Veterans Day Tribute 2005
06 November 2005 @ 21:07 hours
Published in the Boulder City News for Veterans Day 2005:
The privilege of reading this or any other newspaper, with its unfettered flow of information and diverse perspectives, is but one of many freedoms brought to you courtesy of the blood, sweat and sacrifices of generations of veterans.
If you have not thanked a veteran lately for his or her sacrifices, this would be a good week to do so because today is the 230th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and tomorrow is Veterans Day.
The Marine Corps has always had a special place in my heart. In addition to serving alongside leathernecks throughout my Army career, I was born at Quantico, Virginia and spent most of my youth on Marine bases as the son of a career Marine.
To my Marine friends scattered throughout the world, “Semper Fidelis” and a big OO-RAH!!
In addition to recognizing and showing appreciation to living veterans, we should never forget the sacrifices of those that never returned home to their loved ones and those whose return home was delayed by years as a POW.
One of the saddest days of my life occurred in the eight grade when a classmate, Manny Albright, lost his father in 1967 during the Vietnam War. Manny was absent that day when our teacher, Mrs. Judy Jones, the wife of a Marine fighter pilot, heroically put her best face on and gently broke the sad news to the class. Mrs. Jones’ compassionate words about Manny and what he needed emotionally from us gently faded into the background as our tiny collective planet wobbled on its axis and violently thrust us into the real world of war, warriors and heroic sacrifices.
Less than four years later, at the age of 17, that world became more real with my graduation from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Many of my platoon buddies were destined for Vietnam.
One of the happiest days of my life occurred in 1973 at Fort Gordon, Georgia, when, as a military policeman, I had the honor of being part of a security detail for repatriated POW’s as they returned from Vietnam for medical treatment.
Months later, I bumped into one of those former POW’s, Sergeant First Class Robert E. Tabb, who had returned to full duty. I firmly shook his hand and thanked him for his military service and sacrifice as a POW. He was both surprised and pleased that I had remembered him. He could not say anything as his eyes filled with tears and I sensed the swelling in his throat. He did not have to say anything; his prolonged, warmhearted grip said it all as he acknowledged my gratitude.
How does a grateful nation pay homage to the thousands of marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coastguardsmen, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, such as Lieutenant Walter Leroy Albright, and to those whose youths were interrupted by their sacrifices as a POW such as Sergeant Tabb? By remembering that sacrifices such as these will continue for as long as we enjoy the freedoms most of the world will never know and many in this country take for granted. Our service members stationed worldwide need your love, prayers, and support, regardless of your personal beliefs or opinions.
Thomas Jefferson said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” From the bottom of my heart, I will always be eternally grateful to those brave patriots who have nourished the tree of liberty with their personal sacrifices.
The privilege of reading this or any other newspaper, with its unfettered flow of information and diverse perspectives, is but one of many freedoms brought to you courtesy of the blood, sweat and sacrifices of generations of veterans.
If you have not thanked a veteran lately for his or her sacrifices, this would be a good week to do so because today is the 230th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and tomorrow is Veterans Day.
The Marine Corps has always had a special place in my heart. In addition to serving alongside leathernecks throughout my Army career, I was born at Quantico, Virginia and spent most of my youth on Marine bases as the son of a career Marine.
To my Marine friends scattered throughout the world, “Semper Fidelis” and a big OO-RAH!!
In addition to recognizing and showing appreciation to living veterans, we should never forget the sacrifices of those that never returned home to their loved ones and those whose return home was delayed by years as a POW.
One of the saddest days of my life occurred in the eight grade when a classmate, Manny Albright, lost his father in 1967 during the Vietnam War. Manny was absent that day when our teacher, Mrs. Judy Jones, the wife of a Marine fighter pilot, heroically put her best face on and gently broke the sad news to the class. Mrs. Jones’ compassionate words about Manny and what he needed emotionally from us gently faded into the background as our tiny collective planet wobbled on its axis and violently thrust us into the real world of war, warriors and heroic sacrifices.
Less than four years later, at the age of 17, that world became more real with my graduation from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Many of my platoon buddies were destined for Vietnam.
One of the happiest days of my life occurred in 1973 at Fort Gordon, Georgia, when, as a military policeman, I had the honor of being part of a security detail for repatriated POW’s as they returned from Vietnam for medical treatment.
Months later, I bumped into one of those former POW’s, Sergeant First Class Robert E. Tabb, who had returned to full duty. I firmly shook his hand and thanked him for his military service and sacrifice as a POW. He was both surprised and pleased that I had remembered him. He could not say anything as his eyes filled with tears and I sensed the swelling in his throat. He did not have to say anything; his prolonged, warmhearted grip said it all as he acknowledged my gratitude.
How does a grateful nation pay homage to the thousands of marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coastguardsmen, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, such as Lieutenant Walter Leroy Albright, and to those whose youths were interrupted by their sacrifices as a POW such as Sergeant Tabb? By remembering that sacrifices such as these will continue for as long as we enjoy the freedoms most of the world will never know and many in this country take for granted. Our service members stationed worldwide need your love, prayers, and support, regardless of your personal beliefs or opinions.
Thomas Jefferson said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” From the bottom of my heart, I will always be eternally grateful to those brave patriots who have nourished the tree of liberty with their personal sacrifices.
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