Some pics of inspiration

Kruska · 05-06-2008, 01:16 AM

[quote=Njaco;350210]I just recieved this in an email from a friend. Don't know how accurate it is or if its BS but I like what it says.

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there is no one else who will do what America does without question.

I like it too ...

Regards
Kruska

freebird · 05-18-2008, 02:43 PM

i just found this by chance... Great pics Guys!

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 05-19-2008, 09:00 PM

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This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace,

Now home to the 4th Infantry division.

It will eventually be shipped home
And put in the memorial museum in Fort Hood , TX
The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat,
who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad

Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country;
He melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors.

Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months.
To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news?
Because it is heart warming and praise worthy.
The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect.

But we can do something about it.
We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military who are making a difference.
And please pass this on!

Njaco · 05-19-2008, 09:26 PM

Thanks Aaron! Thats why I wanted to do this thread.

RabidAlien · 05-19-2008, 11:58 PM

Awesome thread, Njaco! Simply FRIKKIN AWESOME!!!!!!! Some of those pics I had never seen before, and those poems....must admit, as much as I read, I've never developed a taste for poetry...but found myself sitting here reading every last word. Here's another one for those, like myself, who served but sorta fell between wars. Dunno if anyone else struggles with not feeling "as worthy" as those who actually fought...maybe its just me...but this one helped:

THE VETERAN

The night wind moans its lonesome sigh
unto the tremb’ling moon
half-hidden ‘neath the scurried clouds
which whisper Rain! come soon.

He makes his way down silent streets
by houses shuttered fast,
their gaiety locked safe within-
unknown, he trudges past.

“Open your eyes,” he longs to scream,
“and know that you are blessed!
Remember on this solemn night
the men who gave their best,

“gave of their time, their families,
who put aside their life
to take up arms ‘gainst tyranny
to shield thee from that strife,

“who stood alone before the dark,
dark path of Death’s broad trail,
who dared defy vast War Machines
with mortal flesh so frail!”

Each year he longs his voice be heard,
yet keeps his pain inside.
He feels himself inadequate
to honor those who died

in battles long forgotten now
in places far and wide,
his own brief time in uniform
(the voice within him cried)

was insufficient to advance
him to that noble rolls
of those we title “Veteran”,
he feels this in his soul.

And so he silent keeps his peace
and carries on his way,
saluting every Veteran
he sees upon this day.

Yet, turning down his darkened street,
a sight he now beholds
which he can scarcely comprehend,
but one which must be told.

Along the street, in silent ranks,
stand mem’ries from the past,
appearing at the edge of sight
to vanish just as fast:

a man no more than seventeen
in ragged homespun red
who made a stand at Valley Forge
and there, for Freedom, bled…

a soldier clad in tattered gray
next to a man in blue:
at Gettysburg they fought for rights
they each thought Noble, True…

a doughboy from scarred Europe’s plains
who lived within a trench
for three long, weary, bitter years
to aid the conquered French…

a GI from dark Hurtgen’s hell
who bled for every foot
of “sacred German Fatherland”
the Allied Army took…

another from the Asian front
with wounds that never healed,
denied the Communist advance
in South Korean fields…

a trooper from the ‘Nam appears,
in Terror’s path he fell
so that a child could live that day
and grow up strong and well.

They flicker in and out of sight,
stretched down through centuries
and ask but that their sacrifice
would help men to be free.

He watches for an awe-struck time,
then when the vision passed
he carried on his lonely way
with mind on era’s past

‘till presently he finds himself
before his tired door.
He stares in wonder! They’ve returned,
but not quite as before:

arrayed in ranks before his stoop
the shades of Freedom’s past
form rank on rank stretched into Time
from first to very last

and to a man they raise salute
to this young struggling mind;
into the ranks of Veterans
they greet one of their kind.

His soul uplifted, doubts at ease,
he carries on his way,
his shoulders squared with new-found strength
to face a brand-new Day.

And so rejoice all who have Served
defending Freedom’s land,
for you are of the Brotherhood
of noble Veterans!

-jkl
11/12/2003

Njaco · 05-20-2008, 07:59 AM

Freakin fantastic, Rabid!! I know what you mean. My father always said he was a day late and a dollar short. Said 'Nam should have been his war. Said it till his dying day. I wish he could have seen the AF Honor Guard at his funeral for the service he did do. He didn't have to worry.

Wayne Little · 05-20-2008, 08:39 AM

Nice post Rabid...

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 05-20-2008, 07:16 PM

You will have to thank Micdrow also because if it weren't for him I would have never gotten it posted. I have trouble sometimes. Thanks Micdrow. Oh and anyone can copy the post and E-mail it to friends for everyone needs to see it. We need to kick the media in the @$$ and make them do more of the positive because those people lived in fear for decades and no one did anything about it until Bush decided to. OK, I'll get off my soapbox.Thanks NJACO.