HONORING VETERANS

President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, given November 19, 1863 on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,United States of America Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war... testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated... can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate... we cannot consecrate... we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it ca...

I am an American airman. I am a warrior. I have answered my nation’s call. I am an American airman. My mission is to fly, fight, and win. I am faithful to a proud heritage, A tradition of honor, And a legacy of valor. I am an American airman, Guardian of freedom and justice, My nation’s sword and shield, Its sentry and avenger. I defend my country with my life. I am an American airman: Wingman, leader, warrior. I will never leave an airman behind, I will never falter, And I will not fail.

US ARMY RANGER CREED Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers. Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier. Never shall I fail my comrades I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow. Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better tr...

RULES FOR DATING A MARINE’S DAUGHTER Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up. Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them. Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open- minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, In order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nai...

REAL LEADERS 1. Can cuss for a full ten minutes without ever repeating a word. 2. Got their commissions the old-fashioned way - at OCS. 3. Can remember when they were real NCOs. 4. Will fight with bayonets and E-tools just to save ammo. 5. Have eyes in the backs of their heads. 6. Can see in the dark. 7. Would rather be a squad leader than a general. 8. Have dreams about leading a parachute assault on Baghdad. 9. Still don't trust the Russians. 10. Still hate the French. 11. Will take vacation time just to make a pilgrimage to Ft. Benning to see Iron Mike. 12. Know who Iron Mike is. 13. Don't give a damn about being politically correct. 14. Don't know how to be politically correct 15. Love deploying to combat because there's less paperwork. 16. Know that "Cav" is an abnormal condition that can be cured with testosterone shots. 17. Can remember the "daily dozen". 18. Can remember running PT in boots. 19. Have enough "fruit salad" on their gr...

Murphy's Law on Battle Murphy's 1st Military Law: Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are. Murphy's 2nd Military Law: No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. First Corollary: The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: A. when you're ready for them, and B. when you're not ready for them. Second Corollary: Professionals are predictable. It's the amateurs that are dangerous. Murphy's 3rd Military Law: Friendly fire ain't. Corollary: If you can't remember, then the claymore is pointed at you. Murphy's 4th Military Law: The most dangerous thing in the combat zone is an officer with a map. Murphy's 5th Military Law: The problem with taking the easy way out is the enemy has already mined it. First Corollary: There's always a way, but the easy way is always mined. Second Corollary: Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won't be able to get out. Murphy's 6th Military Law: The buddy system i...

Murphy's Law on Battle Murphy's 1st Military Law: Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are. Murphy's 2nd Military Law: No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. First Corollary: The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: A. when you're ready for them, and B. when you're not ready for them. Second Corollary: Professionals are predictable. It's the amateurs that are dangerous. Murphy's 3rd Military Law: Friendly fire ain't. Corollary: If you can't remember, then the claymore is pointed at you. Murphy's 4th Military Law: The most dangerous thing in the combat zone is an officer with a map. Murphy's 5th Military Law: The problem with taking the easy way out is the enemy has already mined it. First Corollary: There's always a way, but the easy way is always mined. Second Corollary: Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won't be able to get out. Murphy's 6th Military Law: The buddy system i...