Veteran's Day, 2011...

A few musings...

First, I would like to dedicate this post to current veterans of the war on terror, including my son, Doug:



Going back to Vietnam, I would like to thank my friend Lonnie from my forum home, who wrote the following poem:

ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER WAR

We are old men now, graying, grandparents,
those of us who are still alive.

We are black and white and yellow and red
and every shade in between
We are crippled, some in body, some in mind,
all in soul
We bled and we died and we came home where
we bled and died some more
We came home to an indifferent
and uncaring nation
And we left more than blood
in a far and distant land

We are old men now, graying, grandparents
those of us who are still alive.

We watch our sons, our daughters return
from yet another far and distant land
We watch and weep, weep bitter tears
for a generation, a youth lost
But also tears of joy, tears for a nation,
a new beginning, tears for yellow ribbons
on the Central Boulevards of Hometown, USA

It was a long time coming, our welcome home
Through misty, half-closed eyes, we remember,
and imagine, imagine we see our own names,
just a faint imprint, a ghost-like image,
but our own names on those signs

We see the names and the ribbons
on the Central Boulevards of Hometown, USA
and we remember another time,
another place, another war.

We are old men now, graying, grandparents
those of us who are still alive.

Lonnie Henderson
May 29, 1991

With respect to the Korean war, I'd like to honor my Uncle; Gerard Gravel. My father, Leo Pusateri, Sr., served during World War II; and my grandfather, Tony Pusateri, served in World War I.

As a member of the Patriot Guard, I had the honor last Sunday of standing in the flag line of a Veteran's parade at the local V.A.

I stood there, flag in hand, in awe and tears, as Veterans from all walks of life, from WWII to Korea, to Vietnam, to the current wars, walked, rode in vehicles, and/or were pushed in wheelchairs. I shed tears as Blue Star mothers, military wives, and their children and grandchildren walked with pictures of their soldiers and homemade posters in hand.

When all had finally passed, it was the Patriot Guards' turn to walk in the parade. I stood there, flag in hand, and watched as my Patriot Guard friends (most of whom were veterans) assembled to walk the route. One of them turned to me, and asked, "Aren't you gonna walk?" I told him, "Sir, I never wore a uniform. I wouldn't feel right." He replied, "You go ahead and walk with us. It's an honor."

So I walked the route, in the company of heroes.

An honor, indeed.

Band of Brothers..

Around 30 World War II era veterans (including one woman) were welcomed back this evening in style here in St. Cloud at the Granite VFW. 26 Patriot Guard were on hand (including yours truly) to welcome back these heroes from their Freedom Flight adventure to Washington, D.C.. These veterans, free of charge, were flown to Washington D.C., to see the WWII memorial, as well as other war memorials. Chaperones accompanied these vets, some as old as 89 years old. The chaperones, as well as a videographer who accompanied the vets on their journey, each paid his or her own way, as well as for his or her own hotel fare.

The look of happiness and gratitude were on the faces of each one of these heroes; and heroes they are. But the folks who donated their own time and treasure to make it possible for these men to take part in this excursion are also heroes, in my book.

Upon their arrival, the vets were awarded with a certificate and a book of rememberance, and this passage from Shakespeare was read:

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

-St. Crispin's Day Speech, William Shakespeare, 1599

A request for prayer...

I just received this from one of my Patriot Guard brethren:

We are new to the patriot guard sa of last summer. We bought our bike for the tribute to the troops ride.
We went on that ride and the flag line ride. Then Tim started not feeling well after that. We found out last saturday that he har prostate cancer spread to the bones and the lymph nodes. Please send out our request for Prayer. The patriot guard means so very much to us and we need him to recover so we can participate more. Please pray for us

Tim and Vickie Johnson

Any prayers you can offer will be greatly appreciated...

Minnesota Flagline 2009....

I participated today with the Minnesota Patriot Guard's Flagline 2009. The 25-member St. Cloud contingent met at Perkin's and proceeded to Randall, to top off our tanks before we headed off to Ripley. But little did I realize that 25 members would actually morph into the 1000 plus riders from across the state:We congregated at Pillager before we made our final trek toward Ripley


All through our ride, there were well-wishers on the side of the road, waving flags and showing their support! It was an unbelievable rush seeing nothing but bikes both in front and behind you for as long as the eye could see, as the line of bikes stretched for over a mile.

The most poignant part of our ride went through the Veteran's Cemetery near Ripley, and it was at once awe inspiring and tearful, as we honored our brave men and women who gave their all for the cause of freedom.

All in all, around 1400 flags lined the road at Camp Ripley. I met some new friends, and got to interact with a lot of our nation's finest men and women.

Story here.