Veterans Day Pt II, Soldier's Op Ed In Washingon Post

I posted yesterday as well in commemoration of Veterans Day, that can be seen here , seeing as it fell on Sunday we also commemorate it today which is fine by me, as two days of gratitude still isn't enough thanks for the soldiers and what they do for us and our freedoms every single day.

A letter from a soldier to the WAPO, who is mostly averse to publishing any good news of any type coming from Iraq published this oped yesterday giving thanks to most Americans for support that they receive from most patriots in this country.

We know which people aren't included in that group all too well, so I'll just leave them unnamed and say tot eh author as I did with a comment at the post and say she and they all are very welcome as we're the ones that owe them the "thank you's", not the other way around..

Gifts of Thanks for the Troops:

Washington Post Sunday 10-11-07"BAGHDAD -- As the veterans of World War II pass too quickly into history, their ranks are being replaced by a new 'greatest generation.' The war on terrorism is creating veterans at a rate not seen in decades. Yet the military is much smaller now than during World War II, leading some analysts to posit that a rift exists between soldiers and citizens and that those making sacrifices on the battle front are disconnected from the society whose freedoms they defend.

The American people are oblivious to the war, they claim, as well as to the men and women who are fighting it. Some have even suggested that the only way to close the gap is to return to conscription. But these observers of the social scene have never served in Iraq."

Those of us overseas know that "support the troops" is more than a slogan. Here we are besieged by what my master sergeant calls "paper love," the cards, letters, posters and other gestures of support sent by people across America. The paper love is often accompanied by packages of snacks and comfort items. Some mail comes from family members, but even more is sent by private citizens and troop support organizations. The war has inspired a remarkable level of civic involvement that goes largely unnoticed -- except by those of us in the field or recovering stateside.

All of us are volunteers. We're in Iraq because we want to serve. We are well educated and physically fit and could have pursued a variety of other life options. But, to paraphrase Defense Secretary Robert Gates, we are driven by the romantic and optimistic ideal that we can improve the world. We are seeing real progress on the ground, and we are helping Iraq to change............continued

Author:Elizabeth L. Robbins, an Army major, deployed in May in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The views expressed here are her own.

Well, We know damn well it sure wasn't the view of anyone at the post, that's for sure. Here's what I wrote there below:

chicagoray40 wrote:

Thank you a million for your fine service to our country and freedoms, and rest assured most of us out here are forever grateful and far outnumber the loud and obnoxious ungrateful that aren't.

And thanks for sharing these thoughts with we Americans in this paper that like many other MainStream News Outlets has trouble sharing positive and good news from the fronts of the War Against Terrorism with the country today.

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