airtwardo 6 #1 May 31, 2004 Had an interesting and thought provoking conversation with my better half a couple hours ago. She's a 777 pilot for a major airline and is flying international routes, currently doing a lot of Paris ~ New York turns. She called me as she usually does, before going to bed. She wanted to tell me about the unusually emotional couple of days she'd just had. Flying trips internationally the flight crew gets at least a day, sometimes more at a location before flying again. It's really neat because you kind of get a lot of 'mini' vacations all over the world..with the hotel covered. The kids and I travel often with her during the summer... Sometimes I think they know Tokyo better than Houston! Coming back from France a few days ago, she had what amounted to a two day lay over in New York. The kids and I had planned to meet her there and roam the city a bit.. We've done that plenty of times, but with this being a holiday weekend all the flights were full... and of course we're 'standby' travelers. Bored and wanting to get out for a while, she set out to some of her usual haunts in NYC ...any bookstore that may be open. As always when in the area...she paid a visit to ground zero. This memorial weekend was a touching and heartfelt experience there. She told me of services being held...survivors speaking of their pain, open air free discussions being held on the current situation in Iraq... Considering the setting, she said most seemed to be supportive of the war effort, and grateful to those sacrificing in uniform away from home. Even the "antiwar" folks were listening and respectful to the time and the place. Somewhere along the fence there at Ground Zero... she said there was a display of photographs of each one of the thousands that died there... Photos depicting joy and life... a mother with her children...a guy with his golfing buddies... a young adult just starting out in life, laying in grass with a pair of puppies. Wandering through the crowd, it took a while... but soon you realize, she said that many, many of the people there had lapel photos pinned on them... PICS of someone close to them... lost but remembered. She told me how she was brought to tears just looking around there and thinking of how many lives have been forever changed in some even 'small' way.. by each and every lost life that day. Making her way toward the subway to start heading back... she stood there in awe~ a pretty young blond...with two adult German Shepherds on a leash, was pointing to the photo of the man in the park with the pups... She was speaking to the animals.."See there's daddy... I told you we'd see him here." That was Friday... 1/2 world away the next day, my Hon rented a car to head out of Paris to see an air show going on in a town several hours away. She speaks fluent French and easily passes as a native there, getting interesting insight from locals who were quite vocal months back regarding ugly Americans and our war mongering ways. Interestingly enough.... At the air show, although there weren't any Americans present, at least obvious to her anyway. There were many US Flags waving all over... and the announcer at some point in the program gave a dedication to the brave men that lost their lives 60 years ago. At show's end...late in the afternoon, in her melancholy mood she decided to make the short trip from there to Normandy. She'd never been, and thought what better day to pay respect. I too have never been there, and can only imagine from the description I got... the endless rows of polished white crosses. Again~ So very many lives effected is some way or another, by the planting of each and every one of those crosses. It was a bit disturbing when she related to me, about the group of high school age people conducting an antiwar... anti US involvement in Iraq demonstration, a short distance from the memorial grounds. Over hearing a comment in French while returning to the car... she was brought back to ground zero.. and some of the discussions there a day prior. "They would be working in some BMW factory today if not for the men below those crosses" An older Frenchmen was telling his wife discussing the demonstrators. ...So many different lives effected in some way. What really got me thinking.. Was when she told me how on the 4 hour drive back to the city, for some reason she kept thinking about a comment my dad made at a Memorial Day picnic we all attended, years ago during the first gulf war. An interesting and quite opinionated man my father... He quit high school at 16 to go man a machine gun on a jeep in a recon unit that was always a dozen or so miles ahead of Patton. On the conservative side, he makes Archie Bunker look like Ted Kennedy! Turned his GI Bill into a Masters Degree and a successful life and business. Picnic talks were covering old war stories.. and some 'then' current events. My father made a comment about how war..any war... changes the whole world forever... About how history is written by the victors...true or not. And how following generations seem to exemplify the war time personality of a given nation...for better or worse. Dad spoke about there being a core difference in going off to fight for a people that CAN'T fight for themselves... and fighting for people that WON'T fight for themselves. He said although it certainly impacts the combatants... The bigger picture to consider is the following generations of those that were assisted. It has to do with Pride and Honor...he told us. That's why today, England is stronger than France... France is stronger than Italy... Somewhat simplified perhaps... But some truth is definitely woven in there somewhere. My lady told me she didn't know why she was thinking of that day...that conversation. But she said she may now in some way, kind of understand the point he was trying to make about war. So many lives effected...so many different ways. .....I talk with my parents every weekend, they're 1200 miles North...In Illinois. You know, the 'courtesy call' we all make. Did so the usual time Saturday morning. The usual call...kids are fine...house is coming along.. "Your" Cubs are here in 'H' town...yeah it's hot here too, Blah.. Blah..Blah. Today... About an hour after that most interesting talk with my best friend on this rock. I made an unscheduled...unexpected call... We couldn't talk long...'their' Cubbies were on the tube... "Hi Dad it's me, I forgot to tell ya something yesterday... just wanted to call...and say Thanks" So many lives...so many ways. Happy Memorial Day! