Veterans Day Parades Being Scaled Back (Not enough troops, tanks & HumVees

[Khephra]

MIAMI -- Even as thousands of U.S. troops are stationed in war zones abroad, plans for Veterans Day parades across the country are being scaled back or scrapped.

The problem: Not enough troops, tanks and HumVees to wow the patriotic crowds.

"With the large number of active and reserve units called up, a lot of them that would normally be available are on duty," said Bill Smith, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Washington.

Some cities are depending on boy scouts and other non-military marchers to fill the gaps. In California, several small towns have joined the bigger San Jose parade, said Lee Harris, a spokesman for the American Legion in Indianapolis.

more...........

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-veterans-parades,0,6871503.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[Mountainman]

1. They could just let us old vets march with our anti war signs

No tanks, no Hummers just vets on veterans day. And our anti war signs.

[Melsky]

2. I like your thinking

is it Veteran's Day, not military equipment day.

[dbt]

3. And us lucky sumbitches who didn't have to go

Would be PLEASED to buy you all a drink!

:yourock:
dbt

THANK YOU!

[Cha]

6. What a sweetie you are and I would like

to second that! :D

[leesa]

7. Sounds good to me...go for it. It would be so beautiful to have

1000s of vets out there with anti-war signs and banners.

[leetrisck]

4. Not enough vets that will march or be seen

with the politicians anymore. Vets have been very, very angry - maybe a little better after last Friday, but we'll have to see if the "powers that be" follow thru with some of that stuff.

[oneighty]

5. Veterans day.

In our little village means free beer at the VFW club, bunch of barroom warriors give embarrassing tribute to the fallen, politicions show up tell bullshit stories. Sad..Very sad. Not many veterans (Or anybody else attends any more)

180 Veteran, Korea War.

[dArKeR]

8. The Bradley is made behind San Jose Airport so they're probably getting

some proto-types from there. (At lesat years ago the were made at FMC behind SJ Airport.)

[kskiska]

9. Maybe Arnold could loan out

a few Hummers.

[Voltaire99]

10. The ideal Veterans Day poem

A little something from the great WW I soldier-poet Siegried Sassoon, offered here for the Boy Scout substitutes and the "several small towns (that) have joined the bigger San Jose parade."



Suicide in the Trenches


I KNEW a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.
. . . .

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you’ll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

[drfemoe]

11. Kick

from washington post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17283-2003Nov8.html

[Solly Mack]

12. lol..America and her need for symbols...

not enough symbols ...scale the celebration back...lolol
So, can't have a blow-out honoring of veterans because well, dammit, we don't have enough big guns...

lololol

good lawds, what if there was a shortage of red, white, and blue bunting come July 4th...gasp..oh, the humanity.

I'm sorry....truly...but this just strikes the sardonic bone in me.

Maybe bringing the troops home would help? Just a thought

[0rganism]

13. Look on the bright side...

As this ridiculous exercise in imperialism continues, there will be more and more veterans around to celebrate.

:crazy: