Words Fail Me 2.0

[zack1234]

Social media is like channel 200

I would join a social media site but I having nothing talk about

[hlbly]

Something needs to be done at basic training level to stress the importance of this ceremony. Rich I do not know about you but to the colors and retreat have always put a lump in my throat.

[Dichotomy]

 

In '81 I was at an airbase I wont name and we were about to lower the flag near the rear gate. I saw traffic whizzing by and something went off in me, I told the other guys to wait until I gave the signal, and with my GAU slung over my should forced all traffic to stop. I told the guys to go ahead, saluted, and the slowest flag lowering ceremony you ever saw began. I waited until the flag was folded and put away in the guard shack before I waved traffic on. By that time they were lined up blocks long "wanting to get home after work" waiting for Old Glory to get her due. I didnt know it at the time but the full Bird Col. of the squadron nearby was watching, the next day I got a personal call from the base commander thanking me but I told him I could only accept credit for us doing our duty as a SP squadron.

I was told days later that an order had been sent to every USAF SP squadron in the world that they were to forcibly stop traffic during every flag ceremony no matter where or what. I dont know if it was true but I know it was true at that base up until the day I left. Of all the things Ive done in my life I think Im proudest of the 4 years I was entrusted with and honored with the raising and lowering of that Flag. When I see these kids coming back shot up, hurt, or dead, "the REAL Heros" I feel like I held up my end by preserving the Honor of that flag.
(Image removed from quote.)

 

[Dragon]

I see it as fake since she appears to be a bit too dolled up for duty, but the point is still made.  On FW this would be call an example of @#%$ @#%%*!.

[Rich46yo]

I cant now, and didnt then, take credit for anything. I was just a member of a team doing our duty as care takers of the very symbol that represents the sacrifices made for our Freedom.

The "Hero's" never made it back. Or made it back hurt and/or broken. We must never forget them or allow them to be dishonored in any way.

[Vudu15]

I see it as fake since she appears to be a bit too dolled up for duty, but the point is still made.  On FW this would be call an example of @#%$ @#%%*!.

Well that's no judge if she works in a office if I recall she did they'll look like that and worse on duty. As far as I know there are no rules against it.

[hyzer]

I was in service from 75 thru 80 at Ft. Campbell, A Company, 1/506 Infantry.  Our barracks was miles from the base flag and we could never actually hear a bugle since it wasn't sent out on any loudspeakers near us.  If you happened to know what time it was or if you saw someone stop and come to attention it meant something to pay attention to.  But every time I was in the area of base command everything stopped, and everyone got out of their cars or stopped walking and either saluted or if civilian put their hand over their heart.  No one seemed to mind, it was just what you did to show a bit of respect.

[USRanger]

I'm not even going to comment because it fires me up too much for here.

[bigsky]

I guess my perspective people in the military are not good, honest and decent people. I do not think is OK either. But I remember way back when I was stationed in Germany 2 soldiers raped, murdered and duped the body of a woman in the woods. I just think what she did should be kept in perspective. The most disappointing thing I remember about the Army were some of the people in it.

[guncrasher]

crap like this has been going on since day one.  it isnt something new.  as much as old farts like me keep saying that "back in the old days, it didnt happen.....".  it did happen.  the only exception is back in the day there wasnt pictures or internet for idiots to boast how they "broke" the rules.

when i was in high school from 80-84.  I had just moved here.  I never understood how some (a few) people had little respect for the flag.  when I enlisted, I saw the same thing.  a few guys who always wanted to "be different".  they thought it was funny.  idiots will be idiots.

when I was growing up in my country I was always amazed that some american students would burn the american flag.  I never understood why they did it.  even today I still dont understand it.  if they were protesting the war what does burning the flag accomplished?  I understood those who ripped their draft cards, it was a way to say, I am not going, and I respected that.  but burning the flag?  where they saying, I am leaving?  I am not longer an american?  that seem weird to me.


semp

[bigsky]

oops, I should have proofread my post. I guess my perspective NOT ALL people in the military are not good, honest and decent people.

[eagl]

When I was at the USAF academy, for the entire 4 years I was there, every morning we all got up and stood in formation to watch the flag go up.  The weather conditions required to cancel the ceremony were brutally harsh, so we stood out there in the rain, snow, etc.  The lesson being taught, every day for 4 years, was that NO MATTER WHAT else you had going on that day, no matter what else was going on in your life, standing there with your comrades watching the flag go up was the single most important thing for you to do that day.

Call it brainwashing, or call it instilling a sense of duty in those who will need it the most as they will someday become the next generation of senior military leaders, it was effective to those with a sense of duty and ineffective for those too self-centered to get the message.  If 4 years of that isn't enough then they can't possibly be reached by anything and aren't worth my time/effort/trust.

Strangely enough, with all the things going on right now in the military, they seem to keep doing away with this morning ceremony, making it optional or making it a  hardship split amongst the cadet groups on a rotating schedule.  I personally think that ends up sending the exact opposite message, but they didn't ask my opinion.

[Gemini]

While this behavior is shameful, I don't understand why it is surprising to some of you.

Now, as always, the majority of the people who join the military are doing so because they have no other options open to them in life. It's not because they love their country. It's because they are losers who can't succeed at anything else. "Ohhh sweet, the army will take me and pay me and train me even though I'm a total no-hoper!"

Of course they are going to continue to be failures and f***ups in the armed forces, just as they were in civilian life.

[Rich46yo]

While this behavior is shameful, I don't understand why it is surprising to some of you.

Now, as always, the majority of the people who join the military are doing so because they have no other options open to them in life. It's not because they love their country. It's because they are losers who can't succeed at anything else. "Ohhh sweet, the army will take me and pay me and train me even though I'm a total no-hoper!"

Of course they are going to continue to be failures and f***ups in the armed forces, just as they were in civilian life.

Gemini even for a gaming forum your an idiot.

The rest of you, and I hope my word counts to you, I am constantly running into youngsters OTW to Basic at an airport security detail and Im constantly impressed by the morals and motivations of these young people. Think EVERY American kid can pass strict background checks? Also Im a father of one.

Whatever you believe please think hard about what this imbecile Gemini said. The day we start blindly blaming the 99% for the actions of the 1% is the day we might as well just burn that Constitution. Boy I'd love to see this mommies boy say that to some marines fresh back from Afghanistan. I bet Gemini would do poo poo in his pants directly.

[Gemini]

your an idiot.

Oh sweet irony.

It's a shame that you can't help yourself from making personal attacks whenever someone has an opinion that you don't like (ref: last Words fail me thread, and the Other countries thread in GD)

Given that you seem to hate other people having freedom of speech/opinion, maybe you should just wrap your copy of the Constitution up in 'Old Glory', and burn the whole lot?