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On 06/06/2012 11:36 PM, Tim Watts wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:1339040189.19846.1113.camel@dellberry"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I met an elderly man in France while riding through Normandy on my
bicycle back in '96. He was there that day, not as a soldier but as a
French citizen living under Nazi rule. This man showed me what real
enduring gratitude is about.
I rode into a small town and stopped to get directions from two women.
When they noticed I was from the US they called over to their friend and
introduced me. He didn't speak English -- and I know only enough French
to make the French want me to speak English -- but the women explained
that since being liberated he's made a commitment to do something nice
to any US citizen he encounters. I just wanted to be on my way but he
insisted on taking me to lunch. We communicated mainly in gestures and
diagrams but it was a lunch I'll never forget.
So yeah, what Aaron says too, but this day meant something real to a lot
of people.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Yeah. The world has changed since 1942. We liberated France and they
are still happy with us. I always wonder what might we have done had
we not sat back for so long. Could we have prevented the holocaust?
Or maybe Japan would not have seen us as "passive" and never
attacked Pearl Harbour.<br>
<br>
I wish the VA system were better. A long time friend's daughter is
getting married soon to a veteran of Iraq. The PTSD will be a
challenge for their them and their new baby. Treatment is available
but not locally for him (or most vets who go back home) thanks to
budget cuts.<br>
<br>
I really wish our schools were better. Maybe we could grow some
better politicians that can solve problems without warfare. That
would be pretty cool.<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:1339040189.19846.1113.camel@dellberry"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
On Wed, 2012-06-06 at 10:16 -0400, Rich Faulkner wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Placing it on the record here; that today marks D-DAY plus 68-years.
Thank you gentlemen...one and all.
John 15:13
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