My yearly Veteran’s Day Post - Semper Fidelis · 5:10pm Nov 12th, 2018
A pony salute to the veterans of the armed forces, in whatever country they may be.
(Equestrian Marine Corps from AK71 [Adam Knight] on DeviantArt)
May your steel never rust nor your skills ever dull as you stand watch over those of us who live in the freedom you protect.
Dawnscroll once left this quote on my Veteran’s Day story, To The Bugle’s Last Call, and I think it appropriate to repeat it now:
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
— Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
My father, most of my mother's brothers, my wife's father and her brother have all served in the US armed forces in one area or another. As of yesterday, I've been told my eldest son has just joined the Army.
(salutes)
Semper Fi
--Sgt. Spade
Thank you all for your service.
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I WILL ALWAYS PLACE THE MISSION FIRST.
I WILL NEVER ACCEPT DEFEAT.
I WILL NEVER QUIT.
I WILL NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
This is my creed.
can call myself a veteran, i'm an ex-military guy... but i solute to all the veterans around the world for doing their duty when others won't.
I can only imagine what horrors that military veterans may have had to face, and I cannot claim to have any true understanding of what it is like to experience such things. Also, I am merely a Canadian civilian, but I do respect most of the US military, and our own Canadian Armed Forces, at least the guys with boots on the ground.
The administration at the top tends to be more hit and miss, though.
Thank you for posting this poem, Georg. It really sums up how most of us veterans feel.
And thank you and your family for all each of you has done or is going for all of us. Good luck and safe passage to your son.
The last stanza of this poem is used as the central spoken part of our ANZAC day dawn services with the line Lest We Forget to close it followed by the Last Post bugle call being sounded and then the reminder Lest We Forget being stated solemnly again afterward.
This is the always most moving and heartfelt part of the service.
Thank you to your family members, and safety and honor to your son.