USAF Reserve Commander's Call - September 21, 2008
Sept 21, 2008 14:44:30 GMT -6
Post by Moderator on Sept 21, 2008 14:44:30 GMT -6
Transcript of the speech delivered by Jeff Seeber on September 21, 2008 at the Commander's Call for the 210th EIS (Engineer Installation Squadron), 133rd Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Fort Snelling - Minneapolis, MN ...
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For the first time in the history of America's Armed Forces, two generations of servicemembers and veterans have come together to support each other in a time of war. It has never happened before. It's been said that every special interest group is its own worst enemy. That has certainly been the case with veterans.
Historically, the generation that fought the previous war silently watches from afar when the next generation finds itself on a battlefield in some distant land. In the past 100 years, World War I veterans generally ignored World War II veterans. World War II veterans ignored Vietnam veterans. And, everyone ignored our Korean War veterans. Your generation changed all that.
It would be reasonable to assume that those of us who served throughout the Cold War, and especially during Vietnam, reached out to your generation to offer our support and our advice because of what we had been through. But that's not the way it happened.
You reached out to us. We don't know why you did it, but you did. Because of what you have done for us since our Nation was attacked on Nine-Eleven, hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans have come home to an America we thought had been forever lost.
Your generation started this history-altering process before you had even reached the mountains of Afghanistan. You started it while you were passing through commercial airports and filling the tarmacs of military airfields to begin the long journey that would take you to war.
I witnessed it over and over again ... a reporter would ask one of you what it felt like to have the patriotic support of the American people and you would invariably say something like, "This is the way the Vietnam guys should have been treated."
I will never forget watching the televised homecoming of the USS George Washington battle group. One of the first sailors to disembark from the aircraft carrier ... an E-4, young enough to be my grandson ... was asked what the sea of people, the patriotic music, the signs, the applause, the handshakes, the salutes, and the tears felt like, and he responded, "I hope my brothers and sisters who served in the 60s and 70s are watching. This is for them, too."
All of us who served during Vietnam heard what your generation said. All of us who served during Vietnam knew that we owed you a debt we could never repay. You did not just make us feel better, you made it possible for the buddies we lost to be recognized all these years later. You made it possible for us to honor and remember them publicly at long last. You brought their stories back. No longer are they merely names on a wall.
We wondered what we could possibly do to demonstrate our gratitude, our support, and our respect for you. One opportunity presented itself when a small group of whackos attempted to force their sadistic, hateful views onto families attending the funerals of your brothers and sisters who gave their very lives protecting and defending the rest of us.
In response, a handful of American Legion Riders who had served in Vietnam, lined-up to position themselves between the protestors and the families. From that half-dozen veterans who were determined that disrupting funerals cannot be permitted to happen during your war as it frequently did during our war, arose what soon became known as the Patriot Guard Riders.
Thousands of other support projects have been launched nationwide. Here in Minnesota, men and women from all walks of life, veterans and non-veterans standing shoulder-to-shoulder, visit the families of our fallen heroes ... after the cards of condolence have stopped, after the phone calls have tapered off ... when the families are left to wonder if anyone remembers. Tribute To The Troops is now in its sixth year of making sure the families know their loved ones are not forgotten.
There are hundreds of efforts like mine, the Military Salute Project, that try everything we can to let you know we are going to support you no matter how many years the War On Terror lasts. You are directly responsible for every one of these efforts.
You are responsible for my group coordinating EchoTaps at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in May, 2007 when I was able to include in the program the Military Funeral Honors three of my buddies wanted, earned, and deserved, but had to wait 37 years to receive.
You are responsible for the 2008 Honor & Remember Ride To Washington this past June when I was finally able to walk up to The Wall after three failed attempts some 20 years earlier, and touch the names of four buddies who gave the last full measure of devotion. But this time, I was surrounded by veterans and non-veterans I have met in the last few years because of you ... because of your service and your sacrifice.
You are responsible for our visit to Arlington National Cemetery a few days later where we visited the gravesites of Minnesotans buried there who paid the ultimate cost for our freedom during the War On Terror.
And, when we carry out the project we are currently planning for next summer ... the 2009 Remember The Fallen Tribute ... you will be responsible for whatever comfort we bring to the families and friends of Minnesota's Fallen when we visit gravesites all across this state of every Minnesotan who died as a result of supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle.
This Nation laid a heavy burden on you and you responded. History will ultimately decide if you receive the credit you already have earned and deserve for liberating Afghanistan and Iraq. But we do not have to wait for history to give you the credit for liberating your brothers and sisters who served throughout the Cold War and especially during Vietnam. You freed us from our demons. You literally saved many of us. You brought us home.
