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VA Urges Veterans to Wear Medals on Veterans Day
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1193

Veterans Pride


A Message from Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson


America's veterans are the face of America. They come from all walks of life, all ages, all ethnicities. They served our Nation honorably and well and we honor that service, but how do we honor the veteran – the individual who put on the uniform and gave his or her all for our country?



Last spring I had the privilege of attending the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day ceremonies in Sydney, Australia. ANZAC Day is the most important national holiday in Australia, a combination of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
It was established to commemorate the more than 8,000 Australians killed in the battle of Gallipoli in World War I, and now honors all Australian and New Zealand veterans.


One of the things that stood out during the day-long ceremonies was how all of the veterans and surviving family members wore their medals and campaign ribbons. It focused public pride and attention on those veterans as individuals with personal histories of service and sacrifice for the common good.



That is why I am calling on America's veterans to wear their military medals this Veterans Day, November 11, 2006. Wearing their medals will demonstrate the deep pride our veterans have in their military service and bring Veterans Day home to all American citizens.



Veterans, wear your pride on your left side this Veterans Day! Let America know who you are and what you did for freedom.


Goose






LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Thanks for passing this on Goose. I've passed this on to many of the folks I work with who I know to be Vets. Even the Director of IT here is retired AF, as am I. I've also told them to pass it on to any I may have missed. Nov. 10 should be an interesting day here. Unfortunately, I may miss it as I'm supposed to head back to The Ice at the end of the week.

Thanks again,
Frank Howell, MSgt, USAF, Ret.

"Slow is Fast - Fast is Slow"

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Hmmm, i guess i'll wear my insignificant ARCOM and AAM while i'm repoin'.

Hang 'em off my body armor...lol



<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>

Dont know about wearing ribbons, as I dont have any of the ones I earned while active, but oh well.

Atleast work is supporting us Veterans by serving a Veterans Only dinner, 3 times during the day for the 3 different shifts.

Caterpillar has a Veterans Wall as well, with flags of each service and a list of past and present military members working at the plant.

<img src=newicons/icon_hog.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

I have my ribbions mounted in my case,but their not up to date at all.
I'm missing 2 new ribbions I found out I earned, plus the "V" for my OUA.

I have a rack of miniture medals I wore with my mess-dress but missing the "SWA,SA Medal, and Kuwaitt freedom"

I looked on line what it would cost to have them all new ,with devices plus mounted it came too "$106.00" <img src=newicons/anim_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> thats for 8 total.

It was "$57.00" for a New ribbion Rack mounted 16 with all the Devices.

Not cheap,I guess I need to make a BX run and do my own.

Remember when stripes,ribbions,USAF tapes and devices were kept in a HUGHE cabinet at Clothing EX CHANGE ???
Use to get stripes for about .50 cents a pair to a $1.00, ribbions
.15 cents USAF tapes were .75 cents.
You just went over there to the drawers picked out what you needed ,they were loose, and you could do all your uniforms for under $10.00, 7 utility, field jacket,Class A's etc... you'd have a BAG FULL.

Then in 84 they deicided to make you buy them from AFEES and the prices went
"BLASTIC!" changing rank cost a bloody fortune.

The Squadrons use too, I know in MAC they did gave you your stripes when you made rank and new USAF tapes.
They even issued my 7 sets of Blue Utility uniforms, plus my Bomber jacket,Pay for your Name plates, the New issue combat boots(the ones that are steel toed in 84) sewed on,tailored plus they would Laundry them for free every week.

In the Box ,you probably got them too Fender, 3 SETS of "NEW WOODLAND CAMO" winter weight BDU sets.
No Desert Camo except for the "AGS STAFF" they had their uniforms complete with , "desert stripes,tapes,patches" while we had the Name Tag patch for us "GRUNTS".


Thats why when you folks told me awhile back you "PAY FOR EVERYTHING NOW"
That just "SUCKS".

You could also go over to the Squadron and file a "Uniform replacement request" if you ruined your boots,uniforms from work.
The "OLD MAN" signed it and you went to supply and you got new ones.
If the "MULE" BLEW-UP ON YOU, or you went "TANK DIVING AND RIPPED THEM" or got them covered in "Blood" you could get them replaced.

When I got home they gave me a slip for new BDU's because I had lost so much weight the Major gave me one for 4 new sets.

Things changed too much.

But I have Veterans Day Ceremonies to attend so we'll see.

I dont look at this new "Thing" as a "swelled head" deal but all these kids back it would be nice to see and show the world the medals they earned and to" Thank Them" for their Hard Work.


Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!





Edited by - sgtgoose1 on Nov 07 2006 07:02

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

When i got out i gave everything- even my class A's- to my little brother. I asked him about 5 years ago what all he still had left...nothing.

LOL, whoopsies.

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>

I'm like Sniper I guess. I got out in Las Vegas and sold most of my stuff to an Army Surplus Store for a few dollars! LOL

I have one box of stuff left. 3 or 4 field jackets (brand new) and 1 full set parka, parka pants and muchaluks (never used).

But of course I can guarantee you that none of it fits as I have grown somewhat since I got out in 1988!<img src=newicons/tard.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

I have the BDU's I left Travis with, because I drove the family out the gate and straight to RENO<img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>
I still have my Desert BDU's,my Boonie hats,and my Class "A's" uniform thats it everything else went to the Thrift shop.
Oh I did keep one of my BDU shirts with my 23RD patches on it .
Just for old times.
I had all new for Travis.

But Fit <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>


Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Shows you how long it's been for me Goose by asking 1 simple question...............Whats a BDU? LOL

When I was in the only BDU's the Air Force mentioned were things dropped by the aircraft!! LOL

BDU Uniforms were worn by those "other" guys..........you know the "others" like Army & Marine's!! LOL

"If breathing wasn't a natural act, you would have been dead along time ago"!
Gary Chandler, Old Friend & High School Teacher

Edited by - Hogsnort on Nov 07 2006 16:48

I have one old field jacket, one old winter BDU(all holed up), and a few pairs of old BDU pants(that i never wear).

That's it. I got nabbed with my box of souveniers during a health and welfare inspection about a month before i got out, so i didnt get to bring anything cool home.

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>

BDU's were Great Hogsnort, didnt show stains,hid the "Beer Belly" could carry your "Spare parts" in your pockets.

The EX took mine sewed down all the Pletes,sew shut some pockets,and velcored my flaps on my shirts and pants,the ened-up doing the GUNSMOKE TEAMS uniforms man, I hated buttons.

Now if one of you could get her to Fork-over her Patch Stash,she has all the GunPowder and GunSmoke PATCHES in both Sub-dued AND color brand new.
Wont give me any thats for sure.

Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

I'm with you Hogsnort. What the hell is a BDU? LOL. I had fatigues. All one shade of green. Had both cotton and permanent press. Remember the non permanent press? Had to use super heavy duty extra, extra starch to keep a crease for more than a day. I do have one set of jungle fatigues and 2 pair of jungle boots left over from my stint in Southeast Asia. Also have 2 field jackets, a pair of steel toes, my blues and some patches. Ah, the good old days.

Engineguy

Well soon the BDU's will be a thing of the past. <img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Raidest the blue skies, a link from the past to the future; into the sheltering arms of our Protector. The flames of hatred scorch the earth, igniting Gaia's funeral pyre." Ace Combat 4

_________________
\"Raidest the blue skies, a link from the past to the future; into the sheltering arms of our Protector. The flames of hatred scorch the earth, igniting Gaia's funeral pyre.\" Ace Combat 4

I know man, makes me feel old as hell.

<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>