riggerrob 643 #1 November 11, 2017 Just out of the rain following Armistice Day Parade in Port Moody. Thankfully, the rain held off until the parade was dismissed. Bumped into an old soldier/gunnery sargeant who served with my brother in Bosnia and Afghanistan. He invited me to help fire the salute. I was honoured to pull the lanyard for one of the 21 shots fired this morning. The Seymour Artillery Company brought their antique, muzzle-loading, 6-pounder cannon. Gunners wore red serve topped with white pith helmets. Afterwards, I chatted with gunners. One was a US Army SF (retired) who had served on Germany during the Cold War. He was surprised when I asked if he had been stationed in Bad Tolz! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,027 #2 November 12, 2017 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. by John McCrae, May 1915... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 52 #3 November 12, 2017 Thank you, even those of us who have lived our entire lives in and around the military tend to forget this.lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #4 November 13, 2017 My great grandfather and 4 of his brothers served in WWI on the battlefields in Europe. Amazingly all five returned home alive, but nevertheless changed men. They rarely ever spoke about the horrors they saw. My grandfather served in WWII in the US Army Air Corps as a full colonel. My Godfather, who was my grandfather's nephew, served in the Korean and Vietnam wars and too, saw the horrors on the battlefields. Fortunately he was willing to share some tales but it all came down to this. War is Hell."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
