Happy Veterans Day

It is that time of year again to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have given so much to pay for the freedom that we enjoy today. 

We should all remember "freedom is not free" and we should never forget those veterans who have served this Nation.  Some served in peacetime and others during war.  There have been those who were prisoners of war, missing in action, or some who were killed in action.  For those missing in action and unaccounted for, we should do everything as Americans to help bring them home.  They deserve no less than to rest in, or stand on, American soil.  Haven't they waited long enough?

May we always be humbly grateful to those American patriots who suffered and sacrificed for the glory of God and for the freedom of all Americans.  For those who have served in peacetime, and to those who have seen the terror, the horror, and inhumanity of combat, and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Let it be said that our military members have always been there for America, defending the Constitution of the United States. 

To all our veterans, I have a simple, yet heartfelt message.  Thank you.  Thank you for your unwavering service to this nation and throughout the world.

I want to share with you a letter written a few years back by a marine stationed out in San Diego.  Enjoy. 

“Dear Ma and Pa,

I am well and hoping you are to.  Tell Walt and Elmer, the Marine Corps beats working for that old man Jones by a mile.  Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.  I was restless at first because you stay in bed to nearly 5 a.m. but I'm getting use to sleeping in.  Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth out your cot and shine a few things.  No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, or fire to lay.  Practically nothing.  Men have to shave but it's not so bad, there's warm water.  Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie, and other regular food.  Tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys who live off coffee.  Their food plus yours holds you until about noon.  Then you get fed again.  It's no wonder the city boys can't walk much.

We go on long "route marches" which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to hardness us.  If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different.  A route march is about as far as it is to our mailbox.  Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.  The sergeant is like schoolteacher.  He nags a lot.  The captain is like the school board.  Majors and colonels just ride around and frown.  They don't bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing.  I keep getting medals for shooting.  I don't know why.  The bull's-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like them Hogget boys at home.  All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it.  You don't even load your own cartridges.  They come in boxes.  Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training.  You get to wrestle with the city boys.  I have to be real careful though, they break real easy.  It ain't like fighting with that old bull at home.  I'm about the best they got except for that Tug Jordan from over there in Calhoun County.  I only beat him once.  He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds.  He is 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry. 

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry up before all the other fellows get onto this setup and come stampeding in. 

Your loving daughter, Alice.”

May we always be humbly grateful to those brave American patriots who suffered and sacrificed for the glory of God and for the freedom of all Americans. 

Happy Veterans Day!

Ed McAteer is a resident of Port St. Joe