Freedom isn't Free

[ss~zoso~ss]

> I watched the flag pass by one day,
> It fluttered in the breeze.
>
> A young Marine saluted it,
> And then he stood at ease..
>
>
>
> I looked at him in uniform
> So young, so tall, so proud,
> With hair cut square and eyes alert
> He'd stand out in any crowd.
>
>
>
> I thought how many men like him
> Had fallen through the years.
> How many died on foreign soil
> How many mothers' tears?
>
>
> How many pilots' planes shot down?
> How many died at sea
> How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
> No, freedom isn't free.
>
>
>
> I heard the sound of Taps one night,
> When everything was still,
> I listened to the bugler play
> And felt a sudden chill.
>
>
>
> I wondered just how many times
> That Taps had meant "Amen,"
>
> When a flag had draped a coffin.
> Of a brother or a friend.
>
>
>
> I thought of all the children,
> Of the mothers and the wives,
> Of fathers, sons and husbands
> With interrupted lives.
>
>
>
> I thought about a graveyard
> At the bottom of the sea
>
> Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
> No, freedom isn't free.

[1MileCrash]

HOOAH!

[ss~zoso~ss]

Wua!!!!

[joerockhead]

The Flag

I Am The Flag Of The United States Of America. My Name Is "old Glory."

I Fly Atop The World's Tallest Buildings. I Stand Watch In America's Halls Of Justice.

I Fly Majestically Over Great Institutions Of Learning.

I Stand Guard With The Greatest Military Power In The World.

Look Up! And See Me.

I Stand For Peace - Honor - Truth - And Justice. I Stand For Freedom.

I Am Confident - I Am Arrogant - I Am Proud.

When I Am Flown With My Fellow Banners, My Head Is A Little Higher - My Colors A Little Truer - I Bow To No One!

I Am Recognized All Over The World. I Am Saluted - I Am Respected!

I Am Revered - I Am Loved And I Am Feared!

I Have Fought In Every Battle Of Every War For More Than 200 Years:
Gettysburg, Shilo, Appomattox, San Juan Hill, The Trenches Of France, The Argonne Forest, Anzio, The Beaches Of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq And A Score Of Places Long Forgotten By All But Those Who Were With Me, -- I Was There!

I Led My Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen And Marines - I Followed Them - I Watched Over Them - They Looked Up To Me And Loved Me!

I Was On A Small Hill In Iwo Jima. I Was Dirty, Battle Worn And Tired. But My Marines Cheered Me And I Was Proud!

I Have Been Soiled, Burned, Torn And Trampled On The Streets Of Countries That I Have Helped Set Free. It Does Not Hurt, For I Am Invincible.

I Have Been Soiled, Burned, Torn And Trampled On The Streets Of My Own Country, -- And When It Is By Those Whom I Have Served In Battle With, It Hurts!

But I Shall Overcome - For I Am Strong!

I Have Slipped The Bounds Of Earth And From My Vantage Point On The Moon, I Stand Watch Over The Uncharted New Frontiers Of Space.

I Have Been A Silent Witness To All Of America's Finest Hours. But My Finest Hour Comes When I Am Torn In Strips, To Be Used As Bandages For My Wounded Comrades On The Field Of Battle, -- When I Fly Half Mast To Honor My Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen And Marines, -- And - When I Lie In The Trembling Arms Of A Grieving Mother At The Graveside Of Her Fallen Son Or Daughter, I Am Proud!

My Name Is "old Glory," - Long May I Wave, -- Dear God, -- Long May I Wave!

[drift_raptor]

HO-YAA!!!! I am proud to serve under Old Glory!

[eddierox]

Try to imagine over 3,300 of these ... they are free now ...

[joerockhead]

Try to imagine over 3,300 of these now ... they are free now ...

Yes they are, and they served outstandingly.

Imagine this - That count was about 1 Hour on Iwo Jima.

[eddierox]

Yes they are, and they served outstandingly.

Imagine this - That count was about 1 Hour on Iwo Jima.

Imagine this ... they died as a War Crime and not for your freedom.

[1MileCrash]

Imagine this ... they died as a War Crime and not for your freedom.

you are positively disgraceful in your disrespect towards those that serve their country.

[1MileCrash]

Yes they are, and they served outstandingly.

Imagine this - That count was about 1 Hour on Iwo Jima.

truly truly

[Spaz]

Imagine this ... they died as a War Crime and not for your freedom.

what we are doing over there for the people who are actually good and deserve a life free of oppresion is glorious... every man and women that gave thier life for them has done something great that you and i ever will do in our life time... imagine the tables turned and you live over there and with out choice and a giant like america came and saved you at thier own expense... every one of them are heros...

[joerockhead]

Imagine this ... they died as a War Crime and not for your freedom.

No, it was not a War Crime.
And it was not for MY freedom.

But this thread is not for anti Political BS, this thread is for our statements about being American and Being Free.

Pleas respect that.

[Spaz]

No, it was not a War Crime.
And it was not for MY freedom.

But this thread is not for anti Political BS, this thread is for our statements about being American and Being Free.

Please respect that.

god bless america!!!

[1MileCrash]

Found in the pocket of a fallen Marine:
7 June 1969
Quang Tri Province
Republic of South Vietnam

Take a man and put him alone,
put him twelve thousand miles from home....
Empty his heart of all but blood,
make him live in sweat and mud....

This is the life I have to live,
this soul to the Devil I give....
You have your parties and drink your beer,
while young men are dying over here....


