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This is a bit of a read but worth it.
Just got it as an email, a bit of a read but worth it I feel.
This is not intended to be a discussion about the current political situations around the world, purely a recognition of the work Australia's sons and daughters do right around the globe every day in some of the most "difficult" circumstances imaginable.
Let's make sure that the disgraceful way that "we" treated the Vietnam Vets is never revisited on those who are simply doing their work and doing their duty.
From the daughter of a Soldier.
Last week I was in Melbourne attending a conference. While I was in the
airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to
clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the
greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen. Moving through the terminal
was a group of soldiers in their uniforms, as they began heading to their
gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with
their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40
of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm
not the only red blooded Australian who still loves this country and
supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung
heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can
go to school, work, and enjoy our home without fear or reprisal. Just
when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service
men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one
of the male soldiers. He knelt down and said "hi," the little girl then
asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young
soldier didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try
and what did she want to give to her daddy. Suddenly the little girl
grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could
muster and then kissed him on the cheek. The mother of the little girl,
who said her daughters name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her
husband was a Corporal and had been in Afghanistan for 11 months now. As
the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed
her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily
single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers
huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen
pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with
the device and talking back and forth on it.
After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to
Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he
told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl that he
had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying
"Your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and
he is coming home very soon."
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young
soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing
no more than 6 feet away as this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers
began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed
their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were
very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last
act of moment turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear
rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and
thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good
to be an Australian.
RED FRIDAYS:
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The
reason? Australian's who support our troops used to be called the "silent
majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God,
country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized,
boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to
reflect our message or our opinions.
Many Australian's, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of Australia supports our troops. Our
idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday -and continues each and every Friday until the
troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every Australian
who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make Australia on every Friday a sea
of red much like a homecoming football team. If every one of us who loves
this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and
family. It will not be long before Australians covered in RED and it
will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more
than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing
a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for
you?" is..."We need your support and your prayers".
Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and
wear something red every Friday.
THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED---- SO WEAR RED! --- Lest we Forget.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I was in the ARMY in the mid 70s and served with many Vietnam Vets. My unit B SQN 3Rd Cavalrly regiment was in Vietnam. We were armoured APC vehicles that came in under Artillery fire and basically help provide fire power and support to the grunts, to sustain and win the battle at LONG TAN.
One of my Sergeants won the MM atLong Tan. I found out many years later.
That somes up the ANZAC spirit. Do the job and get on with it, its the Australian Way.
awww .. that is sooo sweet... I want to join the army ... but I'm too lazy ... and highly doubt I would cut it !! have though about the reserves though!
I obviously wasnt around when the vietnam war was happening ... so i dont get why any one would criticise any of our soldiers ... my poppy was in the vietnam war ... I dont know all the details ... but he blew off most of his fingers ... so when ever me and my brother went to melbourne to see him and my nana ... we would roll him tonns and tonns of smokes! we would seriously fill up a decent sized box! but unfortunately he died a few years ago after suffering alzheimer's ... which is sad ... cos it would have been interesting to talk to him ... especially now ...
I think TLH is leading you all astray...he was only in the Salvation ArmyOriginally Posted by The Lone Hydrangea
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Lonzy, you sound like a cool dude! Meanwhile back ;i wish corner?Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr
Ah ,i done the time.Tif your forgiven because your a proud Australian? and so we all should be! Today especially, since it is the 40th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan. 18 killed. The worst casualty number since WW2 in a a battle,521 killed in total (21 from my unit)in Vietnam. Gallipolli.Verdun ,Somme,Tripoli. Korea, Vietnam.Afganistan, Iraq, Timor,Boer War, The Sudan.! We may disagree with the politics, but think of the men and women doing the job for us? Wallabies by 7
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My Dad was in that battle I believe....
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
You would have to be a proud son then, Coach.
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Nice work..
Apparently my great grandfather was in the lighthorse charge in Turkey. We still have his original water flask, but to this day my father still regrets burying him with his medals.....
Not so much for himself, but for my brother and I, as we would have proudly worn them on ANZAC day.
For me, ANZAC day is my most revered public holiday, and always has been since i was a boy scout, actually, a cub scout, and we attended marches every year on ANZAC day. When i played rugby with the Army in Wagga the boys really tore it up on ANZAC day, it was a really emotional day for all of us.....
That must be why i like you TLH, that respect thing i guess....
Like you Frontrow my Great Grandfather was in 12th Field Company Australian Engineers. I do have his medals and other documents, in fact have just located a book (History of RAE) that describes a pontoon bridge that was biult acroos thye Somme before The Battle of Hamel, for which I have the orginal hand written instructions. I will send you a PM with some contact details at the War Memorial where you can get a copy of all of his records, included what medals he recieved. I have had minature replicas made for my sister and cousins so they can wear them on ANZAC Day as well.
On a seperate note I have (last night in fact) purchased a Light Horsemans saddle, reins and spurs all in amazing condition. The beaut thing about the spurs is that the Aussies replaced the spur with a silver coin becuase they had to much respect for thier horses to spur them. I'll show ya next time your at JBs if ya interested.
Cheers Frontrow, TIF will sort it for you
I couldn`t be more thankful than i am to you TIF, and yes, i`d love to see those spurs.I can also see why we wouldn`t use spurs on our horses, having worked with horses after i left school. They become your mates after a while, and apart from the odd incident where they want to stop, and you don`t, and end up on the ground all busted up....well, they are probably having a good laugh at your expense. Well, thats how i look at it.
But, back to the thread, we will chat when i finally am able to escape the clutches of "the other half" and am allowed to g oout on my own for a social beer....Who wants to go shopping on a Bledisloe Saturday, not me any way. What an argument we had, but we agreed that after we went to IKEA i could go to my mates to watch it, but we didn`t get there until half time....Women..
Frontrow, could you not have suggested that you go shopping AFTER the Bledisloe rather than the other way round? I'm confused as to who wears the trousers up there!!!
I wear the trousers, but only when i am allowed to mate....I take it there is no jedi mistress or you would understand that they have a tendancy to become irrational at times, and believe me, this was one of those times. I only get to spend 6 and a half days out of every three weeks at home, so she crams every concievable thing into this week leaving me to beg steal or borrow a bit of "me time". I hope you are now up to speed, and when i finally do get down for a pint, you will see how happy ( i know i am not "happy"), you will see how much i enjoy the freedom....