Thoughts to ponder about our Veterans!

[Guest guest]

SHINE UPON THEM.

I don't know if you saw this in the news but it really impressed me. Funny, our

US Senate/House took 2 days off as they couldn't work with the approaching

storm..

On the ABC evening news, it was reported that night, because of the dangers from

Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC, the military members assigned the

duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to

suspend the assignment.

They refused. " No way, Sir! "

Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said

that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that

can be afforded to a serviceperson.

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be proud if this

one reached as many as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~THE VETERAN~~~~~

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

AND REMEMBER THIS THE NEXT TIME THE FLAG PASSES OR IS BROUGHT INTO A ROOM!

It is the VETERAN,

who salutes the Flag,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The old American Gent arrived in Paris by plane and at French customs and he

fumbled for his passport.

" You have been to France before Monsieur? " the customs officer asked

sarcastically.

The Old Gent admitted that he had been to France before. " Then you should know

enough to have your passport ready for inspection, " snapped the irate official.

The American said that the last time he came to France he did not have to show

his passport.

" Impossible, old man. You Americans always have to show your passports on

arrival in France. "

The old American gave the Frenchman a long hard look. " I assure you, young man,

that when I came ashore on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-day in 1944, there were

no X* & *!!%$ Frenchmen anywhere on that beach. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little was staring up at the large

plaque that hung in the foyer of the church.

It was covered with names and small American flags were mounted on either side

of it.

The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the Pastor

walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, " Good morning, . "

" Good morning, Pastor " replied the young man, still focused on the plaque.

" What is this? " asked.

" Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the

Service. "

Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque.

Little 's voice was trembling ... and barely audible ... when he asked,

" Which Service? .... the 8:30 .... or the 10:30? "

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "