Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans Day, November 11, 2011: For the 1%


Have you forgotten yet?...
For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:
And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow
Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go,
Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.

But the past is just the same-and War’s a bloody game...
Have you forgotten yet?...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.

From Aftermath, by Siegfried Sassoon

...............................................................................
The  Occupy Wall Street protesters proudly display this political statement: 
 "We are the 99%".
This refers to the fact that wealth and income has become concentrated within the top 1% of the United States population.

Here's another way to look at numbers:
Just 1% of the United States population has served,
or is currently serving, in the military
to shoulder the load of America's two longest wars.

Do you need a job?
Join the Army. Or the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or the Air Force.
Are you part of the 99%?
Thank a veteran today (or any other day) for stepping up for you.
 ................................................................

Remember the family of James Clifford McKittrick.
They are still waiting for him to come home.
I'm still waiting to send them my POW-MIA bracelet.


 I escorted his flag-draped coffin home to his family.
Captain Barry Lynn Brown, Killed in Action, Vietnam, May 5, 1968


Remember Joseph Ambrose,
 a World War I veteran, holding the flag that covered the casket of his son,
who had been killed in the Korean War.

3 comments:

Lori said...

Thank you.

Lost Aussie said...

Yes, our own 1% is in Afghanistan doing the good deed each day, and we are hopeful that he will come home soon and safely.

ArtPropelled said...

Thanks Don. At 11.00 o'clock this morning many in South Africa observed a few minutes of silence to remember.