How Will You Spend Your Veteran’s Day?

From the Saint Crispin’s Day speech of Shakespeare’s Henry V:

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

To all who served before me, to those with whom I served, and to those who serve toda — thank you. Of all of my life’s accomplishments and achievements, I am most proud of having been a Soldier.

Heinlein wrote: “The noblest fate that a man can endure is to place his own mortal body between his loved home and the war’s desolation.”

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I was planning on riding with the Patriot Guard Riders in tomorrow’s Veteran’s Day Parade here in Austin. I’ve been a Veteran since 1993, but have never taken part in a Veteran’s Day parade. I have been eagerly anticipating meeting some damn fine Americans tomorrow — including a few WWII veterans I knew would be on hand.

But just a few minutes ago, I received an e-mail that the PGR are needed elsewhere instead.

Tomorrow morning instead of attending the parade here in Austin, I’ll ride down to San Antonio and join my PGR brothers there to honor and pay respects to Lance Cpl. Luke B. Holler, 21, of Bulverde, Texas, who died Nov. 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Holler will be laid to rest tomorrow on Veteran’s Day at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

From MySanAntonio:

My sense of depression lifted as we talked. I learned that Holler was a truly devoted and loyal friend, the kind of guy who would travel long distances to see his buddies. He was something of a cut-up. There’s a hilarious story about how Holler and his friends would go to a movie and later steal into a War-Mart at 2 a.m., then fight each other with “Star Wars” light sabers until someone heard the commotion and ran them out of the store.

As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, my first obligation is to our fallen brothers and sisters. I’m sure the WWII vets will understand.

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Whatever your plans tomorrow, take a few minutes to think of and thank the Veterans of this country — and know that whatever activity you are enjoying tomorrow is in part because of the sacrifices of these brave men and women.

Remember:

• It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
• It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
• It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
• It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whosecoffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.