Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for November 11, 2018

I bet a little rain never stopped these guys from doing their duty.

Never forget the sacrifice on this:

VETERANS DAY

REMEMBRANCE DAY

ARMISTICE DAY

Veterans day is for we who came home. Trudeau gets it.

Thank you for this…

Memories wished forgotten.

Events needing to be remembered.

The reasons you sometimes wake up sweating in the middle of the night.

Thanks to those who came home, and those who didn’t.

Not to break the mood, but, that is a nice array of noses.

Never forget 400,000 Muslims fought in the British Army during WWI. A little rain never stopped them from fighting alongside the British, Americans and French.

Never should the U.S. have been in WW 1, Viet Nam, Iraq 2. All the sacrifices of the solders for politicians’ egos and mistakes.

Donald Trump : Avoiding STD’s was own personal Vietnam.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Written by John McCrae

Black and white photos in my family album; locations such as West Germany and the Phillippines. My father and step-father, were of course, young and bold in their youth. And yet, It was obvious that some stories they always wanted to remember but never wanted to tell…

Happy November 11th, everyone! Do you remember that this is the anniversary of the day the guns of the Great War went silent, and there was a brief, idealistic window of hope that the slaughter had been so terrible that humanity would never fight a war again? And November 11th was supposed to be remembered forever as Armistice Day, the day the killing stopped? Ringing a bell? For anyone? The dashed optimism? No?- JoshReads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH3-Gt7mgyM

Yes, it starts out funny, and then…

Nicely done. Maybe next week we can hear from Mel, another vet, who just won her election. There is lots to do now after the election.

Today Ms. Zippy and I will mourn her brother (‘Nam ’70), my Dad (WWII and Korea), my German Mom’s Dad (WWI gas injuries, she never met him), and her eldest Brother, who died in the battle of Stalingrad.

War is hell.

I guess I was lucky… My Mom and Dad were both in the Army in WW2, and came home, my brother was an Airborne M.P. in Vietnam, and he came home, and I was serving in the Navy during Vietnam, and came home.

From those of us who did come home, to our fallen comrades who didn’t, may I humbly say: You will never be forgotten, and be honored for your sacrifice in our hearts.

Veterans Day honors the living – those who have served or are serving. Memorial Day honors those who gave their lives in service to our country. Nevertheless, it is always appropriate to honor both groups, every day.

I see trump is getting socked for not attending a war remembrance in France, due to rain. I certainly have many memories of Obama in the soaking rain, it never stopped him.

With every move my muscles shout.Woodworking, gardening, lazing about,nothing to do but widdle and pout.

I was a Soldier once, large and strong,I was a Soldier once, doing no wrong.I was a Soldier once, fighting your war,I was a Soldier once, mighty to the core.

I sit behind a desk now, slowly getting fat,Knowing where I should really be settling my hat.This civilian life I live, is so deadly to me,I should, again, be a soldier, a sight to see.

I was a Soldier once, Yes Sir, No Sir, anything you say Sir.I was a Soldier once; it was the life I preferred.I was a Soldier once, leading from the saddle.I was a Soldier once, living in my battle rattle.

Those that have never been one shall never know.Those that put them down can basically go blow.In this day and age, Soldiers protect our FreedomIn this day and age, everyone should be one.I know this because,

I was a Soldier once, protecting you and yours.I was a Soldier once, with back to back fighting tours.I was a Soldier once, dying for the American way.and although I was a Soldier once,I should be a Soldier Now, fighting for you every day.Rik Bertrand

My standard speech:

Soldiers accept a job from us which, in some circumstances, will lead to their death or a disablement so profound that they might wish for death. We owe it to them not to use their sacrifice lightly, for personal or political gain or glory. That is the very least: the minimum acceptable bar. Fail that, and we are unworthy of the sacrifice of the least of them.

We MUST remember to thank George W. Bush for today’s war stories.

And the other stuff.

An appropriate cartoon for today.

I see that Garry Trudeau engaged in cartoonist’s retcon: In what really happened, BD’s leg looked very much like broken hamburger at the instant depicted; he lost his lower leg at the M*A*S*H, and Trudeau told us he lost his knee in follow-up treatment back in the states.

Most excellent, Garry!

Meanwhile, Trump had bone spurs — or so his doctor said.

Yes, it was Armistice day until Hitler and Hirohito decided the killing must start again.

We lost our peace to a series of mindless, unnecessary and unending wars. WWII – 1939 to 1945 – 6 years. Korea – 1950 to 1953 – 3 years. Vietnam – 1955 to 1975 – 20 years. Gulf wars – 1990 – 2018 and beyond – 28 years so far

I will never say “Happy Veterans’ Day,” for it is not a happy occasion. Although many veterans were happy to come home, a great majority are unable to leave the war behind. An estimated 22 veterans suicide every day. Others suffer broken bodies, PTSD, and incurable disease.

I honor the sacrifice of those who fought or otherwise participated in those wars, and I call shame upon the nations who send their young to war. Time for everyone to bring the troops home forever. ☮️

I remember the strip when B.D. was wounded. The biggest shock was to see him without a helmet for the first time ever.

NOT visiting the Cemetery is the Most Respectful thing the tRumpanzaee could have done.

Anything else would have ended with him peeing on a tombstone.

I still have the original strip that contained that first-column, third row frame. Significantly and, I think, intentionally, it was the first time we saw BD without a helmet.

Sending to my veteran relatives today…..

One of the rights biggest targets shows far more respect for our veterans consistently over the years than SCROTUS (So-Called Ruler of the United States).

i still remember the panel with BD without the leg, and still the view of him without the helmet was one of the most shocking I’ve seen in the strips. That told me how major an event this was.

When they say “Thank you for your service” I reply, “I’d rather you said ‘Glad you made it back alive!’,” and they sometimes see. Trudeau sees.

If I recall correctly, didn’t Leo get blown up for doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing at the time? Something involving an iPod?