Post by Cher on Apr 29, 2006 13:07:26 GMT -5
For years now I have written up the monthly bulletin for our local American Legion. Most months it's pretty basic, regular stuff going on, condolences to veterans who have passed and notes to let others know where some of our past heroes are residing (nursing homes).
This months was kind of a short report so at times like these I visit the National American Legion website for inspiration to fill in the space. One page I always go to is "Troops Respond" to read the letters so hope you don't mind me sharing this with you. I'm so proud of the young men and women who have given up so much for others they don't even know.
This is a follow up letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard, who recently served in Iraq:
I wrote the letter that made it around the world and is on your web page. I wrote the letter on March 23, 2004 to voice my frustration with the fickle support of the media. After riding "embedded" across the desert, how quickly they forget how they got to Baghdad. I have chosen to sneak off into the corn fields of Iowa and only speaking to a few media representatives with the Public Affairs Officer's guidance. But I felt compelled to send you a letter.
As a card carrying member of the American Legion and VFW, I wanted to send this email to you to say that I have appreciated the overwhelming support that Veterans from the past have offered. I have a greater sense of what it means to be called a Veteran. I wanted to share two lasting memories that I have experienced since coming home from Iraq.
On the very day we touched down in the USA after spending a year in Iraq, I watched as WWII and Vietnam Veterans stood in the main terminal at our receiving airport.. They were there at 4 A.M. just to be the first to shake our hands and welcome us into the family called Veterans. How symbolic and fitting that those that have walked before us be the ones to welcome us home.
Secondly, I was tilling my garden after my second day home since it had been over a year since I was able to have a garden. A man walked up the steps and into the back yard. He told me he was in Vietnam and just wanted to welcome me home. A total stranger at the time but with the same twinkle in his eye. Like we had both earned our little chunk of freedom.
God Bless all of you that have walked the walk before me and paved the way for me to enter the family....
Ray Reynolds, SFC
Iowa National Guard
I just want to say thanks to all of our veterans who are members here. Memorial Day is coming up, please remember our heroes who have no one left.
This months was kind of a short report so at times like these I visit the National American Legion website for inspiration to fill in the space. One page I always go to is "Troops Respond" to read the letters so hope you don't mind me sharing this with you. I'm so proud of the young men and women who have given up so much for others they don't even know.
*************
This is a follow up letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard, who recently served in Iraq:
I wrote the letter that made it around the world and is on your web page. I wrote the letter on March 23, 2004 to voice my frustration with the fickle support of the media. After riding "embedded" across the desert, how quickly they forget how they got to Baghdad. I have chosen to sneak off into the corn fields of Iowa and only speaking to a few media representatives with the Public Affairs Officer's guidance. But I felt compelled to send you a letter.
As a card carrying member of the American Legion and VFW, I wanted to send this email to you to say that I have appreciated the overwhelming support that Veterans from the past have offered. I have a greater sense of what it means to be called a Veteran. I wanted to share two lasting memories that I have experienced since coming home from Iraq.
On the very day we touched down in the USA after spending a year in Iraq, I watched as WWII and Vietnam Veterans stood in the main terminal at our receiving airport.. They were there at 4 A.M. just to be the first to shake our hands and welcome us into the family called Veterans. How symbolic and fitting that those that have walked before us be the ones to welcome us home.
Secondly, I was tilling my garden after my second day home since it had been over a year since I was able to have a garden. A man walked up the steps and into the back yard. He told me he was in Vietnam and just wanted to welcome me home. A total stranger at the time but with the same twinkle in his eye. Like we had both earned our little chunk of freedom.
God Bless all of you that have walked the walk before me and paved the way for me to enter the family....
Ray Reynolds, SFC
Iowa National Guard
*************
I just want to say thanks to all of our veterans who are members here. Memorial Day is coming up, please remember our heroes who have no one left.
