When I saw the Legionnaire standing outside the bank selling paper poppies, I immediately thought of my Uncle Ormal who passed away on Tuesday. As a young man he spent some years in the South Pacific in the Army Air Corp during WWII. Since that time he has spent a lot of time and effort honoring the other young men who didn't return from that conflict and other conflicts since. As a long time leader in the local Legion Post he was instrumental in arranging and conducting the annual Memorial Day services for his fallen comrades and veterans who passed on. I also started thinking about my son who is fighting in Iraq now and Mike's own fallen comrades, a Sargent in his platoon who fell about 6 weeks ago and a fellow infantryman in a sister platoon who was killed last Friday, and how he will have these life long remembrances.

While I was thinking of these three men in particular, there are many more poppies in this ring. Honor those you know. Offer not sympathy, but honor for that which those who are and have been in uniform have given.

Offer not sympathy, but honor for that which those who are and have been in uniform have given.
Absolutely.

Chunk,

Very true words. Very touching and a great message.

When I saw the Legionnaire standing outside the bank selling paper poppies, I immediately thought of my Uncle Ormal who passed away on Tuesday. As a young man he spent some years in the South Pacific in the Army Air Corp during WWII. Since that time he has spent a lot of time and effort honoring the other young men who didn't return from that conflict and other conflicts since. As a long time leader in the local Legion Post he was instrumental in arranging and conducting the annual Memorial Day services for his fallen comrades and veterans who passed on. I also started thinking about my son who is fighting in Iraq now and Mike's own fallen comrades, a Sargent in his platoon who fell about 6 weeks ago and a fellow infantryman in a sister platoon who was killed last Friday, and how he will have these life long remembrances.

While I was thinking of these three men in particular, there are many more poppies in this ring. Honor those you know. Offer not sympathy, but honor for that which those who are and have been in uniform have given.


Great post Chunk!

It really hits home when you lose someone you know. Please pass on our thanks and our prayers to your son.

Thanks for sharing this image and the words with us. My father was a WWII vet who spent way to much time in harms way for a very young man, but we seem to let the young do our tough jobs for us. I wonder how many conflicts we would have been involved in over the years if old farts like me were the ones doing the fighting. Many thanks to the young men and women like your son that are there for us.

Really a very touching post, Chunk. My heartfelt prayers to you and yours.

Thanks for all the kind replies. I told my son about this shot when he called yesterday and will email him the link so he will see it and your good wishes.

great post...send me an email at natalie.holl@gmail.com I had an idea for this one...