Thank You

[hackthis_archive]

Today is Veterans Day. I thought about writing about my feelings about war in general. About how being a liberal wine-sipping communist dick-suck does not preclude my sense of awe and appreciation for all branches of the military. How serving your country is not a second-rate choice if you don't want to go to college. How passionate I am about Veterans Affairs, about volunteering to help people when they come back from serving overseas. About trying to make a point of saying "thank you" to servicemen and women, because this is their JOB. They aren't doing this to pay the rent, they're doing this because it's something they believe in. How many people can say they're doing something that they honestly believe in? And then I realized this isn't about me, this is about them.

This is about every man and woman who has chosen to go out in the world and put on a uniform in service of their country, of this country. This is simply to say THANK YOU for putting this country first. The USA is not perfect; it has problems and faults and dysfunction that would be Viagra for Freud, but you have seen past that. You go out every day, and to paraphrase Rudy Reyes "put on your Superman suit" and sacrifice for the bigger picture.

There is no greater service than the one you provide.

You are deeply appreciated, admired and respected.

THANK YOU.


Also, I know times are super hard, but if you have a few dollars (or books or extra hours in your week) please consider donating to one of the following:

IAVA: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: Volunteer, donate, or even just read up and think about what they're saying.

ReMind: The Bob Woodruff fund which gives to injured servicemen (and women) and their families.

Books for Soldiers, which accepts books, games and movies.

Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which is the National Intrepid Center for Excellence, which treats servicemen with brain injuries

Military.com has a list of charitable organizations. Everything from Adopt a Platoon to Wounded Warriors Family Support and National Military Families Fund.

Comments

[serialkarma.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting all these links, hon. I was just reading about this and it made me so SAD, and was just about to look for places I could donate some money too.

Brain!

[missdunham.livejournal.com]

This post pretty much brought me to tears. I'm not from the US and haven't heard of Veterans Day until now, but already, from my flist, i can see how much it means to people and I understand the deep respect you all have for them. And I like the fact that I can share this respect also, because if it wasn't for them, things might not be how they are today.

<3

[ranalore.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this.

[ghostrunner7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this, I just used the Military.com links to send a care package. Good collection, thanks!

[maurheti.livejournal.com]

♥

[chrismm.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yes.

Anysoldier.com is pretty awesome, too.

[screaming-mimie.livejournal.com]

As a veteran, I thank you.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

No, thank you.

[rubywisp.livejournal.com]

you made my day with this. i'm a die-hard liberal, but i was also a marine, and i can't even begin to put into words some of my frustration with things i see (or don't) on lj sometimes, but this. this made my day. thank you. ♥

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

No, really, thank you.

[athenejen]

This is a really lovely post. I'm adding it to memories, and once I'm employed again (and/or have the time to go through all my currently-packed boxes) I think I'll donate a bit.