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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >>  soldier
        
(Message started by: shaun on Jan 19^th, 2010, 6:52pm)

Title: soldier
Post by shaun on Jan 19^th, 2010, 6:52pm

The Story Begins
Last week I was in West London attending a conference.

While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer.

I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving through the terminal was a group of soldiers in their uniforms, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.

When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded Briton who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families. Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work, and enjoy our home without fear of reprisal.

Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers.

He knelt down and said 'hi,' the little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her.

The young soldier didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy.

Suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Corporal and had been in Afghanistan for 5 months now.

As the mum was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.

When this temporarily single mum was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second.

Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie.

They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.'

He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a Kiss on the cheek.

He finished by saying 'Your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'

The mum at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mum.

I was standing no more than 6 feet away as this entire event unfolded.

As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause.

As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own.

That young soldier in one last act of moment turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices.

At the end of the day, it's good to be an Englishman.

RED FRIDAYS

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday.

The reason?

Englishmen and women who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'.

We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for Country and home in record breaking numbers.

We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing.

We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions.
Many English people, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of Britain supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every Briton who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV, let's make Great Britain on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football team

If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, It will not be long before Britain is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is...'We need your support and your prayers'...

Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON

IF YOU COULD NOT CARE LESS THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.

IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED----

Lest we Forget..

Title: Re: englishman
Post by tonyboy on Jan 19^th, 2010, 7:05pm

Very moving story, and left a lump in my throat....... Nice to hear a story of support for british troops, instead of organisations discracing our troops in public..... Maybe the subject line should be British..... and thanks for sharing the story.....

Title: Re: englishman
Post by gozz on Jan 19^th, 2010, 8:00pm

Surely Jocks and Taffs are included,there may be plenty of ribaldry between us,but when the chips are down we are all in the same boat,and of course we mustn't forget Paddy 8)
GOZZ.

Title: Re: englishman
Post by tootman318 on Jan 20^th, 2010, 5:11pm

good story. spot on :)

Title: Re: englishman
Post by Baz on Jan 20^th, 2010, 6:09pm

on 01/19/10 at 20:00:00, gozz wrote:

Surely Jocks and Taffs are included,there may be plenty of ribaldry between us,but when the chips are down we are all in the same boat,and of course we mustn't forget Paddy 8)
GOZZ.

nahhh they have their own parliaments now, let get their own story.... }{

Title: Re: englishman
Post by tootman318 on Jan 20^th, 2010, 6:54pm

on 01/20/10 at 18:09:21, Baz wrote:

nahhh they have their own parliaments now, let get their own story.... }{

any comment highlander???????????????

Title: Re: englishman
Post by gozz on Jan 20^th, 2010, 7:34pm

I shall anticipate Highlanders reply to that.
"Get yer ain pieces o Scorpio,and put yer ain photies on ye bletherin Sassenach" >:(
(Maybe not in Baz's case though !)
GOZZ.

Title: Re: englishman
Post by tootman318 on Jan 20^th, 2010, 8:03pm

;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: englishman
Post by Geoff_W on Jan 21^st, 2010, 12:16am

Well sorry guys but as it says in the first line its a story.

Shaun please just confirm to the others that read this that you did not experience this first hand.

Courtneys father has been a US Marine, a Canadian, an Australian and only recently a British soldier. The soldier has been serving in Iraq or Afghanistan (a lot of real ones have done that, some have paid the ultimate sacrifice).

It first appeared on the internet in June 2006 and the airport was Atlanta.

Have a look at this to see the different versions: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/daughter.asp

Recent conflicts have not just resulted in deaths but many return broken and some pick their lives back up, some are never the same.

The people who have posted around the world never include anything more positive to support our troops than wearing something red, or making a day special, when with half a brain they could suggest a number of practical things:

Like supporting our troops through an organisation such as Help for Heroes http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

The British Legion
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/support-us

Or by pressuring our MPs to make sure that they have sufficient equipment, body armour, helicopters and armoured vehicles that can resist some of the IEDs that they face.

Finally, why only be proud of our people one day a week, surely we can do better than that?

Geoff

Title: Re: englishman
Post by big_timer on Jan 21^st, 2010, 3:47pm

geoff,
truer words have never been spoken.

Title: Re: englishman
Post by shaun on Jan 21^st, 2010, 10:07pm

on 01/19/10 at 20:00:00, gozz wrote:

Surely Jocks and Taffs are included,there may be plenty of ribaldry between us,but when the chips are down we are all in the same boat,and of course we mustn't forget Paddy 8)
GOZZ.

ed just 4 you m8

Title: Re: soldier
Post by gozz on Jan 21^st, 2010, 11:48pm

Ta Shaun ;)

Title: Re: soldier
Post by Jonnycab on Jan 22^nd, 2010, 2:23am

I'm probably going to be severely berated by some for the following....but it's my point of view (& probably many others) about current armed conflicts.....

Our armed forces are brave men & women indeed, the best & most respected in the world.....but you cannot compare them to the men & women that fought in the 1st & 2nd world wars.