Paint your signs on the White House lawn,
"Let's all get out of Vietnam"....
Use your signs and have your fun,
then you refuse to use a gun....


There is nothing else for you to do,
then I'm supposed to die for you....
There is one thing that you should know,
and that's where I think you should go....


I'm already here and it's too late,
I've traded all my love for hate....
I'll hate you till the day I die,
you made me hear my buddy cry....


I saw his leg and blood shed,
then I heard them say
"this ones dead"
It was a large price for him to pay,
to let YOU live another day....


He had the guts to fight and die,
to keep the freedom YOU live by....
By his dying your life he buys,
but who gives a damn if a Marine dies...

[1MileCrash]

The soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass;
He hoped his shoes were shining bright,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't;
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough;
I've had to break your rules my Lord,
Because the world is awfully tough.

But, I never took a thing
That wasn't mine to keep;
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear;
And sometimes ... God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here;
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand;
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints often trod;
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, soldier,
You've borne your burdens well;
Come walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in HELL!"
~ Author Unknown ~

[1MileCrash]

"Twas the Night before Christmas
He lived all alone in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone
I had come down the chimney with presents to give and to see just who in this house did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight I did see: No tinsel, No presents, not even a tree
No stocking by mantle, Just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of faraway lands
With medals and badges, Awards of all kinds..a sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different. It was dark and dreary. I found a home of a soldier, Once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping--silent alone--curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in disorder, Not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero,of who I'd just read? Curled up in a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families that I saw this night, Owed their lives to this soldier, who was willing to fight.
Soon "round the world children would play and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day."
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, because of the soldiers, like the one laying here.
I couldn't help wonder How many lay alone on a cold Christmas Eve, In a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knee and started to cry.
The soldier awakened, and I heard a rough voice, "Santa don't cry, This life is my choice."
"I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more. My life is my God, My country, My Corps."
The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep. I couldn't control it; I started to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still and we both shivered from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night This Guardian of Honor, so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over and with a voice soft and pure, whispered, "carry on Santa.
It's Christmas Day, All is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right. "Merry Christmas My Friend, And to all, A good night."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He makes the following request---"Would you send this to as many people as you can? Christmas is coming soon and some credit is due our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate this and other holidays. Let's stop and think of our true heroes who have sacrificed their lives or part of their lives so that we may enjoy our many freedoms."

[eddierox]

you are positively graceful in your respect towards those that serve their country.

Fixed it for you so that you may see your delusion that dying for a War Crime is worse than dying for anything else.

Cute little poems are a bad disguise for the horror and anguish and suffering and in fact a symptom of accepting hopelessness for this War.

Who wants to see my list my of every single U.S. serviceman and women, their name, their rank, where they hailed from, their battalion and regimental station and how, where and when they died in Iraq ?

Surely you people have been carefully keeping this record as I have to show your true patriotism ...

[1MileCrash]

Fixed it for you so that you may see your delusion that dying for a War Crime is worse than dying for anything else.

Cute little poems are a bad disguise for the horror and anguish and suffering and in fact a symptom of accepting hopelessness for this War.

Who wants to see my list my of every single U.S. serviceman and women, their name, their rank, where they hailed from, their battalion and regimental station and how, where and when they died in Iraq ?

Surely you people have been carefully keeping this record as I have to show your true patriotism ...

they are not dieing for any war crime. i am not the deluded individual that thinks that the world is a conspiracy against them and that everyone is coming to get them. your rhetoric is right up there with other delusional psycho's like cindy shehan and rosie odonnel. you have fixed nothing for me. you have however "fixed" or "rigged" things to work for you in your sick twisted little fantasy world.

"cute little poems" get to the feelings of those that will not speak for themselves or can not speak up. you wouldn't know what that's like because you have no feelings.

you don't have to give me any list whatsoever. i have been to military funerals for those of the fallen...obviously with your hatred towards our military and those in charge of this country you have not and you could not possibly begin to understand the anguish of a family that has a fallen service member.

YOU WILL NEVER SHOW ME MY PATRIOTISM. IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I SERVED IN THE ARMY AND NOW I SERVE MY SERVICE MEMBERS FROM HOME AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS. DON'T YOU EVER THIN THAT YOU CAN TELL ME WHO I AM.

[eddierox]

they are not dieing for any war crime. i am not the deluded individual that thinks that the world is a conspiracy against them and that everyone is coming to get them. your rhetoric is right up there with other delusional psycho's like cindy shehan and rosie odonnel. you have fixed nothing for me. you have however "fixed" or "rigged" things to work for you in your sick twisted little fantasy world.

"cute little poems" get to the feelings of those that will not speak for themselves or can not speak up. you wouldn't know what that's like because you have no feelings.

you don't have to give me any list whatsoever. i have been to military funerals for those of the fallen...obviously with your hatred towards our military and those in charge of this country you have not and you could not possibly begin to understand the anguish of a family that has a fallen service member.

YOU WILL NEVER SHOW ME MY PATRIOTISM. IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I SERVED IN THE ARMY AND NOW I SERVE MY SERVICE MEMBERS FROM HOME AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS. DON'T YOU EVER THIN THAT YOU CAN TELL ME WHO I AM.

Right.
Who was the name of your CO so I can check your story out.

[1MileCrash]

Right.
Who was the name of your CO so I can check your story out.

i don't remember. it was 6 years ago and he who was in charge back then at my station is no longer there.

you hardly have to check up on me or my service record.

what are the names of YOUR professors so i can check up on you and see how you performed.