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I planned on posting these links to a couple of YouTube vids on Veteran's Day but didn't have access at home yet and also wasn't really feeling well, so probably wouldn't have gotten around to posting anyway. So I'm late this year.
Not really safe for public viewing only because they might make you cry.
The Green Fields of France
(I can't remember why I was looking up "Green Fields of France" videos last summer, but I was and found this one.)
And also this one (which would be even more appropriate on Anzac Day but I'm posting it now):
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
And since it's Friday night and I have time to do some hunting, I found a few more:
Footage from Iwo Jima:
Iwo Jima
Korea: In Color
In Color
This one today about the Vietnam war:
Wish You Were Here
(Irish watched this and was telling me the names of different places he could recognize from the footage.)
And finally, one from Canada:
Johnny We Hardly Knew You
These are all downers, aren't they? I didn't really feel like posting happy, "yay! we won!" celebratory vids this Veteran's Day. I know this sounds bizarre and probably crass, but I hope when Obama becomes president, he allows the media to show footage of our dead soldiers and coming home. Bush has prevented video of coffins being offloaded from being shown on the news (and how did that happen in a country with a free press?) - but I think that, whether one believes a war is necessary, whether one agrees with it or not, it should never be sanitized, we - those of us who haven't lost anyone close to us - should not be allowed to forget or gloss over the fact that men and women are dying to accomplish these goals and not everyone who comes home is doing so seated in an airplane. Too many, as in any war, are coming home in a box in the cargo hold.
***
My family has been so blessed - there are veterans on both sides of my family and not one - grandparents, uncles, cousins - was lost. They've all come home, since WWI. Am I thankful? Do I believe in miracles? You know it! (Irish wasn't so lucky - he lost all but, I believe, 3 male cousins in Vietnam - so many that the family quit having its annual reunion because it was too heartbreaking.)
In honor of Great Uncle Bill (English Army - WWI), Grampa Gene (Navy), Uncle Ed (Navy), Uncle Bill (Navy), Uncle Jack (Army, I think)(all WWII), Grampa Carl (Korea), Great Uncle Jim (Army or Navy; I don't remember - late 1950s or early 1960s, no combat), Uncle Lee (Air Force - 1957, no combat), Husband Mike (Marines - 1968-1978, 2 tours in Vietname), Cousin Roger (Army - Vietnam), Cousin Mark (English Navy - briefly in the late 1970s), Cousin Wes (Navy - 1990s till just recently, no combat), 2nd Cousin David (Navy - same time frame, no combat), and 2nd Cousin Doug (Navy - 2000s - mostly in Guam, but was stationed in Afghanistan for a year). I've probably forgotten some, particularly in-laws and English relatives; I honor them too.
Not really safe for public viewing only because they might make you cry.
The Green Fields of France
(I can't remember why I was looking up "Green Fields of France" videos last summer, but I was and found this one.)
And also this one (which would be even more appropriate on Anzac Day but I'm posting it now):
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
And since it's Friday night and I have time to do some hunting, I found a few more:
Footage from Iwo Jima:
Iwo Jima
Korea: In Color
In Color
This one today about the Vietnam war:
Wish You Were Here
(Irish watched this and was telling me the names of different places he could recognize from the footage.)
And finally, one from Canada:
Johnny We Hardly Knew You
These are all downers, aren't they? I didn't really feel like posting happy, "yay! we won!" celebratory vids this Veteran's Day. I know this sounds bizarre and probably crass, but I hope when Obama becomes president, he allows the media to show footage of our dead soldiers and coming home. Bush has prevented video of coffins being offloaded from being shown on the news (and how did that happen in a country with a free press?) - but I think that, whether one believes a war is necessary, whether one agrees with it or not, it should never be sanitized, we - those of us who haven't lost anyone close to us - should not be allowed to forget or gloss over the fact that men and women are dying to accomplish these goals and not everyone who comes home is doing so seated in an airplane. Too many, as in any war, are coming home in a box in the cargo hold.
***
My family has been so blessed - there are veterans on both sides of my family and not one - grandparents, uncles, cousins - was lost. They've all come home, since WWI. Am I thankful? Do I believe in miracles? You know it! (Irish wasn't so lucky - he lost all but, I believe, 3 male cousins in Vietnam - so many that the family quit having its annual reunion because it was too heartbreaking.)
In honor of Great Uncle Bill (English Army - WWI), Grampa Gene (Navy), Uncle Ed (Navy), Uncle Bill (Navy), Uncle Jack (Army, I think)(all WWII), Grampa Carl (Korea), Great Uncle Jim (Army or Navy; I don't remember - late 1950s or early 1960s, no combat), Uncle Lee (Air Force - 1957, no combat), Husband Mike (Marines - 1968-1978, 2 tours in Vietname), Cousin Roger (Army - Vietnam), Cousin Mark (English Navy - briefly in the late 1970s), Cousin Wes (Navy - 1990s till just recently, no combat), 2nd Cousin David (Navy - same time frame, no combat), and 2nd Cousin Doug (Navy - 2000s - mostly in Guam, but was stationed in Afghanistan for a year). I've probably forgotten some, particularly in-laws and English relatives; I honor them too.