This is a special week here in Emporia. We know of no other city in the nation that takes an entire week to honor its veterans.
Of course, Veterans Day is especially significant for Emporians. It was one of our own, Emporian Alvin J. King, who, in 1953, proposed that our national observance of Armistice Day be changed to Veterans Day. Emporia was the first to organize and celebrate Veterans Day that year. One year later our country followed with the first nationwide observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 1953.
That’s something of which to be proud. But King probably wouldn’t have liked much recognition for it. After all, it was for all veterans of all wars and conflicts that prompted King to change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
The real heroes we celebrate this week are our veterans. These aren’t fictitious superheroes we see in the movies, read about in novels or just study in our history books. These are real men and women, of past and present, whose love and selfless sacrifice in the name of our American freedoms we honor and celebrate.
And what a celebration it has been. There have been essay and poster contests, run/walk/bike races, art exhibits, educational lectures, memorial services, a parade, and, as always, lots of patriotic music and good food. Friday night the week concludes with a Veterans Recognition and USO Show at Albert Taylor Hall.
But even with all of that it still doesn’t seems like enough when compared to the tremendous sacrifice our veterans have made and continue to make for their fellow Americans. Perhaps the most appropriate tribute would be one that didn’t end when our week of celebration does. We may only celebrate Veterans Day once a year, but its significance is certainly felt every day of the year.
The following poem says it best:
It is the veteran, not the preacher,
who has given you freedom of religion.
It is the veteran, not the reporter,
who has given you freedom of the press.
It is the veteran, not the poet,
who has given you freedom of speech.
It is the veteran, not the liberal protesters,
who has given you freedom to assemble.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer,
who has given you the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician,
who has given you the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the Flag,
and who serves under the Flag.
And that’s why, to our veterans, we say, “Thank you!”
Ashley Knecht Walker
Editor
empgazfan (anonymous) says...
This nonsense comes out ever November 11. Not it was not veterans who gave women the right to vote. It was not through veterans that blacks won the right to vote. It was not veterans who brought women the right to abortion. Our rights were won by lawyers and protesters. They are written in the Constitution. The last time anybody came close to taking them away was 1814,
November 11, 2010 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gogreen (anonymous) says...
Let me guess..empgazfan....your not a veteran. And you probably don't have any guts either...
November 11, 2010 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gogreen (anonymous) says...
Oh, and by the way...I'm a veteran...so you can thank me for freedom of speech. Too bad you choose to sound like an idiot.
November 11, 2010 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
go green, my post got pulled,i think. but empgazfan, likes to rant against everyone.
November 11, 2010 at 4:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
gogreen, Thank you and you spoke very true words!!!!!!
November 11, 2010 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
empgazfan; is your last name PHELPS? you sure sound like that dumb ass.
November 11, 2010 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
And how did that Constitution come about? Was it lawyers and protestors that sat down and negotiated our freedom from Great Britain? Did Paul Revere ride thru the towns shouting "The Lawyers Are Coming!"....? I wonder.... if it hadn't been for all the lawyers that single-handedly stopped Nazi Germany (now there's a thought - we should have just loaded up the landing boats with lawyers & protestors when we stormed the beaches at Normandy) - I wonder how long blacks in Europe would have kept the right to vote..... not being part of the "master Aryan race", & all that. Tell ya what...... since it was the lawyers & protestors who gave us all of that, and it worked so well here, obviously it should work about as well everywhere else, too, right? So when will you be joining the group of lawyers & protestors heading over to Iran to demand they stop shooting protestors in the streets and treat women equally? Let me know when you plan the trip.... I'll help organize the welcome home party everyone will give you when you successfully negotiate all that, and get them to abandon nukes and so on. (I truly believe in your mission.....but just in case.... in the very, very, very slight miniscule outside chance you somehow don't make it back..... can you put me in your will before you leave? Thx!) ....Shucks.... all this time...... all the world needed was more lawyers. Who'da thunk.
At least your post gave further proof here of the failure of our education system.
November 11, 2010 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apierich (anonymous) says...
empgazfan, after reading so many of your nonsensical posts I really wish you would take this piece of wisdom to heart. It is better to not say anything and be assumed an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
November 11, 2010 at 6:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apierich (anonymous) says...
