Tag Archives: veterans day

Sending Love on Veterans Day

Leave a reply

War is nasty business, there’s no doubt about that. PFC Aaron Fairbairn and millions of have given their lives in military service to the United States of America. On this day, November 11th, every year, we honor those who have served in the various branches of the United States military.

We honor veterans because they have the nerve to man-up and be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Most are not called upon to give their lives in service, but you would be surprised to learn that there are many other casualties of military service than those who are killed in battle.

Many suffer non-fatal injuries, experience extreme stress and trauma which may be associated with military service which could lead to a decline of the immune system, physical and psychological health, and shortened lifespan. Military service does take its toll on those who serve, and we are blessed by their volunteering to serve on our behalf.

You might be surprised to know that 22 veterans take their own lives every day. It makes you think there’s something not quite right about this. These people have really gone the extra mile for us, and for them to represent a large demographic of those who commit suicide every day in the USA, indicates a serious problem.

These are our heroes, the ones who have volunteered to stand in the gap for us. We are forever in their debt. We owe them, yet, in many cases, they feel lost, forgotten, or left suffering.

Even though we honor them often, especially on Veterans Day, in our hearts and minds, and honor their service by telling stories of their service, and proudly display their photos in uniform, they are not feeling as well as they could.

Interestingly, November 11th kicks off the holiday season; a time of year when those who feel good feel even better, and those who are not feeling well can feel far worse. So bad, in fact, that this time of year represents not only the season to celebrate joy, and spread goodwill, but also the time of year when suicides are far more prevalent. The most popular of days to commit suicide are December 25th, January 1st, (and followed by July 4th).

This year, I hope that you will join us in sending love and expressing gratitude for veterans, their service, and others in our communities and around the world.

Veterans and non-veterans can join us for Sending Love to the World, which starts today and runs throughout the months of November and December, ending on January 1st.

Of course, you can send love to the world at any time, some will elect to send love for 10 minutes or more from one day to every day throughout the season, but it is our hope that you would be willing to join us for a minimum of three minutes to send love to the world this holiday season in any manner which suits you best. You could pray, meditate, go to church, light a candle, whatever feels right for you. Every little bit helps, as it has a cumulative effect at a time when people might be feeling that the pain of living life might be worse than having no feeling at all.

Plus, you get the benefits of sending love to the world. Three minutes of sending love fill you and your heart with love, increasing healing and feel good hormones that increase and strengthen your immune system for up to eight hours. All from as few as three minutes of sending love to the world.

If you are not sure how to send love to the world, here is a free Sending Love to the World guided meditation video you could use at any time.

Please share and invite others to join us in sending love to veterans and the world this holiday season.

Much gratitude and love to all veterans who have served and sacrificed.

Honoring your service, sending love to you and yours every day.

God bless you for all you have done and continue to do.

Veterans Day

1 Reply

Veterans Day is the day that we honor those who have served in the United States Armed Services consisting of the military services of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

veterans-day-pfc-aaron-fairbairn-thankyouaaron-thank-you-for-your-service

To those who have served and continue to serve, we offer up a huge debt of gratitude and heart-felt honor from those of us, the citizenry of the United States of America, whom you serve in our stead.

There have been times when serving in the US Armed Services was not an option. Those of us who are old enough, saw our friends and family mandated to serve in the military, forced to fight on our behalf by law, sometimes against their will. Regardless, whether a veteran volunteered or was drafted, you were placed in a position – that for whatever reason – I and my fellow Americans were spared.

You, our United States Veterans are the true heroes of our nation and in my opinion deserve the highest respect and honor.

On July 4, 2009 PFC Aaron Fairbairn was called upon by the President of the United States and God Almighty to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Years have passed since then, and the pain of that day is still ever present, though my thoughts of what took place on Aaron’s fateful day have run the gamut. I have had other relatives who served though they lived long enough to be honored on this day. Though I knew there would be times Aaron would be at risk, I expected him to return to American soil, as did my other relatives.

When I talked to him on the phone the evening of July third (after a period of imposed “radio silence” during which he was not allowed to call) he assured me that everything was okay. During that short phone conversation we talked and laughed before exchanging I-love-you(s) as he longed to phone other friends also while he had time. None of us had any idea that it was going to be the last time we would talk.

Though we honor all who have served, are serving and some are volunteering even as I type these words, some have made and will make the ultimate sacrifice carrying out their oath of service. For Aaron and all those who were called upon to deliver this fateful level of service, America honors them on Memorial Day.

pfc-aaron-fairbairn-brothers-in-arms-cop-zerok-paktika-afghanistan

I can’t help to imagine what it must have been like for Aaron and his brothers in arms in the Battle of COP Zerok Paktika in Afghanistan that ensued that day, but it must have been horrifying. As unimaginable as it is for me to think that Aaron was having to draw fire on the enemy, I couldn’t help but think the young man who was shooting at him was someone else’s son, who also made the same sacrifice for what he believed in that day.

