
     Veteran’s Day at Arlington
     11-11-11
Veteran’s Day Wreath Presentation by POTUS at Arlington

I am a United States Air Force Veteran from the Viet-Nam Era Conflict. I served only stateside, but 50,000 Americans died in that “conflict” so-named as Lydon Johnson never declared it a war to circumvent the congressional declaration, which would have required debate that might have brought it to another resolution.
The first death in that war from my city was a Marine by the name of Walter Piper – Walt was the singer in my band. I remember him today and his tremendous front-man talent, doing James Brown’s “Poppa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” He could moonwalk like the master.
Walt, like the rest of those brave Americans who gave their lives and were permanently injured, was sold a bill of goods that he was protecting our country from Communism. Instead, we all know that it was nothing more than the same motivation that is being sold to them now in IRAQ and Afghanistan and as we speak IRAN.
But “Oh Yes”! Things have changed. Instead of 50,000 deaths we have 9,000 (both occupations) and maybe 50K in “half-deaths,” which are even worse. We’ve sent these brave men and women, all volunteers to have their limbs blown-off, coming home to a life of agony and adjustment that will last forever. We have seen the permanent psychological damage that has led to the highest ever suicide rates. And for what? Oil.
Was it all because of 9-11 and our quest to get Osama bin Ladin and al Qaeda? No, it was to serve the same wretched American Military Industrial Financial Complex that General and President David Eisenhower warned us against. Always using their propaganda of fear mongering lies to intimidate and manipulate the human consent of America; always calling those who dissent against their disgraceful war profiteering as unpatriotic. They’ve Brought us to dishonor with torture, civilian manslaughter called collateral damage, sick treatment of POWs in IRAQI Prisons and a perpetual prison in Guantanamo, completely in opposition of our legal due process standards.
But today it is our duty to honor these brave Americans who have given so much, believing that they defended our countries freedom and honor, just as those who did so in WWII, the just war that all supported and gave for to save the world from tyranny.
For the Revolution, the War of 1812, Korea, Iwo-jima, Pearl Harbor; for Pork Chop Hill for IRAQ and Afghanistan, we dedicate this day to all those who served, giving their years, their lives and spirits, in a moment of our endless love for, and pride in them – our America Service Persons – whose lives and spirits continue to define our community: “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
God Bless our Soldiers and the United States of America. May we be inspired by them to find the courage to do battle with the Corporate Tyranny that is now trying to destroy it.
If you didn’t see it, here’s President Obama’s Address:

Obama Vet\’s Day 11-11-11