In remembrance of the D-day landings, which occured 69 years ago yesterday.

In honor of those who served, of every nation, color, background

Soldiers, those of you who have sacrificed,
to be sent out into the field of combat,
to shed your blood, your sweat, your tears,
You've given up your easy life, you have taken up hardship,
your time with friends, with family,
You spent your Christmas, your New Year's, your Valentine's day, away overseas, to take up a lonely, dangerous night,
You've lost your friends, your brothers, your sisters in combat, your limbs, your lives too,
You've forgotten what sound sleep is, you know your life, at a moment, could end,
But still, you carry on, through the peril, the endless danger,
The freedom of your loved ones back home depends on it, you know this, it's true, so you stand with your brothers, your sisters in arms, at the ready, rifle in hand,
my heart reaches out to you, for your safety I pray, I salute your bravery, your honor, your courage, your loyalty, I thank you, sincerely, I thank you,
You stand, you go forth, from nations everywhere, when no one else will, whatever nation you serve, whatever cause, you have served with honor, with pride, with selfless sacrifice, may your flag forever wave,

Those who do not serve, you who send forth your brothers, your sisters, your fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, your tears are mine as well, your heartache, your grief, I feel also,
we send not robots, but kind and loving people, those who would laugh at every joke, or sing along with every song, you yourself, may have fought, to keep your nation strong,
Should you get the chance, a challenge, I have for you, reach out, wrap a soldier in your arms, whisper "Thank you" in their ear, the world at home for returning warriors can be harsh and unforgiving at times, jobs can be hard to find, as they have given you their service, I ask, you give them your love, your support, a small gift, to you it may seem, but to them, it means the world,
for us, they have sacrificed, for us, they have died, so our flags may forever wave, freely and alive, long may these fine men and women be remembered, long may they be honored,
thank a soldier, that's all I ask, of you, my neighbors, my friends, thank a soldier, wrap a soldier in your arms, show them you care, show them we have not forgotten, we have not forgotten.

For anyone who cares to visit my home town "Portsmouth" in the UK, this is where a vast part of the armada sailed from.
Here and all along the local coast with the troop ships being loaded and Portsmouth dockyard as it is the home of the Royal Navy

Visitors will be able to go to the D day museum in Southsea to see the equipment and read the stories of those that were part of the largest armada the world has ever seen.

Off the beaten track, there are smaller less well know areas from the landing craft training camp and ultimate boarding area on the river humble, the White House in the naval land station at HMS Dryad where Eisenhower planned and controlled the whole operation (the map is still on the wall showing the target areas and beaches)

I hope is 6 years time (75 years) there will be another global celebration of the part Hampshire played and in thanks to all those who served. The 50th anniversary was attended by soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over the world (+ president Clinton & HM Queen Elizabeth)

We also have a number of fighter stations to the east all used during the Battle of Britain and Southanpton (our neighbouring city and fiercest rivals) is where the Supermarine Spitfire was designed and built.

As a result both cities were bombed many times .

***********PORTSMOUTH, Exporting war since the 15th century************
Lots of history here.

Come visit us sometime. 60 miles south of London.

I'm a Mayfield. My ancestors came to America in the 1700s. My Irish and Sicilian ancestors came here in the 1800's and unfortunately were Confederates in the Civil War. My Cherokee ancestors have been here for quite awhile too. I come from a long line of combat veterans. I was in the US ARMY during the Vietnam war but Nixon pulled my transportation company out of Nam before I could go. My father is my hero. He served in Korean war. RIP. My older relatives fought the Germans and Japanese. RIP. My hats off to all war veterans. Japanese German Italian Vietnamese Chinese and any I missed. Im in awe of the courage the soldiers and sailors of all nations have shown. And you Nam veterans that served in war have my deepest respect and thanks. You guys are my heros but we all know that the only true heroes are dead heroes. Id like to thank the men and women serving in the military now. I salute you all. You civilian pukes better keep paying them taxes lol because my VA disability pension depends on you all. So I salute all who have supported us and paid thoes darned taxes.