Being part of the armed forces nowadays is a career choice, & anyone that joins must surely expect to be involved in a conflict at some point & expect to look into the face of death on a daily basis when they do so.

Many of those poor casualties of the 1st & 2nd wars didn't fight through choice. They were conscripted & forced to serve their nation whether they liked it or not (my great grandad died at the battle of Arras (WW1) age 36...at that age, no doubt a conscript).

Those were dark times & thankfully they have passed. National service is no longer obligitory & wanting to be a member of the armed forces is purely voluntary.

Although being a member of the armed forces is purely through choice, I feel as though the loyalty & patriotism that our troops feel for this country may be being manipulated by the top brass to make them think that fighting & dieing in some dodgy lawless country on the other side of the world is somehow protecting these shores ???

The way the current Iraq investigation is going, it would seem that the invasion & removal of Saddam was alot more to do with the economic wealth of the western world than it was to do with the threat he posed with his (non existent) WOMD & his genocidal attitude to the Sheites in his own country :(

As for Afghanistan & the Taliban.....Vietnam proved that you can't beat an enemy who are committed to protecting their country & the way they think....they will fight to the death...
.....The Russians have already tried it & failed ;)

If this country & the USA were really fighting for democracy & freedom in this world, then surely after Saddam, then that old despot Robert Mugaby would have been top of the list......hang on, is there any oil in Zimbabwe...of course there is!!!, but Mugaby is playing ball with the western world....for now ::)

As long as different religions & beliefs don't agree with each other, there will always be conflict.....anyone remember the Crusades ? ;)

But one thing is for sure ;)......

......The main cause of conflict in this world, isn't religion anymore....it's the greed for oil ::)

And as long as mankind tries to sustain the dwindling supply of this fossilised gloop in the financial markets & doesn't heavily invest in an alternative, then humankind isn't going to advance or survive.

World War III ?.....who knows ???..... :(

Title: Re: soldier
Post by PJDavis on Jan 22^nd, 2010, 10:08am

I was staying free of this subject mainly because I don't agree with some of the 'interference' that the UK Government feel they are entitled to project over other countries in the name of freedom. I'm Southern Irish by birth, and lived in Scotland all of my life. I agree with just about all Jonny says, my Father fought with the Yanks in the second war because the Brits wouldn't allow him to join up and fight with them, why? Because my Grand-dad was a Cop in Southern Ireland!

It was interesting to hear that the first thing that landed on Haiti was 20 thousand odd troops and a massive aircraft carrier from the yanks, I wonder how long it will be before the yanks pull that lot out?

Britain is just a tiny wee Island within Europe now, with the yanks and the chinks causing so much global waste I can't understand why we are bending-over backwards trying to save the planet, I suspect it's a ruse to just bleed the tax-payer blind for more money to enter the government coffers.

I'm a wee bit sick of being 'in-bed' with the yanks.

A little bit controversal I know, but seeing as Jonny started a wee rebelion I thought I'd join in.

Title: Re: soldier
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 22^nd, 2010, 12:22pm

Have to agree with a lot of the comments so far.
Regardless of wether or not you agree with the reasons why our are armed forces are where they are currently deployed I strongly believe that we have a duty to support them.
The day may well come when they have to defend British soil again.
There should be no shame in showing patriotism.

Title: Re: soldier
Post by tonyboy on Jan 22^nd, 2010, 3:38pm

Wouldn't suprise me if the americans have made a deal with haiti........ We'll help you in your hour of need if we can put an airbase on your island.......... Not all that far from cuba.......

Title: Re: soldier
Post by pinto on Jan 29^th, 2010, 11:30pm

I too agree with a lot of the comments and sentiments mentioned above.

Although i dont support the concept of the war, i have the utmost repect for the men of our armed forces and the work that they do - a career choice it may be, but its their job and they have no more choice to be there than you do if your boss instructs you to do your job - any criticisms should be aimed at our so called "elected representatives" who control them.

As to being "in bed" with the yanks - its a sad but true fact of life - we owe them a truly huge debt of honour for their support to us in the second world war. Without their help, we would have been crushed beneath the Nazi jackboot the same as the rest of europe was (or would have been) and for that reason alone they can pretty much rely on our support regardless of the conflict or theatre of war.

I think in the end, it is winnable - but it wont be a military victory :) time and again the concept of "hearts and minds" has been proved the best way to defeat an enemy such as the taliban - show the majority of people that there is a better way and they'll hand over their insurgent neighbours themselves (or hang them from the nearest tree ) ::) anyone who needs proof it works should look into the indonesian insurgency in the 50's in Malaya and Borneo in which we had an unnofficial hand...

Of course, we could just pull ALL troops out of the middle east, arm both sides and let the winner keep the radioactive, smouldering pile of boulders thats left :)

Title: Re: soldier
Post by Jonnycab on Jan 30^th, 2010, 4:06am

Haven't you heard....the new strategy is to pay the taliban fighters to lay down their arms ::)

Title: Re: soldier
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 30^th, 2010, 9:09am

Maybe I'm just being cynical...but isn't it just possible that they might go and use their new wads of cash to go and buy some better / bigger weapons...

But then I'm sure our bright politicians would have thought of that :-[