Saluting Our Veterans on November 11

I suspect my reply will irritate some people, but I am past caring.  My inbox is full of sales flyers and ads.

As Peter so aptly observes, today is a day to honor our Veterans.  They deserve it.  They sacrificed more than most others can know in order to stand "Between their loved home and the war's desolation" ("Star Spangled Banner," v. 4).  They did it to serve, protect, and defend those they love and the land that gives them great opportunity.

They did not do it so that retailers can increase their income.  "Vet's Day Sale:  Honor our Vets by spending your money to increase my sales!"  Such appeals do not make me want to buy during that sale:  they make me want to NEVER buy from that place.

Retailers:  Today isn't about your sales.  It is about those who sacrificed to make your sales possible.  Honor them in a way that gives them honor, not you money.

Wow, quite a train!

And, Happy Vets Day to my fellow veterans. Have a beer, or root beer, on me.

To those presently serving, thank you for service and sacrifices for our nation.

Jim

Peter, Thank you for posting the video of the Army train from a couple years ago, and starting us off on this important day!

Thank you to every veteran who served to protect our country and freedoms including my 90-year old dad!!  Thank you to everyone who is still serving today!  I attended the Monroeville Greenberg show Saturday and was glad to see Pittsburgh Independent HiRailers member Dave was running an excellent military train on their modular layout.  It was good to get out again, and good to see train enthusiasts honoring our veterans!!

Nice Peter ,

Thank you to all the Veterans!!

Alex

I caught some of the tandem jump in Kansas City this morning in TV. What a thrill that must have been, especially for the 96 year old WWII vet. Vets now get into National parks free. Of course, many of us already have our senior passes, but it’s a nice gesture for those younger vets and their families.

Jim, I’ll gladly pop the top on an A&W root beer with you and anyone else here.

Two Army trains at the same place, different times of the year.  I am not trying to neglect the other services, but I have no room for an air base or a sea port on my layout ;-)

Here is a short train I put on the layout at my office.  The small banner reminds everyone to remember all serving members of the Armed Services--Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard--at Christmastime.

Peter,

Thank you for starting this thread. I wish all of our veterans a Happy Veteran's Day, and thank you for your service. Freedom is not free without our veterans.

My oldest daughter Kristine graduated from college on May 15, was commissioned into the navy the same day as an ensign, and is currently serving on the USS Thomas Hudner, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer.

Erol Gurcan

Wishing all those who have served or are still serving a Happy Veteran's Day!

Army 1965-68. Nike site 88. Don

I dont often agree with Pallalin...yet he was correct..spot on about retail making Veterans Day about selling....instead of perhaps donating to a Veterans cause.  Peter....much thanks for starting this thread. We OWE A LARGE PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY to these people.

They ARENT losers...they are some of us....👍👍👍✌

@palallin posted:

I suspect my reply will irritate some people, but I am past caring.  My inbox is full of sales flyers and ads.

As Peter so aptly observes, today is a day to honor our Veterans.  They deserve it.  They sacrificed more than most others can know in order to stand "Between their loved home and the war's desolation" ("Star Spangled Banner," v. 4).  They did it to serve, protect, and defend those they love and the land that gives them great opportunity.

They did not do it so that retailers can increase their income.  "Vet's Day Sale:  Honor our Vets by spending your money to increase my sales!"  Such appeals do not make me want to buy during that sale:  they make me want to NEVER buy from that place.

Retailers:  Today isn't about your sales.  It is about those who sacrificed to make your sales possible.  Honor them in a way that gives them honor, not you money.

You are 100% correct.

I served and would do it again even know what it has done to me mentally. I bought a couple of years ago a Veteran train set from MTH, not to support them but so I can honor my fellow brothers and sisters, no matter which branch of service you were in, you were there to serve our country. And I thank-each end every one of you.

I tend to agree with Palallin, but let’s not forget that many of the small businesses having sales are run by veterans, many of the larger ones give veterans discounts on top of sale prices, not to mention all year long, and there are a lot of veterans, especially older ones, who rely on such sales to make ends meet and provide some little extras this time of year.

First, thank you to all who served or are serving.

Second, a lot of places are offering free dinners, car washes and other “you don’t have to buy anything, it’s on us” perks. You earned them and deserve them, so if time and health permit, I hope you all collect.

Third, when we were in school our assemblies (graduated 1975) always included a roll call of veterans, starting with WWI. Leroy Workman was in his nineties then and navigated slowly when he stood to be recognized. When the Legion post’s World War II vets stood, they always called the veterans in the audience to stand too. Nearly every dad, more than a few moms and a whole lot of teachers got up.

A couple of years ago, we went to hear a special speaker, then the roll call began with WWII. Where several hundred would have stood, there was one. If you meet a WWII vet, now is the time to talk to them. Some have recorded their stories, and that’s good, but there’s nothing like hearing them firsthand while we can still ask questions, get clarification, and most of all let them hear our thanks one more time.