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoadRash 0 #2 May 31, 2004 Thank you!! And a Happy Memorial Day to you too...... I have to admit, that was one of the best posts that I have ever read...thanks again...~R+R~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #3 May 31, 2004 QuoteI have to admit, that was one of the best posts that I have ever read...thanks again... I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #4 May 31, 2004 Very nice, thanks. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #5 May 31, 2004 Thats sad about the woman and the dogs, even sadder about the protesters at the war graves. I don't agree with the fact that we went to war with Iraq but recogonise and respect and am grateful for the sacrifice made by all that gave their lives in WWII. Two different wars, for very different reasons. Sad people can be so simple minded.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mpsniper98 0 #6 May 31, 2004 right on..i have no regrets serving and i think everyone could benefit from doing so...i did, in more ways than one. memorial day is in memory... NBFT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #7 May 31, 2004 QuoteThats sad about the woman and the dogs QuoteThe dogs!? Huh? Well...okay. Yes, It's just horribly tragic about the puppies. But I'm sure they'll be fine. QuoteTwo different wars, for very different reasons Quote I gotta agree with you there! One had a crazy dictator that was killing countless innocent civilians! And the other... Errr Ahh, no wait...okay, bad example! Quote recogonise and respect and am grateful for the sacrifice made by all that gave their lives in WWII. Quote You're in London right? The working in a factory, making BMW's line hit a bit close to home? QuoteSad people can be so simple minded. Quote And simple minded people so sadly nearsighted... ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycop 0 #8 May 31, 2004 Nice post dude!! Well put!! "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickjump1 0 #9 May 31, 2004 Nice message.Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoadRash 0 #10 May 31, 2004 Quote Sad people can be so simple minded. So you must be sad... ~R+R...Might I remind you that today is Memorial Day, and yes, I shaked an elderly gentleman's hand today who was in uniform and thanked him for the hard work and sacrifices he made for this country...Have you ever heard the phrase, if you don't have anything constructive to say, don't say anything at all?~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #11 June 1, 2004 QuoteIt has to do with Pride and Honor...he told us. A lot of people seem to think that 'Pride' and 'Honour' are outdated or meaningless... I think, what else is there? If a person has no pride and no honour, that person is the poorer for it. Good post. Thanks.*************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #12 June 1, 2004 QuoteQuoteIt has to do with Pride and Honor...he told us. A lot of people seem to think that 'Pride' and 'Honour' are outdated or meaningless... I think, what else is there? If a person has no pride and no honour, that person is the poorer for it. Good post. Thanks. If that person has no pride and no honor, all people are poorer for it. Thanks Jim. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #13 June 2, 2004 Whats your problem?When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #14 June 2, 2004 Might I remind you that today is Memorial Day, and yes, I shaked an elderly gentleman's hand today who was in uniform and thanked him for the hard work .. *** which hard work in particular? what is Memorial Day to you? Pls enlighten me. thks. I think i missed something: to shake hands of every "fragments woman" trying to rebuild Germany after WWII. could you answer my question? dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,146 #15 June 2, 2004 Memorial Day in the United States is a day of remembrance of the tragedy, sacrifice, and hard work done by soldiers during wars. It's a memory of the soldiers, without necessarily reflecting on the possible justification (or perceived lack of justification) of their wars. Because soldiers don't get to choose which war to go to; they just go, and sometimes they die. There are plenty of other worthy war workers and causes; Memorial Day just isn't their day. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #16 June 2, 2004 Thks to you. Of course, Memorial Day is not unkown here. But it's nice to hear closer information. dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catfishhunter 1 #17 June 2, 2004 The best way I can put into words how reading your post made me feel is to just say THANK YOU. MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT Life is Short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #18 June 2, 2004 Quote *** which hard work in particular? what is Memorial Day to you? Pls enlighten me. thks. I think i missed something: to shake hands of every "fragments woman" trying to rebuild Germany after WWII. could you answer my question? Memorial day is a time to remember those who paid the ultimate price to preserve freedom. Look, Germany fucking lost WW2. I have no pity for Hitler & Co. It's just a shame he killed himself, It would have been great to let some Iowa farm boy snap that fucker's neck in the gallows. I know that modern day Deutschland is nothing like Nazi Germany, but you'll get no pity for Germany from most Allied WW2 Vets. Research the billions we spent rebuilding Japan and Germany.... If that's not enough, tough... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
