Good Morning Campers,

You may have noticed that there was no Dragon Laffs on Monday.  That was because I had a very full weekend and not because of anything necessarily bad that happened.  Also, this issue is coming out a day early and is a “special” issue.  I brought back a header that I used back in 2013 … seven years ago…one that I like very much and one that reminds me very much of my dear friend Lethal Leprechaun.  Veterans Day was always very special to both of us and I hope I can do him proud with today’s issue. 

I will admit, I’m feeling a bit beat up over the election and things that I’m hearing in the news about what the newly elected party plans on doing to my military, how they’ve treated my military brothers and sisters in the past and how I’m afraid they will be treated in the future.  I guess we’ll see how that all plays out.  It is what it is.  Although I am a civilian, I am still a member of the United States Military and my oath of office has NEVER changed. 

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the Untied States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  So help me God.”

You may not know it, but that oath of enlistment never expires.  For most of us, anyway.  Did you know that there is a Veterans Creed?  Let me lay it out for you here:

I am a United States military veteran.
I mastered the weapons, tools, and techniques of war and security and I make no apology for the proficiency.
I became a leader by my willingness to both serve and subordinate myself to my superiors’, the mission and the needs of my team.
Foremost among first responders, I earned the ribbons of a volunteer, endeavor, defender, warrior, rescuer, problem-solver, and model citizen.
I am the visible conscience of a nation with regard to the costs of war and freedom’s true price.
I do not fail to support another vet who crosses my path with any need, large or small; he or she may have wounds or hardships that few others would understand.
I am part of the eternal flame of memory, of my brother and sister veterans who died in service to our country.
Honor, courage, and commitment define me to this day.  I maintain my readiness, health, and fitness in order to serve again, should my community or nation call.
In all of the remaining moments of my life, I will be steadfast guardian of American ideals, freedoms, and history.
I am a one-percenter of the noblest order.  I am… an American veteran.

I may not be a perfect guy, or even a perfect dragon.  I certainly make a lot of mistakes in my life, but I would like to think, that if my life was weighed in the balance, when I’m standing in front of Saint Pete … he would say, job well done.  Dismissed.

And here’s another good one:

Tomorrow night at darts (Tuesday night, since I’m writing this first part on Monday) I’ll be passing out laminated cards with the above Veteran’s Creed on it and a coin that looks like this:

Except that I got Army ones for the Army guys and even a Navy one for the one Navy Vet we got.  But, Air Force is by far the most prevalent.  I think they will like them.  They better, I spent a couple of bucks on them.  They are coins, since that’s a military thing … which just means I’ll have to come up with something else for next year…but I’ve already got something in mind.

Anyway, by now we really ought to move on to the issue.

First of all, Veterans Day does not have an apostrophe.  It’s not a day belonging to Veterans, it’s a day honoring all Veterans, therefore no apostrophe. 

Secondly, Veterans Day is not Memorial Day, a lot of Americans get this confused and quite frankly, it can be a little bit annoying to all the living vets out there.  Memorial Day is a day to remember all those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle.  Veterans Day honors all of those who have served their country in war or peace.  But, it’s largely supposed to thank the living Vets for their sacrifices.  And believe me, there are ALWAYS sacrifices in being a Veteran.

Third, Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day which commemorated the end of World War I.  World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, but the fighting really ended about seven months prior to that when the Allies and Germans put an end to the fighting on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  Hence, November 11, 1918 was largely considered  the end of “the war to end all wars.”  Yeah, that didn’t last very long, did it?  Well, Armistice Day didn’t last long either and it was changed to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954…after World War II and the Korean War made us realize that “the war to end all wars” was pretty much crap.  And to make matters worse, congress screwed up and made it (under the Uniform Holiday Bill in 1968) the fourth Monday in October!  It took until 1978 until it was fixed and put back on November 11th where it belongs.

And finally, we’re not the only ones who celebrate November 11th as a holiday, although the other countries don’t call it Veterans Day.  Canada, Australia, and Great Britain all call it Remembrance Day and many of its citizens wear red poppy flowers to honor their war dead.  Canada and Australia both celebrate on November 11th as we do although Great Britain observes on the Sunday closest to November 11th.

I have the most wonderful of readers!  You guys send me the greatest of things.  This was sent to me by Sasquatch.  It’s not really Veterans Day stuff, but worth sharing none-the-less.  It’s called: Cranky Old Man and there’s a story that goes with it…

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

 

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

 

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet.

 

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?

What are you thinking .. . when you’re looking at me?

A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,

Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food .. . … . . and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice . .’I do wish you’d try!’

Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.

And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . … lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?

Is that what you’re thinking?. .Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse .you’re not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.

I’m a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet

Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he’ll meet.

A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.

A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,

Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,

But my woman is beside me . . to see I don’t mourn.

At Fifty, once more, .. …Babies play ’round my knee,

Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.

I look at the future … . . . . I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.

And I think of the years . . . And the love that I’ve known.

I’m now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.

It’s jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.

There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,

And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells

I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.

And I’m loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.

And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.

Not a cranky old man .

Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. …. . ME!!

 

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM!

The best and most beautiful things of this world can’t be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

Antiques

Grandma had it

Mom threw it out

I bought it back

Adulthood is straight up the worst hood I’ve ever lived in.

I’ve been sitting here reading over many different emails and I’ve read lots of funny stuff, but not much that goes along with Veterans Day.  And now it’s getting late and I’m not going to have time tomorrow to work on this…so I’m not sure what to do.  I guess I’ll do as much as I can and you guys will get what you get, lol.  Isn’t that the way it always works?

The last date that all living humans were together on Earth was November 2, 2000.  Since then, there has always been someone onboard the International Space Station.

They should let illegal immigrants hunt sex offenders for citizenship and call it…

Aliens Vs. Predators

And that’s it my friends.  Find a Vet, thank a Vet, have a great day.

Love and happiness to you all.

Cheers!

Impish Dragon