Salute to the heroes

pollyanna · November 11th, 2008, 19:12

Today especially I give thanks and am truly grateful to the heroes who made this wonderful life we live possible. I am indeed thankful that I will never have to survive in cold, dark and stinking blood filled ditches, watching my friends die or having to defend myself by killing another in order to protect my people and having to live with horrific memories.

One thing is for sure, I will do all I can to make this world a better place for future generations. I have dreams in place to make a difference and I will make sure they do. You have not suffered and died in vain.

To celebrate this special day my children and grandchildren have taken the day off work, packed up their bikes and roller blades, gone to the beach and will think of you as the sun sets on this memorable day.

I have enjoyed cycling on my new electric assisted bike (like I imagined, electric assistance on a bike is like using LifeFlow with meditation - it's fantastically amazing) I love it and so do my children. I pass them going uphill now

Thankyou for my FREEDOM. Life is truly tremendous because of you

As I'm home alone I cannot ask for my children to put a picture of a field of poppies here for you but maybe someone from this wonderful community may read this and be able to do so

. I am going to Flow now and offer my meditation for peace. Happiness, peace and joy to you all

Divinitywolf · November 11th, 2008, 20:53

I join in with your salute Pollyanna.

Its easy to take our lives for granted and to not think about the people and lives that were lost to make all this possible. Perhaps they are around somewhere, looking gratefully at the safety and security that their lives won.

Also a special salute to those 4 remaining world war 1 veterans. They have lived outstandingly and can see for themselves what their fighting won. May they be filled with peace, knowing they succeeded.

Divinitywolf

chris063 · November 11th, 2008, 22:56

I salute them and give thanks too. So many brave souls gave their lives so we could live a life of freedom, may they all have found peace now, living or not.

Montana Keith · November 12th, 2008, 00:06

Hi Pollyanna,
Thanks for your post on "salute to heros." I hope this picture of a field of poppies is kind of what you had in mind.

My dad who passed away in 2002 served as an infantryman in the South Pacific during WW II. He fought the Japanese, but he never had any animosity towards these wonderful people. In fact it was one of the joys of his and my lives when I was called to serve a two-year mission for our church from 1978 to 1980. My dad kept a journal during his time serving in the military. This is one excerpt that helps me remember the price many have paid.

Friday, 9 Jun 1944 -
I'll never forget what happened last night. We were fired on all night long by Jap ak ak, artillery, mortars, rifles, and machine guns. Just before 6:00 AM the Japs let out a beastly, hideous, blood-curdling yell that seemed to freeze the blood in our veins. They came charging in with fixed bayonets. We lay down a withering fire with rifles and machine guns. In our company Adam Walker and Herman Sneeringer were bayoneted to death. Dumesnel stabbed the Jap to death who had killed Walker and Sneeringer. And Ernest L. Bingham was shot through the head and killed. Now I know what it means to lose my best friend in action. Yesterday I went over to see him in his fox hole. We laughed and talked together. Today he was found dead with a bullet through his head. I do not trust myself to go see if he has been killed for fear of breaking down and crying. Also I want to remember him the way I saw him when he was alive. Every time I think of him I choke up and have to fight to keep back the tears. He was the best friend I had in the army.

I remember vividly the first time I saw him, the times I called him Cotton Picker and Mississippi Swamp Rat. I think of the fun we had together on our furlough in Sydney, the double dates we had. Oh God, how much longer must this go on? My greatest consolation is that we will see each other when my life on earth is finished.

pollyanna · November 12th, 2008, 01:55

Thankyou once again Keith, you are so kind and caring. The picture is superb. Thankyou for sharing a portion of your fathers journal - it deeply touched me. I'm sure your father and everyone from all lands are in peace and unison now. I love your beautiful spirit, may peace and joy be with you forever

As individuals we may be strong but as a team we are invincible