On behalf of a grateful generation, thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. May God bless all of you and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
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For the first time in the history of America's Armed Forces, two generations of servicemembers and veterans have come together to support each other in a time of war. It has never happened before. It's been said that every special interest group is its own worst enemy. That has certainly been the case with veterans.
Historically, the generation that fought the previous war silently watches from afar when the next generation finds itself on a battlefield in some distant land. In the past 100 years, World War I veterans generally ignored World War II veterans. World War II veterans ignored Vietnam veterans. And, everyone ignored our Korean War veterans. Your generation changed all that.
It would be reasonable to assume that those of us who served throughout the Cold War, and especially during Vietnam, reached out to your generation to offer our support and our advice because of what we had been through. But that's not the way it happened.
You reached out to us. We don't know why you did it, but you did. Because of what you have done for us since our Nation was attacked on Nine-Eleven, hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans have come home to an America we thought had been forever lost.
Your generation started this history-altering process before you had even reached the mountains of Afghanistan. You started it while you were passing through commercial airports and filling the tarmacs of military airfields to begin the long journey that would take you to war.
I witnessed it over and over again ... a reporter would ask one of you what it felt like to have the patriotic support of the American people and you would invariably say something like, "This is the way the Vietnam guys should have been treated."
I will never forget watching the televised homecoming of the USS George Washington battle group. One of the first sailors to disembark from the aircraft carrier ... an E-4, young enough to be my grandson ... was asked what the sea of people, the patriotic music, the signs, the applause, the handshakes, the salutes, and the tears felt like, and he responded, "I hope my brothers and sisters who served in the 60s and 70s are watching. This is for them, too."
All of us who served during Vietnam heard what your generation said. All of us who served during Vietnam knew that we owed you a debt we could never repay. You did not just make us feel better, you made it possible for the buddies we lost to be recognized all these years later. You made it possible for us to honor and remember them publicly at long last. You brought their stories back. No longer are they merely names on a wall.
We wondered what we could possibly do to demonstrate our gratitude, our support, and our respect for you. One opportunity presented itself when a small group of whackos attempted to force their sadistic, hateful views onto families attending the funerals of your brothers and sisters who gave their very lives protecting and defending the rest of us.
In response, a handful of American Legion Riders who had served in Vietnam, lined-up to position themselves between the protestors and the families. From that half-dozen veterans who were determined that disrupting funerals cannot be permitted to happen during your war as it frequently did during our war, arose what soon became known as the Patriot Guard Riders.
Thousands of other support projects have been launched nationwide. Here in Minnesota, men and women from all walks of life, veterans and non-veterans standing shoulder-to-shoulder, visit the families of our fallen heroes ... after the cards of condolence have stopped, after the phone calls have tapered off ... when the families are left to wonder if anyone remembers. Tribute To The Troops is now in its sixth year of making sure the families know their loved ones are not forgotten.
There are hundreds of efforts like mine, the Military Salute Project, that try everything we can to let you know we are going to support you no matter how many years the War On Terror lasts. You are directly responsible for every one of these efforts.
You are responsible for my group coordinating EchoTaps at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in May, 2007 when I was able to include in the program the Military Funeral Honors three of my buddies wanted, earned, and deserved, but had to wait 37 years to receive.
You are responsible for the 2008 Honor & Remember Ride To Washington this past June when I was finally able to walk up to The Wall after three failed attempts some 20 years earlier, and touch the names of four buddies who gave the last full measure of devotion. But this time, I was surrounded by veterans and non-veterans I have met in the last few years because of you ... because of your service and your sacrifice.
You are responsible for our visit to Arlington National Cemetery a few days later where we visited the gravesites of Minnesotans buried there who paid the ultimate cost for our freedom during the War On Terror.
And, when we carry out the project we are currently planning for next summer ... the 2009 Remember The Fallen Tribute ... you will be responsible for whatever comfort we bring to the families and friends of Minnesota's Fallen when we visit gravesites all across this state of every Minnesotan who died as a result of supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle.
This Nation laid a heavy burden on you and you responded. History will ultimately decide if you receive the credit you already have earned and deserve for liberating Afghanistan and Iraq. But we do not have to wait for history to give you the credit for liberating your brothers and sisters who served throughout the Cold War and especially during Vietnam. You freed us from our demons. You literally saved many of us. You brought us home.
On behalf of a grateful generation, thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. May God bless all of you and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.