Oh, and empgazfan, if you don't like so much about this country, the way it is run, the people you have to be around in it, and the people who have fought so hard on your behalf so you can be such a pain in the neck with nothing more anyone can do than comment on what they think of your thoughts, why don't you move to another country where things are how you would like them, better yet, build one of those floating islands and live on it floating out in the ocean with no materialism, consumerism, humanism, authoritarianism, or any other -isms that you believe you have to deal with in our society that are so "wrong" and against who you are and what you believe in. Oh wait, I know why you would never do anything like that, then you wouldn't have anyone or anything to complain about and you would actually have to deal with yourself and your obvious shortcomings that you see in yourself rather than tell everyone else what is wrong with them.
I come from a long line of military from every branch, I grew up as an Army Brat and have seen from that point of view everything sacraficed by these people. Without Veterans or military none of the things people like empgazfan point out where done by protestors and lawyers would even have been possible. Why don't you check your history, those protestors who made our constitutions were largely themselves either outright soldiers or militia leaders and supporters because they knew without a military or militias their efforts would have been completely fruitless, same for those who fought for the end of slavery and many of those women who fought for the right to vote were volunteers and civilian workers who helped the military men to continue to defend our country and rights.
To those of you out there who think the only thing that soldiers do is fight, kill, pilage, rape, and do everything that is forceful and dark in the world to get what the puppetmasters want, you are wrong. We have military that build bridges, work as conservationists and humanitarians throughout the world, build and maintain most of the dams, lakes, and national parks in times that we don't have enough people volunteering to do it. Ever heard of the Army Corp of Engineers? There are a lot of good men and women in uniform that represent every sector of industry and in return they live as the last on the national totem poll and all many ever ask for is a thanks, instead they are spit on by people like empgazfan. My father gave his back for this country, literaly, at the age of 35 and went from a candidate for the U.S. Army Olympic team to not being able to lift weight over 10lbs. This happened when he was trying to save another military man's life when he saw the man get trapped under a two and a half ton trailer and his first thought was for the safety of others. Tell me one military personel whose first thoughts are of themselves and I will show you 20 who would do anything to make the world better for you.
November 11, 2010 at 6:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pencilguy (anonymous) says...
i like the poem, and veterans do all those things, but this poem kind of says that all that america is about is veterans.
November 11, 2010 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apierich (anonymous) says...
True, it's not all about veterans but it is the veterans service that has allowed us to continue doing what we have done.
November 11, 2010 at 11:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Thank you veterans:
For going to war for the cowards, and fighting the good fight that never should have been.
My sincere hope is that the sacrifices made in present are no wasted or forgotten....
November 11, 2010 at 11:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gogreen (anonymous) says...
Very well said, open_eyes and apierich!! It's people like you who make up for the people like empgazfan. It's nice to know that people are thankful!!!
November 12, 2010 at 8:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Why do veterans always think they're better than everyone else? I think janitors are better than everyone else because they are willing to do a job that most people don't want to do. Janitors are the real American heroes in my opinion.
'enry
P.S. I'm a veteran, so my opinions are beyond contestation. As a vet, I must be right. Those are the rules of vet logic.
November 12, 2010 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
`henry, You might want to type your praises to custodial workers in Spanish if you want those American Heroes to understand what you just said.
Gracias por su servicio!
November 12, 2010 at 3:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I don't know that veterans as a whole think they're better than anyone else, I know alot of folks & professions that think they're better than everyone else. I know alot of politicians and the people that support them that think they know better than us what is best for us.....
What I DO know is that janitors don't daily put their lives on the line, as a rule. Nor do I see graveyards lined with janitors who died in the line of duty, or wards full of dismembered janitors who will live with disabilities for the rest of their life for their service. (Not that boiler accidents & so forth can't happen, or any accident in any profession).
Therein lies the special respect we pay veterans.
None of the above was meant as a slight at janitors in any way.
November 12, 2010 at 3:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Great poem, Ashley; thanks for publishing it.
open_eyes and apierich, terrific responses yesterday.
Thank you, veterans for putting your lives at stake, for all of us including the worthless wimps who use their right to free speech in order to besmirch your valor.
November 12, 2010 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
empgazfan (anonymous) says...
Most veterans are just like any other civil servant. Biding time to retirement so they can double dip. Put there life on the line? Hardly. Yes a few get blown up but they knew the risk when they enlisted. Some were even dumb enough to volunteer for Afghanistan. Well, if you court death often enough you will eventually get it, so no respect is due there. All we are doing in Afghanistan is serving the fortunes and empire of a corrupt dictator, just like Vietnam. No service to America, just service to a foreign clan of corruption. That's what military service is nowadays. To say we owe our rights and liberties to such service is an insult to the concept of stupidity.
