse and we will make it through this.

   One of the fondest memories that I have of my dad was when we were watching a WWII Army-Airforce video about ten years ago and he started to talk about the various airplanes and their air speed, hydraulic systems, load capacity and some of the problems he had putting them back together after a mission over Germany. It was as if he was back in 1944. He just turned 91 and is in a home in Texas. He has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know who I am anymore. That night was pretty special becasue like so many guys who served, he never talked about what happened. He did that night and I will never for get it. He was one of the lucky ones who served during WWII and Korea. If you have a father or brother or sister who served make sure you tell them how much you appreciate them before it is too late.

   BT (74cbec) — 11/11/2009 @ 1:19 pm

   
   

9. A thank you to the Vets. Often ,we (I) take them for granted. It’s appropriate to recite Lt. Barney Greenwald’s remarks from “The Caine Mutiny “. Yes, smart fellas folks;sharper than you and me. Though maybe not as up on Finnegan’s Wake and Proust and such. ….But they saved my mother-folks like them. Even Queeg,poor fellow/

   corwin (5a280e) — 11/11/2009 @ 3:23 pm

   
   

10. I had a cousin who flew 50 missions in a B 17 out of North Africa. I always wanted to take him up in a B 17 for a ride and get him talking about his experiences but he died of emphysema too soon. I’ve been able to go up in both a B 17 and a B 24, the only one flying, in recent years and wish he could be there.

    My father ran away to join the Navy at age 15 in WWI. Once the war was over, he announced how old he was so he could get out. I Knew lots and lots of WWII vets when I was a kid. Almost all (but not all) are gone now.

    I did take my daughter to the US military cemetery at Normandy. It’s right above Omaha Beach. I hope she appreciates it some day.

    Mike K (2cf494) — 11/11/2009 @ 3:29 pm

    
    

11. Thank you for everything.

    The Emperor (82e13a) — 11/11/2009 @ 3:34 pm

    
    

12. I have never served, but I thank everyone who has.

    You all do a job too many people would rather not do, and do not appreciate the vital public service they provide.

    Because you, those who preceeded you, and those that follow you do a dangerous job so the rest of us can do what we do under the umbrella of your protection.

    I find it abhorrent that some people cannot grasp that simple fact.

    Dr. K (adb7ba) — 11/11/2009 @ 3:37 pm

    
    

13. In addition to Applebees, check out Golden Corral, Outback Steakhouse, and Famous Dave’s BBQ. Many franchises in these chains have deals for vets today.

    Teflon Don (f313c4) — 11/11/2009 @ 4:34 pm

    
    

14. […] commenters in the Veterans Day post mentioned that many Applebee’s restaurants were offering a free meal to veterans and military […]

    Patterico's Pontifications » A Salute to Applebee’s (e4ab32) — 11/11/2009 @ 7:51 pm