A Thank You

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   Arnie Swift posted the following message from Major Brian P. Bresnahan, United States Marine Corps.

Thank you Major Bresnahan and Semper Fidelis

A Thank You to all Vietnam Vets from a Marine in Iraq 

A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home. Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: "Why do we have so much support?"

In my opinion, it all came down to one thing: Vietnam Veterans. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then. When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to. It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us.

After Vietnam , it had time to sink in. The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake. Somewhere during the late 1970's and on into the 80's, we realized that we can't treat our warriors that way. So ... starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treat our troops of today like the heroes they were, and are, acknowledge and celebrate their sacrifice, and rejoice at their homecoming ... instead of spitting on them.

And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq . Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are all better because of it.

Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770's to those I serve with here in Iraq . They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom. But when I get back home, I'm going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for THEIR sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, one thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now we treat our warriors as heroes, as we should have all along. I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis, 

Major Brian P. Bresnahan 
United States Marine Corps

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Ice Scout Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: Sep-29-2009 Location: St. Michaels AZ Status: Offline Points: 255	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ice Scout Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: A Thank You Posted: Jul-27-2011 at 1:37pm
	Arnie Swift posted the following message from Major Brian P. Bresnahan, United States Marine Corps. Thank you Major Bresnahan and Semper Fidelis A Thank You to all Vietnam Vets from a Marine in Iraq A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home. Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: "Why do we have so much support?" In my opinion, it all came down to one thing: Vietnam Veterans. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then. When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to. It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us. After Vietnam , it had time to sink in. The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake. Somewhere during the late 1970's and on into the 80's, we realized that we can't treat our warriors that way. So ... starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treat our troops of today like the heroes they were, and are, acknowledge and celebrate their sacrifice, and rejoice at their homecoming ... instead of spitting on them. And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq . Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are all better because of it. Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770's to those I serve with here in Iraq . They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom. But when I get back home, I'm going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for THEIR sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, one thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now we treat our warriors as heroes, as we should have all along. I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice. Semper Fidelis, Major Brian P. Bresnahan United States Marine Corps

Papa Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: Feb-06-2011 Location: Arlington, TX Status: Online Points: 534	Post Options Post Reply Quote Papa Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul-27-2011 at 6:31pm
	Semper Fi
	Papa USMC 69-70

mike1950 Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: Feb-08-2011 Location: springfield IL Status: Offline Points: 137	Post Options Post Reply Quote mike1950 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul-27-2011 at 6:39pm
	All I can say is Thank You Major Bresnahan.
	mike

OZ Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: Jan-25-2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 329	Post Options Post Reply Quote OZ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul-27-2011 at 7:24pm
	Got to love Marines!!! THANKS!!!!!
	"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the U.S. ARMED FORCES don't have that problem." -Ronald Reagan

moboddy Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: May-05-2011 Location: perris ca Status: Offline Points: 105	Post Options Post Reply Quote moboddy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jul-29-2011 at 7:54am
	very well said and thanks to you and all that serve now and before SEMPER FI

BarksdaleFR Preacher Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Member Joined: Jul-17-2011 Location: Shreveport LA Status: Offline Points: 168	Post Options Post Reply Quote BarksdaleFR Preacher Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug-02-2011 at 10:30am
	Major, Thank you for your service. We received that same support in Afghanistan.