August 16, 2002
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| " A Solitary Rose" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Today when I arose I found a Solitary Rose, who placed it there no one knows. As I looked at it tears came to my eyes. Of all the ceremonies that went on this Veterans Day weekend. That Solitary rose was most moving and touching gesture during this weekend full of many. all the speeches and prayers were not as loud as that Solitary Rose was. I thank who ever placed it there and I know it was not placed there for me. It was placed there for all fellow Vietnam Veterans or a loved one now gone. You touched another grateful Vietnam Veteran and for that I thank you again. God Bless you. You earned it with just that one Solitary Rose. Chaplain Flexer 11/12/00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLOSING CEREMONY at MOVING WALL Sept. 9,2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yesterday my wife & I spent my third and last visit at the MOVING WALL located in Waterford,Ct.as it was closing day. I walked back & forth helping those who wanted it. Crying with Moms,Dads,Brothers & Sisters etc. I found names for them,rubed the WALL to keep their loved ones name with them when they left. Just before closing started they said the Chaplain that was to show did not and asked me if I would do the benediction. I said I would to say the least be honored. During the closing different speakers got up. Then fellow Vietnam Veterans said a few teary eyed remarks. Then the Master of Ceremonies read my story about my first visit to a MOVING WALL back in 1998. Again I was honored and my Benediction was from all my fellow Vietnam Veterans as I was here in your name. At the end it started to rain and when we left we got soaked. All Vietnam Veterans know how I hate to get wet. So 55 miles later I was home and getting into dry things. I started to cry remembering being wet for weeks on end and how grateful I was just to be dry! I hope I've honored all my fellow MARINES on that WALL and all others also.Semper Fi! Our fellow MARINES were not forgotten! not now, not then and never will till I'm called home. I'm sure another MARINE will take my place! Semper Fi again! God Bless! With God Chaplain Flexer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " IS LIFE JUST A DASH?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As I walk through a cemetery I see all the headstones and have many questions. They have the name of the person buried there and the dates of their life. Between those two dates is a DASH as in 1948 - 1993. What does that DASH stand for? How did they spend those years? Were they the best they could have been? Were they rich or poor? Did they enjoy life? Were they loved by others? How long or short was that DASH to them? Does that DASH mean anything good or bad? Those questions will be forever unanswered. Even with a name we all are unknown to most. So how you spent that DASH will never be known, but unto God. Whether you believe in a God or not. It does not matter to those who walk above you because your life whether rich or poor all have a DASH in between that stands for your life. Make the most of that DASH. Do not rush between those dates,as that DASH will never tell. Look at your life and try to make it mean something. Life is not how far or how fast you go through it. Your life is how many stops you make along the way. When you stop and touch others then and only then will that DASH mean something. When the end comes we go alone and leave just that DASH carved in that stone. Those that were touched by you will know what that DASH stood for and you will never die. With God. Chaplain Flexer AUG. 9, 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MEMORIAL DAY 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As I start to think about this years Memorial Day. I can not help but, to think of those whom we honor. I just received a newsletter about the way I've always felt about this day. I would ask all who visit here to let as many as you know, that Memorial Day is not just a day off or a day to think of only the sales. I,ve read somewhere that every day is Memorial Day for those who have walked that Mile with those we should honor. For us the hurt never goes away even if some would like that to happen. As for myself I feel that to let it go would be a show of disrespect to my fellow Combat Veterans. I feel that God has allowed me to keep their memories alive. Again I ask you to if nothing else take a few minutes to remember them. they have none and we have many so please share a few with them. Teach your children about what this day is for and pray that they will never have to walk that mile. By keeping peace it will allow them to rest knowing that they did not die in vain. May God bless you for your rememberances! With God Chaplain Howard Flexer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memorial Day is personal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To all those like myself who find this day personal as we remember those whom have died beside us. I offer my prayers for them and our fellow Veterans gone now. May they know that you live for them in all you do. They are proud of you, as you are of them. Know that if they were here now, that a friend for life you'd have. In death that friend, you'll meet again. God Bless Chaplain Flexer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " If Tomorrow Never Comes" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You Know that tomorrow is promised to no one. So today is all we have, so use it as best you can. Yesterdays are always many, but are soon gone. Now is all the time we have because tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. If tomorrow never comes, I'll shed no tears because I know I've done my best today. If tomorrow never comes I will not fear, for today I showed that I loved them so! If tomorrow never comes, then I'll go happy. I've lived my yesterdays to the fullest. So every tomorrow that you get use them wisely. Not everybody gets to see them when it does arise. We've all had yesterdays, some of us have today, but nobody is guaranteed tomorrow! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SITE AWARDS WE HAVE RECEIVED | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is our First site award and We are proud of it. Thank you MOM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2nd award. Marine Corps site of the month. 3rd award from Military.com "Distinguished Military Site Award" for year 2001. I am thankfull and humbled by them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VIETNAM WAR VETERANS FLAGSTAFF & Memorial | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THE BRONZE PLAQUE READS: This Flagstaff was dedicated on August 16,1995 to those fellow Vietnam Veterans who paid the full price in Vietnam and those of us who still pay the price in installments. I like to think that God did his best while He protected us from bullets and death, the horrors of war He could not. Chaplain HFlexer USMC Vietnam Combat Veteran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Does anyone remember "Mail Call Vietnam"? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back in 1965 Sept.this got started with me when I did not get any mail at mail call. So a bunch of my fellow marines sent a letter that ended up in the N. Y. Hearld Tribune as "Howard Gets No mail" Then one day I got 20 letters just addressed Howard Vietnam that's when I found out what they had done. It grew into a big thing that covered all of Vietnam. So many other servicemen were sent letters from "Mail Call Vietnam" If anyone remembers that or was effected by that let me know at my Email address. Thank you and God Bless Chaplain Flexer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| REMEMBER WHEN WE'D PRAY FOR JUST ANOTHER DAY? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Along time ago I remember asking God for just one thing,just to be able to ask him again Tomorrow. So that went on for some of us for over a year till we returned from NAM. I wonder how many of us now take the time to step back and thank God? Did you thank Him for all the prayers He answered so long ago? If you think it was luck that got you here, then you should be a winner at everything you bet on. If you prayed to God when in NAM, then do not forget Him Now. God was there with me and now I'm one of His helpers. I feel I have a debt I can never repay. I know He never sent me a bill. No repayment was asked for or required. It was given freely and you don't see that often enough. All I'm saying is that with God, you and I can not go wrong. I'm not asking much, just take a little time to think about what I've written here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TO HONOR THOSE WHO RETURNED FROM VIETNAM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I try to find any Vietnam Veteran who had served in country that has passed away. I contact the family and tell them that I will fly my flag at half staff for the day and I send them a Certificate showing this was done to honor them at the Memorial on my land. It is a parchment so it can be framed. I also attend the funeral and do a service if ask to. I tell them that this is my way of thanking them ( the Vet) for doing the right thing for our country. P.S. I am trying to put a copy of that here with no luck, bare with me Ha! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " IT IS THE SOLDIER" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 the freedom of speech. It is the Soldier,not the campus organizer,who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the Soldier,not the lawyer,who has given us the right to a fair trail. It is the soldier,who salutes the Flag,serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped by the Flag,who allows the protester to burn the Flag. Author unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| More of my Writtings below (click on to read) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This is very fitting for my "The Invisible Purple Heart" writing below | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " The Invisible Purple Heart " | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Waiting for the Chopper" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| "STILL WAITING" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Vietnam,To Hell,But Never Back" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " It's Our Flag, Not Just a Rag" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " Crying Inside " | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thank you Mr. President, Again!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| " A Third Class Veteran " | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Veterans Day Speech 1998" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My Christmas Wish in 1999" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Progression or Regression, the ?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daybreak in Vietnam, August 16, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We had landed the night before just like in the movies. Lock & Loaded ready for action, an 18-year-old MARINE who thought he was John Wayne. Not much fun dtrying to dig a foxhole in the Chu Lai sand. Anyway today marks 37 years since then. So the next few nights I'm sure I'll reliving my first Combat on Operation Starlight. We never even had time to set up a home base before we were on an LSD for a trip down the coast to hit the beach again. I know 37 years sounds like a long time, yet in ones mind I can still feel the fear. We went ashore by amtraks (our term was floating Coffins) it was 05;30. From then on we'd be in pure hell. Now that I think of it, till I boarded that C-124 at DaNang Airbase to leave Vietnam after what felt like forever. Well back to reality. I'm here to talk about it when so many of my fellow MARINES are not. So I am thankful to my Fellow MARINES who kept me alive as I did my best to do the same for them. And most of all to God who looked after me. I hope I have not let Him or them down. Semper Fi, With God, Then&Now Chaplain Howard Flexer August 16, 2002 |
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