No matter what you think of war or the military in general, it can be a very nasty business and thanks to Aaron and all who have served, the rest of us are able to have the freedoms we are offered by the USA while we are spared the potential horror and/or loss of life thanks to their service.

To all Veterans:

May God bless everyone who has taken the States Armed Services oath of service. I will be forever grateful for your courage.

Thank you for your service.

This day, I feel that we are blood brothers and I honor you.

Honoring All United States Veterans

Leave a reply

It is that time of the year that we honor all who have served on the behalf of those Americans who did not have to step up to the plate directly because the real heroes have taken the risk of defending us. The least we could do is to offer our most sincere gratitude to those who have answered the call.

Honoring all United States Veterans Thank you for your service aaronfairbairnIt is due to the efforts of these men and women who have accepted the call that we enjoy the freedoms that we have as Americans, lest we forget that regardless of what our opinions may be, that many have fought and supported our right to have your independent beliefs and have offered us a degree of safety while we enjoy the lives that we lead in the United States of America.

Many have fought bravely and some have even paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
Yes, PFC Aaron Fairbairn was a 20-year-old volunteer who willing accepted the responsibility and it cost him the ability to live the life that would have been fitting for such an honorable young man. Our hearts break every day, realizing that his strength and honor would mean that he would not marry, or lovingly raise children that would be a part of his legacy.

His legacy, like that of so many others, would be that of a hero; one who was willing to give his life for his friends, brothers in arms, relatives and fellow Americans. He is but one, but his sacrifice will long be remembered by many, as will the lives of others who preceded him in making the ultimate sacrifice and each one who has done so since.

Every day, many individuals perform a wide variety of functions to maintain peace of Americans with dignity and this day is set aside to honor them – each and every one of them – who have given a portion of their lives in support of our country and the greater good.

Thank you; every American who has served and those who are currently in service.

Today is your day.

May you all receive the respect for serving with strength and honor, just as Aaron did. My hope for you is that you enjoy all the benefits for the sacrifices you have made for us.

God bless you for your service, and I thank God for every one of you.

#thankyouaaron

 

Veterans Day 2014

Leave a reply

It is all I can do to express the deepest most heart-felt gratitude for all who have answered the call in service to our country.

Cop-Zerok-Afghanistan-Cop-Zerok-Honor-the-Fallen-Soldiers

There may be no higher honor than to serve unreservedly, to put yourself in harm’s way on the behalf of your fellow citizens. Truly each and very sone of you gave some but some have given all.

all-gave-some-some-gave-all-veterans-day-united-states-flag-honor-the-fallen

To our men and women in uniform… past, present and future God bless you… and thank you.

Veterans Day November 11, 2013

1 Reply

We sincerely honor all who have answered the call to serve on our behalf in service to our country. Without you, we may not be able to enjoy the freedoms that are so easy to take for granted.

Today is a special day in our country. This is Veteran’s Day. According to Wikipedia: “Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday, and a state holiday in all 50 states, usually celebrated on November 11. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world.”

PFC-Aaron-Fairbairn-Salutes-All-Who-Serve-on-Veterans-DayIt is celebrated on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. The hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day as November 11, 1919. The United States Congress passed a resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting the President issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351;5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday; “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Aristice Day’.”

In 1953, and Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I. King had been actively involved with the American War Dads during World War II. He began a campaign to turn Armistice into “All” Veterans Day. The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants as well as the Board of Education supported closing their doors on November 11, 1953, to honor veterans. With the help of then – U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day since.

Today is the special day we honor the men and women that served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. It is even more special because we, the veterans and families of veterans of Aberdeen and all of Grays Harbor are honoring the sacrifice of Private First Class Aaron Eli Fairbairn who was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the U.S. Army base in Paktika, Afghanistan. We are, today, adding his name to this Memorial outside the Aberdeen City Hall, so that he will never be forgotten.

He is not the first to die in the defense of the United States, nor will he be the last. He will not be forgotten, and none of the other “heroes” who served in the U.S. military will ever be forgotten. They cannot be forgotten because the world is a better place for their service.

Today is the special day we honor and remember all the U.S. veterans, but it is not the only day they should be remembered. They should be honored and remembered every day, because the world is a better place for their service.

The preceeding was an excerpt from the Veterans Day ceremony November 11, 2009 delivered by Jim Daly, Commander, Aberdeen Post #224, Veterans of Foreign War, adding Private First Class Aaron Eli Fairbairn to the Aberdeen City Hall Memorial.

The sacrifice of all who serve takes many forms; sometimes it’s time away from family and sometimes it takes everything that you and your family could ever possibly give.

May you be honored this – and every – day for taking the pledge to represent who bask in the safety and security of our nation, thanks to you.