RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

I like that poem and your avatar pic

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

the old photos are really special. Thank you for sharing them.

jfantasma

I am not the historian in the family but I gather as much intel as I can LOL. It is great to know our history

jfantasma

Awesome!! you are in posesion of great history right there. I am sure that is in a great portfolio with other photos and stories. If not please create one!

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

what you were experiencing as far as i know was survivor guilt. Im glad you found your way....
It has been my experience that people try to rationalize things that can not be rationalized...it is the minds way of making sense of things that just dont make sense.
Life is a crap shoot: where you are born, who your parents are, and for the most part when you die. Of course, this is my personal philosophy and not shared by everyone.

Thank You Jfantasma, and all the rest of you here today, who for whatever reason, served and survived to tell us about it.

My father in law served in Korea, and my Uncle on a ship during WWII...both men are gone now...but the military never forgot them and both had taps played at the gravesites...

[quote=jfantasma]There was a point in my life where I wasn't proud of what I had become. People used to walk up to me and shake my hand and tell me "thank you for your service" I used to tell them "your welcome, but how does it feel to shake hands with a killer". You should have seen the looks I used to get. I feel bad for that now. I used to feel sorry for myself for not "dying" for my country because I thought that is the only way I could actually truly honor myself and my family. I hated the fact that I had so many friends die but I lived on. People I felt were more deserving to live. I am glad I pulled my head out of the fourth point of contact. I still regret those that were lost but I cannot honor them if I were dead myself. People used to tell me it was because I was better trained and all this other nonsense, but I started telling them that we are all trained to survive the cruelties of war. How can one be more trained than the other? Who knows... Who cares.... If it is one thing we all learn in life, it is that there are no rules and regulations that state who will live and who will die.

sorry if I am babbling but this day is hard for me. I used to notify families of soldiers who have perished too. I did 68 notifications in my first year in the army. Then at the same time I volunteered to funeral detail as well. We buried a lot of veterans.

judy juul Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

[quote=RiverNan]what you were experiencing as far as i know was survivor guilt. Im glad you found your way....
It has been my experience that people try to rationalize things that can not be rationalized...it is the minds way of making sense of things that just dont make sense.
Life is a crap shoot: where you are born, who your parents are, and for the most part when you die. Of course, this is my personal philosophy and not shared by everyone.

Thank You Jfantasma, and all the rest of you here today, who for whatever reason, served and survived to tell us about it.

My father in law served in Korea, and my Uncle on a ship during WWII...both men are gone now...but the military never forgot them and both had taps played at the gravesites...



Dear jf- Must have been soul wrenching don't think anyone could ever comprehend.....But this aside, I'm glad that you were spared and that you must have been chosen to do the great job you managed to do! Amen! JJ

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

markar Loc: Michigan

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

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 a crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mother's tears?

How many pilot's planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldier's graves?
No, freedom is not 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,
All 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 is not free.
Source unknown

I've had this hanging on my fridge since my nephew first left for Afghanistan. He served two terms, and thank God is home safely.
Just wanted to share.

Roadrunner Loc: Quebec, Canada

It is framed and on my computer room wall.....my museum wall........j

jfantasma

And to those who are still serving.

My friend Sean just started basic training this week. He just went downrange to begin the actual basic combat training. He called me yesterday and told me he had one minute. I asked him how he was and he said "good I have to go now" I could hear the Drill Sergeants screaming at him to get off the phone..... Oh the memories LOL

Sean Xie (Xixixang is his real name) but he likes Sean

Frankie Loc: Florida

Page 1

Before I do anything else let me say thank you to all the Veterans today. Without all of the men and women willing to put their lives on the line we would not enjoy the freedoms that we have today. I deeply appreciate the sacrifices you made to keep our country free.

Jfantasma: I thank you for hosting today's challenge...you have gotten us off to a great start. Your pics are a nice tribute to Veterans. And thank you again for putting your life on the line for our country & freedom.

Modest: Nice shots...the last one really speaks to my heart

RR: Thanks for sharing these photos & thank you too for your service....and you keep proudly wearing that cap

Clicker: Wow, what a reminder of the price some have to pay for your freedom.

Mgstrawn: You can't go wrong with that "red card" :thumbup:

Subroto: I've been wondering where you were...been missing you...it's good to see you again. That is, as always, a wonderful picture....it speaks volumes. And you have written a beautiful tribute to your country's veterans as well!

jfantasma

Yup you got that right. There are still days that I feel like I shouldn't be here. That is what led me to start abusing my prescription pain meds. I even tried overdosing myself. Talking about feeling like a failure... I couldn't even kill myself LOL. I can laugh about it now but I know it is not funny. I am glad to be here with my family.

jfantasma

Thank you for sharing. It brings tears to the eyes (at least mine) it is so great that people find poetic ways to share their feelings. I am glad your nephew is home safely.

jfantasma

Your welcome. My pleasure and thank you. It is all ove you that makes this day and this post special.