POW veterans celebrated at VA luncheon

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- There are fewer than 30,000 POW veterans left in the United States, and about 50 of them were honored Monday at the VA Hospital in Amarillo. "These veterans have given in such a way to their country," VA Hospital Director Andrew Welch stated. "What they've done is they've stepped up for their country, gone to war, been captured during wartime and suffered in a POW camp and have made it back home. And we want to make sure that they know how much we appreciate them every single day." A report has shown that up to 2,800 of these POW veterans die each year, and soon none will be left. The VA Hospital hosts the luncheon twice a year to thank veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam for all they put on the line to ensure Americans could keep their freedom. "To preserve their memory before it's a memory...," Welch said. "In other words, to appreciate them right now while they can still hear us appreciating them and to let them know that we care about them, that we appreciate what they did for their country." The POWs hear it time and time again, but Welch said nothing can be done to completely thank the men for the services and sacrifices they provided. LINK

RIP Florence Green, the Very Last World War I Veteran

In the past year, we brought you the obituaries of Frank Buckles, the last U.S. veteran of World War I and Claude Choules, the last surviving combat veteran of that war. Yesterday, the very last member of the military from the War to End All Wars passed away. Florence Green was only 17 years old when she signed up for the Women’s Royal Air Force in 1918. She worked at the military airfields in Norfolk. Mrs Green spent her war days working ”all hours” serving officers breakfast, lunch and dinner and would often spend time wandering the base simply ”admiring the pilots”. Before her death she said: ”I enjoyed my time in the WRAF. There were plenty of people at the airfields where I worked and they were all very good company. ”I would work every hour God sent but I had dozens of friends on the base and we had a great deal of fun in our spare time. In many ways I had the time of my life. ”I met dozens of pilots and would go on dates. I had the opportunity to go up in one of the planes but I was scared of flying. ”It was a lovely experience and I’m very proud.” Mrs. Green was a couple weeks short of 111 years old. Link, Via: reddit | Via: Neatorama

2011 Christmas Lights- Thank You Troops and Veterans!

Since 1775, over 1.3 million American troops have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you and please visit SemperFiFund.org to help give back to those who protect our freedom. A Big Thank you to everyone who voted and helped us win the Good Morning America Contest. Now on iTunes! All Profits go to the Semper Fi Fund. The America Patriots- God Bless The Usa and Armed Forces Medley http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/god-bless-the-usa-armed-forces/id489731812?i... Thanks to Ford at Ford@fordproductions.com for doing all the music work and his wonderful wife for doing the voiceover. This house can be seen on Mossy Creek Lane in Southwood, Tallahassee, FL from 6-10 on weeknights and until 11 Friday and Saturday night. Christmas night will be the last night. LINK: Youtube

WIllie and Kris at the AVA's!

Country music legend and Air Force veteran Willie Nelson introduces his great friend Kris Kristofferson who makes an emotional speech accepting the Veteran Of The Year Award. LINK: Youtube

Many people may have forgot about his time in the U.S. Army. He is the son of an Air Force General, and a accomplished Golden Gloves boxer, and he graduated from Pomona College with a B.S. degree, and then became a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford University.
He joined the U.S. Army at the prompting of his father. After graduating from Officer Candidate School he attended and graduated from both Army Airborne and Ranger training in the very top of each class. He was selected for U. S. Army Special Forces Training but refused so that he could attend pilot training where he earned his wings, and became an accomplished U.S. Army helicopter (gun ship) pilot, and achieved the rank of Captain.
He was about to be promoted to the rank of Major, and appointed to teach at West Point when he resigned his commission from the Army to go into music and acting. You can tell in this video that his time in the military means a lot to him.

Gettysburg 75th Anniversary

This is an incredibly interesting old film made in 1938 on the 75th anniversary of the Battle at Gettysburg. It records some of the then still living survivors of that war. It's an amazing step back into history. Those old veterans gathered on that day in their own final years of life to remember those three days, July 1-3, 1863, where as young men they fought in one of the bloodiest battles of that war. It is a poignant visual reflection on the passage of time and how it heals all wounds. More Americans lost their lives in that war than have died in all the wars we have fought in since then.

Remembering our history is important. Someone once said that those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to live it over and over again. If you are moved by this short film use it as an opportunity to learn more about this battle and the history of the CIvil War. In two more years we will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg. America is what it is as much for the experience of the Civil War as for that of the Revolutionary War. We are our history. LINK, Via: Youtube

I Fought For You By The Sound Tank

Speakers Up.. Tissue Box Opened::: If you want people to get the chills, and instill a sense of pride in our country and military, this is the one! This gripping, patriotic film short is great to honor vets, remember the fallen and teach kids the price of their freedom. LINK: Youtube

SOME GAVE ALL

Dedicated to all of those who have served our great country and who have given their all! LINK: Youtube

Goose Picked the Right Garden

A Canada goose landed in a garden in Toms River, New Jersey with an illegal hunting arrow stuck through its chest. The garden happened to belong to retired veterinarian Bernard Levine. Dr. Levine captured the goose and removed the 26-inch arrow, which was lodged six inches deep in the bird’s flesh. Then he took the goose to a bird rehabilitation center.

“This is a smart goose,” said Dr Levine, 82. “He happened to come into the yard of a veterinarian that could take care of him.”

After it recovered at The Raptor Trust, the goose was released last week into a stream in a wooded area on the trust’s property.

“It feels great to see him free and liberated, enjoying life the way a goose should,” Dr Levine said, as the goose preened and waded downstream.

Levine also removed several air rifle pellets from the goose. Link -Via: Arbroath, Via: Neatorama

D-Day 65 years on: World War II veterans return to Normandy

George Cross, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran from Liverpool, looks at French money he was issued in June 1944, while on board a cross channel ferry from Portsmouth to Caen. LINK


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