Saying Thanks To Our Veterans
The IntelligencerMany veterans of military service are exceedingly humble about what they have done for their fellow Americans. It is not uncommon for them to dismiss praise by claiming that they were only "doing our jobs."
But the jobs that men and women in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard do are not the same as we in civilian life perform. For them, the "office" may be the cockpit of a fighter plane. The "plant" may be the deck of a ship on patrol in potentially hostile waters. "Minding the store" may involve guarding a mountain village against terrorists.
Today, we Americans honor those who serve and who have served us in uniform. It is Veterans Day, a time to pause and consider the sacrifices made by those whose job it is to keep us safe and represent our nation's interests throughout the world.
This Veterans Day is especially meaningful to those of us in the Ohio Valley. Even as we honor all who have served, we mourn one young man in particular. He is Army Spc. Julian Berisford of Benwood, killed while on duty in Afghanistan.
Berisford was just 25 when he laid down his life for us. He leaves behind a family including a young wife and an 11-month-old daughter.
He was not the first Ohio Valley resident to die in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that he will be the last of our neighbors to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
We in West Virginia and Ohio have sent many of our sons and daughters to the military, during both times of war and the all-too-short periods of peace. Many of those in our neighborhoods, our workplaces and our congregations have served in the armed forces. They are familiar with the trials and travails of service in peacetime - and the stress and sacrifice of conflict.
Too often we fail to honor them and to thank them individually. Veterans Day was established in our country in order to provide us with an opportunity to do that collectively - to praise them for skill and courage while in uniform and to remind them of how very grateful we are for what they did.
Today, then, we join residents of the Northern Panhandle and East Ohio in expressing our admiration of veterans - and our sincere, heartfelt gratitude to them.
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topsie
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11-12-09 12:41 PM
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proof that you served and were honorable discharged get you space available behind veterans that have service related injuries. Clinton tried to open them up to welfare recipients.
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wvhoopie
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11-12-09 6:42 AM
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LOL
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walksabout
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11-11-09 10:48 PM
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ellis- don't go jumping on conclusions so fast without all the facts. It may have appeared a giggle. Many people suffer flatulence or heap big gas when they eat excessive fiber. You should review the breakfast menue prior to stealing her thunder.
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walksabout
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11-11-09 10:45 PM
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Topsie-all veterans can go to a VA hospital. that is an untrue statement. regulations spell out the eligibility, categories. people have many misconceptions about the lifetime benefits veterans get. Also. allmilitary members upon discharge are not veterans. Groups, etc. Did you know it is legal to join the armed forces without recieving a draft notice ?
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EllisWyatt
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11-11-09 8:17 PM
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Did anyone else catch Ru Paul, I mean, Michelle Obama, giggling just before Barry placed a wreath at the Tomb Of The Unknowns? Shameful. She owes all Veterans, indeed, all Americans, an apology.
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WVEXPAT
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11-11-09 8:04 PM
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Our Veterans have helped make us the greatest country in the world and indeed have protected MANY peoples of the world! Thanks cannot begin to express the gratitude of so many. And kudos to Obama on an outstanding Veterens Day speech!! Well done!!
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Graysongs
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11-11-09 7:24 PM
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topsie - Don't get ol' whoopie confused with facts, OK? I think he believes that "lack of health insurance" is a listed cause of death on death certificates. He's just wheedling in his little political propaganda on the shoulders of men and women far better than he could ever hope to be. The "lady pope" of his Democrat American "Catholic" Church, Nancy "The Face" Pelosi told him to do it. He gets messages from her through the tin foil he wears on his head.
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topsie
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11-11-09 7:18 PM
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all veterans can go to a VA hospital. Clinton tried to open them to anyone on welfare but failed.
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Graysongs
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11-11-09 6:09 PM
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hoopie - While you try to climb on the backs of vets to preach your "health care" boondoggle, yeah, sure, I'll be the "a-hole" to call you out on it, Lil' Red Diaper Doper Baby.
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EllisWyatt
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11-11-09 6:00 PM
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A big THANK YOU to those who have served, and are currently serving. Whatever the reasons for joining, and whatever your MOS, you are heroes. Most people never stop and think about how lucky they are to have been born in the freest, greatest nation on Earth. We are not free because of the ACLU, the empty promises of politcians or even our laws. We ARE free because this nation's best individuals put it all on the line for us. Many made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe it to them to never forget, to always honor them and to keep this nation free, ensuring that they did not sacrifice in vain. THANK YOU, VETERANS.
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wvhoopie
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11-11-09 6:00 PM
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outoftunesongs, you gotta be one of the biggest as sholes on here. LOL
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popeye
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11-11-09 4:48 PM
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To all Veteran's-thank you for your service to our country.
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Graysongs
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11-11-09 12:04 PM
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hoopie - Save your Lil' Red Diaper Doper Baby horseshiat for the gullible. Veteran's Day comes and we have to live with a fraud and a creep in the White House who doesn't want us to "jump to conclusions" about his mooslim pal who killed and wounded people right on a US military base. School in my county are open so that kids never get any glimmer that they should appreciate the service of others, but I have no doubt that phucking "Earth Day" is treated with religious solemnity. Screw you and your cheap and phony political platitudes shouted while you stand on the backs of veterans.
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wvhoopie
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11-11-09 6:44 AM
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According to a study released by the Harvard Medical School, 2,266 veterans under the age of 65 died last year as a result of not having health insurance. Researchers emphasize that "that figure is more than 14 times the number of deaths (155) suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008, and more than twice as many as have died (911 as of Oct. 31) since the war began in 2001." The 1.46 million working-age veterans that did not have health insurance last year all experienced reduced access to care as a consequence, leading to "six preventable deaths a day." ====This should not be the way we say thanks to our veterans. Truely a shame on America.
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wvhoopie
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11-11-09 6:39 AM
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Thanks to all who serve our Country. The most important job of government is to protect the population, and the United States does that very well. Thanks to all the veterans!
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