November 13, 2010 at 7:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
If it were not for " Veterans ", you know, those who have/had the courage to defend a fledgling Nation, the U.S.A. and are continuing to do so " Today " and at times through " The Supreme Sacrifice " of " Life and Limb " and no matter whether they think the " Fight " they are ordered to be a part of is " Just or Not " and do so with unwavering " Devotion " to the U.S. and People of the U.S.. These " LOVED " and at times despised Men and Women deserve a measure of " Respect " that is due them.
So I say " Thank You my Brothers " and may " God Bless You " and your families, who also, in some instances made the " Supreme Sacrafice " for a Nation and its peoples !
And to those who have a " Fred Phelps " mind set, such as "empgazfan", I say this to you ...
If it were not for those who were were " Courageous " enought to serve/defind you and the Nation and as you say, " get blown up "... You definately would not enjoy the " Freedom " to ridicule those who had the " Courage " and unselfish dedication to defend your " Rights " and you quite possibly would be speaking a different language and quite possibly might not be enjoying the Freedoms and Rights you now enjoy !
Again I say, Thank you brother Veterans and a heart felt thank you to all of the familys' of Veterans and God Bless You all !
November 13, 2010 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
So that's your major malfunction -- double dipping and civil service.
What's the matter, get turned down by a recruiter?
Couldn't pass the piss test?
Oh yeah, see this? "Put there life on the line?"
That's THEIR LIVES ...possessive pronoun, plural antecedent.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Didn't agree with school either didja?
November 13, 2010 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
empgazfan
Perhaps something should be explained to you !
When you join the military forces of the U.S. and take the oath of being a U.S., G.I. in the military, no matter what branch of service you may enter, you are expected, no demanded to follow the orders of your " Superiors " without any reservations or questions ! You are just expected to follow orders, even if you know those orders may cause you to die or be wounded or maimed ! That is the way of the military code and has been that way for thousands of years !
I agree that at times certain decisions to go to War have not been rational or made sense, but War in itself is a nonsensical flaw in all of humanity !
War is usually a result, when two differing ideologies, butt heads and cannot agree on a common ideology !
Also greed and the lust for wealth can cause a war to erupt, between Nations or ideologies and such a cause for war is, sad indeed !
Right now, there is a War of sorts going on within the U.S. itself betwee differing Political Party, " Ideologys " ! It is truely a stupid unnecessary " War " , but has been and become a war just the same . Some people will benefit greatly from the outcome and many more people will suffer and be hurt/damaged by the outcome !
November 13, 2010 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
empgazfan
Stupidity is as Stupidity does and everytime you get on your computer keyboard your " Stupidity " absolutely " Shines " !
November 13, 2010 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wichitawings (anonymous) says...
empfazfan--your stupidity abounds me. If it weren't for veterans we might all be walking around with swastikas on our arm, or a hammer and cyclle. As a vietnam veteran that was put into a unpopular war and saw my friends die, you sound just like the people who threw dog crap at me when I came home and called me a baby killer, but at least veterans gave you the right to do that. To be born an American citizen in a free country where you could voice your opinion. So in the words of Jack Nicholson "you don't want to know the truth, you just want to enjoy the freedom we have given you and not know what it takes to have that freedom"
November 13, 2010 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
If you want to make an intelligent person angry..... lie to them.
If you want to make an idiot (i.e., empgazfan) angry...... tell them the truth.
November 13, 2010 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I full well understand the desire to unload on this piece of intellectual flotsam.....but in reality we are all better than that. He's not worthy of any of your time or effort.
November 13, 2010 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
HEY guys, empgazfan is an out of work contractor, he hates everybody. that is probably why he is out of work.
empgazfan, like the commercial says, just .kiss my 'possum, just kiss it!!!! : )
November 13, 2010 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steamer (anonymous) says...
I don't post often here on this forum, but will make an exception at this time. Being a U.S. Navy-Vietnam Vet, I "Thank You" Ashley Walker for this article and poem. Veterans know the role they played in protecting the rights and freedoms that are enjoyed by others. As for empgazfan and Henry VIII, well we can just ignore their mindless drivel.
Oh, and you're welcome.
November 13, 2010 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Steamer,
You're welcome too! If we were all soldiers do you think our country would be as nice as it is? While soldiers are off fighting wars and defending our nation, regular folks are home keeping the country running!
Non-veterans provide us with a country worth defending. I think vets should recognize this and show some mutual respect. Non-vets make our nation great and vets prevent other people from taking it from us. Seems like a pretty fair trade to me. Maybe we should also have a Non-Veteran's Day...
