REMEMBER - Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you - Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul and the other for your freedom.

Definition of a Vteran

A Veteran - Whether acive duty, retired, National Guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check, made payable to the "United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life".

That is honor, and there are far to many people in this country who choose to no longer understand it.

Author Unknown

In war and peace, we trust our freedom to men and women in Uniform who give so much during times like this.

Please remember all veterans, both living and dead, who gave so much for the continued freedom we enjoy today.

I have been a life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Service Organization for over 20 years. My late father served in the U.S. Infantry during World War 2 and was at St Low (France) on D-Day. He received numerous medals including the Belgian and Luxemburg Croix-De-Guerre Unit Citations. My late mother was a British WAAF who came to the U.S. as a war bride. My father and 3 (or 4) of his brothers served in the U.S. Army during WW2. One Uncle was missing in action and later found alive. My late step-father served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during WW2.

I will be one of the first to support the veteran and his rights since the Veteran's Administration has a history of refusing to treat illnesses for many years and allowing the veterans to die before they will acknowledge a war related illness like Agent Orange cancers! The Military and the V.A. take advantage of young men, and women, use them as they need them then ignore their needs - thus violating the contract the government made when that person enlisted. I know this first hand.

If you ever get a chance to watch the movie "Reunion at Fairbourgh" Starring Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum & Red Buttons (& an Actor named Morse who was the cop on the original fugative TV series) please do not miss it. Near the end they visit a U.S. Cemetery in England. Its a very good movie about a reunion of U.S. military pilots and crew members and some of their memories as well as old love rekindled.

+Victor

His Eminence Victor,
Retired Metropolitan