Originally Posted by redneckboy

Thats why I like small towns they dont tend to forget stuff like this as easy. Thank you to all our Vet's and those who are serving now to keep me free and give me all the great oppurtunites I have.

Originally Posted by Storm

Reading this post brought tears to my eyes.. I want to thank each of you for recognizing the commitment we, as soldiers, give to everyone everyday. America has lost its touch for true patriotism in some. Rallying wars instead of Supporting the troops. What hurts the most is hearing group talk about how war is wrong, how troops shouldn't be out there. Yet they don't understand some of us feel the same way but we do what is asked of our country without question. We need to know American is behind us regardless of whether its right or wrong. The support of the American People gives us the Courage and Strength to fight. I was there for the beginning of the war, I fought for 18 hard months there. Many of us looked around and asked why this was our duty to fulfill. Though confused and concerned, we still upheld what we were trained to do. Fight to protect the rights of those free. To bring freedom to lands distant of us.

I served two tours in Iraq. I took 3 bullets for my country trying to save a soldier from harm. Ever so often I am faced with reliving those minutes in my head. Waking up from a cold sweat feeling like I was still out there. Yet I think about the men and women STILL out there. I think about my brother, who I hugged, and watched get on a plane for Iraq knowing this time his Big Brother wasn't out there to protect him. Praying to God that he would know what to do when the time came as I did being a trained Infantryman.

Though the parades have disappeared for most, 4th of July has become nothing more then bugging folks with fireworks. There are still some of us, us here on FTE that still know what these days mean. What they mean to the men and women who gave their lives, who gave a piece of their life, who gave a piece of their body for us to wake up to a land of freedom.

It's much like a country song by Montgomery Gentry "Didn't I" from the movie We Were Soldiers.

"i've seen boys fall to pieces
grown men cry out for jesus, til they are black and blue
i thought god was on our side,
weren't we supposed to be the good guys that wouldnever lose
cause i dont see no ticker tape
or five mile parades,sayin"thank you son"
just folks that sit and judge me
who ain't seen what i've seen or did what i've done

didn't i burn, didn't i bleed enough for you
i faced your fears, felt pain so you won't have to
ya didn't i do my best
and wasn't home here when i left"

So.. As a fellow Disabled Vet of Operation Iraqi Freedom.. I tip my hat to those of you on FTE who have stood up to bring the true meaning of Memorial Day back to us Veterans for the sacrifices we have given for the Freedoms of this land. I personally thank you from the bottom of my heart. Its folks like you that give me the strength each day to move forward knowing that the pain I felt, was worth it in the end!

May we all together, pray for our fellow brothers and sisters who fight to survive every day in that land so distant from us.

Thank you,

<SALUTE>*Salute*
SGT Lance Walker
US Army Retired, Disabled Veteran
11B, Infantryman, Bradley Dismount
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1-22 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
Fort Hood, TX
September 2002-October 2006</SALUTE>