www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Today's coverage of the ceremonies reminds me of how much the veterans sacrificed for our freedom. What these brave men did on D-Day is unfathomable to those of us who have never experienced combat.

The members of my family who went to war were poor uneducated farm K*ds who were barely surviving in the depression. Its hard to believe that volunteering to go to war seemed like a better option over what they were going through at home.

Many people do not know that Canada once had a world class formidable military. This is no slight against our current military, however many years of cuts have unfortunately taken their toll.

The greatest generation ever? You won't get any disagreement from me.

Devo

_________________
The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

so few of them left now. most are in their 90s.
absolutely no way to fathom the fear those men must have known but yet they persevered.
i remember asking my father why in the footage i have seen of Dday that the personnel landing carriers opened right into the hail of incoming artillery.
he said the feeling was that if they opened away from the shore no one would have gotten out.
too bad no one seems to care much anymore Devo.
now deserters are said to be serving w honor and distinction.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Agree 100% Devo...what the men of that generation did and went through was incredible. If you can ever do it, make a trip and see the beaches and then you will REALLY know the hell those men overcame to protect our freedom and way of life. Just reading and watching documenteries, I never really appreciated how hard Omaha was to get off of. When you see the beach itself and the defenses still remaining (not all of them) then it defies explanation the bravery those men had to storm forward against all odds.

My hat is off to each and every veteran and service member for the sacrifices they make for ALL of us!

_________________
The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

True courage is being scared as shit and still doing your duty. Those men had it. Soon they will all be gone

_________________
" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

I know that famous quote, but can't place the source. Where is it from Greengo?

_________________
" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

Mother Teresa said it first.

Greengo is an ARDENT follower of Mother Teresa.

Ah, Mother Teresa, what a kind soul. Why hasn't she achieved sainthood? I'm not Catholic so I don't know from saints. Too bad she died on the same day as Lady Diana, who totally scooped her news.

_________________
" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

The beatification of Mother Teresa was conducted Oct. 19, 2003 by Pope John Paul II. Many believe Blessed Mother Teresa will be named a saint of the Catholic Church someday, and her beatification is the latest step in that path to sainthood.

Greengo is next on the beatification list....... then Karen.

So much for "sainthood" on a monger board.

Actually, I have a few chicas who also deserve sainthood for their performance, and putting up with me.

_________________
" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

My dad and all my uncles all went and fought in Europe, my dad injured and a couple uncles also injured. Seems like all men of that era went to war and these guys were ordinary Americans drafted from their families and jobs, got quick training and sent out to fight, they were tough but they were scared. Luckily for my family, all came back, no life changing injuries, my dad's was the worse, retreating Germans booby trapped a bridge in Italy, a convoy including my dad was crossing and it went down, dad broke his neck but returned to the states.

Civilian life and a V.A. rehab and home loan set my dad like countless million other ones across the nation after the war to work hard, find a career, make some money, become upwardly mobile, buy a house, buy a station wagon and raise K*ds.

Many of us, now in our 50's and 60's, are the products of good brave scared young men (and women) just starting out in life, risking and sacrificing everything to save the world, returning home victorious and going about the business of marriage and baby making (in that order, what a concept!) before they were so rudely interrupted...

_________________
Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...