@locolawyer posted:

Peter,

Thank you for starting this thread. I wish all of our veterans a Happy Veteran's Day, and thank you for your service. Freedom is not free without our veterans.

My oldest daughter Kristine graduated from college on May 15, was commissioned into the navy the same day as an ensign, and is currently serving on the USS Thomas Hudner, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer.

Erol Gurcan

Erol. When you write her or speak to her. Please thank her for her service for me.

May  God bless America, now and forever !

To every vet from any service or service time.   THANK YOU.

@palallin posted:

I suspect my reply will irritate some people, but I am past caring.  My inbox is full of sales flyers and ads.

As Peter so aptly observes, today is a day to honor our Veterans.  They deserve it.  They sacrificed more than most others can know in order to stand "Between their loved home and the war's desolation" ("Star Spangled Banner," v. 4).  They did it to serve, protect, and defend those they love and the land that gives them great opportunity.

They did not do it so that retailers can increase their income.  "Vet's Day Sale:  Honor our Vets by spending your money to increase my sales!"  Such appeals do not make me want to buy during that sale:  they make me want to NEVER buy from that place.

Retailers:  Today isn't about your sales.  It is about those who sacrificed to make your sales possible.  Honor them in a way that gives them honor, not you money.

VERY WELL SAID!...

Happy Veterans Day to all who served and are still serving today.

And of course to honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation.

Important day to recognize Vets and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make. Among many I know, I am honored to know a 99 year old WWII Vet. Army Corps Nurse. A wonderful lady.

Yes! God bless to all those who served and to those that made the ultimate sacrifice including

My Uncle John Massa around the Korean war

And my Uncle George Smolicz who fought against the Germans in the Polish Army in WWII and had his ear blown off by a German grenade.

Thanks to those who have served past and present. God Bless America!

And to all my fellow Vietnam brothers I would proudly say “welcome home”.

Brad

My wife's uncle, Onofrio Zicari was on Normandy and is still alive today.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/worl...ed/story?id=63643196

And he has a girlfriend....

To all of those that have borne the battle, today we salute you'.

Our local coffee shop gives a free cup of coffee to veterans and our local grocery store gives us 11% off our total purchase. No gimmicks here! Here’s my train salute!

The G&O crew normally gets together on July 4, Memorial and Veterans days to run appropriate trains.  The crew couldn't do it today for obvious reasons.  All local Veterans Day gatherings were cancelled.  Here are some photos from past events.  NH Joe

Fitting that this arrived today. Thank you to all veterans! God bless!

Dong Ha 1969.   Army . 1/40 Arty.    Thanks to ALL veterans...here now and those who belong to history .

Appreciate ALL who say THANKS ........it was a PRIVILEGE to have served. 🇺🇸 .

@GVDobler posted:

My wife's uncle, Onofrio Zicari was on Normandy and is still alive today.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/worl...ed/story?id=63643196

And he has a girlfriend....

Jon, Thank you for your service and your uncle's.  That is a great, but sad story of your uncle.  My uncle was at the Battle of the Bulge, but he passed on 30 years ago, my aunt just passed on in March, and I am now the caretaker of all of Uncle Andy's Army mementos.  My maternal grandfather was disabled rescuing a fallen comrade in France in 1918 after also serving in the Marines 10 years earlier.  What a legacy all these men and today's heros leave us!!

HAPPY VETERANS DAY! To my fellow brothers in arms, “Thanks for Your Service.” I run/display this consist the entire month. The cars are in the order congress authorized/established the military services.

Happy Veterans Day to all Forum members who served and those who had family members serve. My Grangmother was proud to be a gold star mother till the day she passed.

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

To all of those that have borne the battle, today we salute you'.

Thanks Ted, and here's a salute to you and to all those that served from the Bristow Pike:

Happy Veteran's Day to all who served.

My dear ole dad survived D Day in 1944.  Uncle Sam put me behind a desk in Germany during the Vietnam war and left me alone for 3 years.  We both know how lucky we were.  Raise a glass to all who served this great nation.

I just have one thing to say to the Veterans amongst us:

THANK YOU!

Wishing all my fellow brothers and sisters in arms a Very Happy Veterans Day! Thanks for your service to our nation and to the cause of freedom everywhere.

The military display arrives in town

Thank You Andy for the terrific military consist

To all veterans. A big thank you, from my wife and myself.

Yes for sure. A big tip-o-the hat with bowed head to all veterans from all wars. Thank you for your sacrifices.

Jim K

@pennsynut posted:

Important day to recognize Vets and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make. Among many I know, I am honored to know a 99 year old WWII Vet. Army Corps Nurse. A wonderful lady.

My dad was a WWII combat veteran in Europe, was shot up several times (he would be 99 if he was alive) , and he always said the army nurses were some of the most amazing people he met, they had to be tough, and had to deal with pretty horrific things,not to mention what young men are like, but they also were just plain good people.