'enry
November 16, 2010 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Libertarian (anonymous) says...
I think we need to separate policies from veterans when we celebrate Veteran's Day.
I have said before on several other posts that we OWE a great deal of appreciation, respect, and admiration for the jobs our soldiers do and the sacrifices they and their families, including my own, make. Placing ones self in combat is, I think, the epitome of courage. And I am not a veteran, nor do I have any reservations against anyone who chooses to serve.
But please, please stop with the "if it wasn't for veterans, you wouldn't even have the freedom of speech to criticize this or that". Being critical of policy or war is not an attack on veterans past or present. In fact, it is out of respect and care for our servicemen that we stand up against injustice when it is so evident. The foundation for the anger and frustration empgazfan is spouting, is not without some merit. His attacks on veterans are completely baseless, as later posts have pointed out, the veterans aren't calling the shots. His vitriol should be directed higher up.
While veterans are doing their job to serve and defend the Constitution, are we as a nation of civilians in this Republic doing our part? Less than half of us vote...over 90% of incumbents get re elected...the wealth disparity is growing...unemployment, "REAL" unemployment continues to rise with no real hope...we allow our Congress to ignore certain Constitutional requirements when it comes to war...
What are our soldiers today dying for in Afghanistan and Iraq? Are Afghanis, Pakistanis, Iraqis, or Iranians taking away my rights to privacy, or freedom of speech? Are they going to march down Pennsylvania Ave? (From my vantage point, the invasion is coming from farther South). It seems to me, that our own Congress has done more damage to my freedom of speech and assembly (look up "free speech zones") and my right to privacy (Patriot Act).
Over a MILLION people have been killed or maimed as a result of American and Coalition soldiers since 9/11. Millions more displaced. Should this be glorified with American children riding around on makeshift tanks and holding toy guns on Veterans day floats? We are not "spreading democracy" today or "protecting our freedoms" including speech, religion, or whatever noble cause you want to assign to it. We need to ask, who is benefiting from our presence there? Certainly not the innocent civilians. Certainly not the average American worker. Certainly not the domestic programs that need the vital funding that seems to always be available to feed the war machine or "foreign aid". It seems the bankers must really be appreciating our soldiers' sacrifices. It's amazing, however, how many veterans struggle physically, mentally, or financially when they return home with little, if any assistance.
If we truly honored and respected our veterans and their continued sacrifices, we would put an end to this madness.
November 16, 2010 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Libertarian,
You seem to be against unemployment and against war. What do you think will happen to those soldiers if we bring them all home? Answer: They'll be unemployed. You see, the soldiers need war or they wouldn't have a job. Remember, these people didn't get drafted away from their day jobs; they signed up for service. (likely because they didn't have a job in the first place) It's a double-edged sword, you see. What's better? Less war or more unemployed citizens?
'enry
November 16, 2010 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
This is a post I made Saturday on a different thread....It just seemed to fit here.
I went to the parade Thursday and I did not see one single sign supporting or glorifying any of the puppet dictators you mentioned in your post empgazfan.
What I saw was the people of Emporia thanking the men/women, husbands/wives, sons/daughters/ and brothers and sisters that had gone off to do a dirty job from which many came back damaged and others came back dead. Were some of those high cost paid defending people that maybe didn't deserve to be defended?.....Maybe? Were some of the causes less than just?.....Probably.
But again, I didnt see a celebration of the old men and the decisions made that had sent them off to war either. I saw a heartfelt thank you for them answering the call of their country without question and doing what they had to do while leaving some idiots to debate the right and wrong of it all when we had the luxury to do so safely.
If you can't see the difference empgazfan then I doubt if any amount of explaining will enlighten you.
November 13, 2010 at 9:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
November 16, 2010 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Libertarian (anonymous) says...
Please tell me 'enry (Great callsign, BTW) that you last post was tongue in cheek...Your justification for putting these men in harm's way to kill and occupy other countries is to alleviate the unemployment crisis?! I would gladly take less war over more unemployment. Think about how much this is costing us financially, let alone spiritually or morally...Perhaps even go to sound money, not debt based, and return the monetary power back to our Congress and not the private Federal Reserve system that has destroyed our purchasing power and our "their" currency. Put people in power who would wield greater restraint on American companies and force them to keep the jobs here, if they want to continue making obscene profits at the worker's expense.
November 16, 2010 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Libertarian
Real food for thought if people will take it in the spirit it is given.
November 16, 2010 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )