Veterans Affairs and Issues

i belive there should be at least 3 still alive in Canada..last yr there were 5 and i remember hearing about ones death in the past yr

Actually, I think that you're talking about WW1 vets here... I think that there are over 150,000 WW2 vets still with us.

According to a recent article in the Ottawa Citizen, there are 163,450 Canadian

World War 2 Veterans alive as of November 11, 2009.

The article can be found here: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canadian+veterans+share+bond+virtue+survival/2210407/story.html

According to the US Census Bureau, of the 2.8 million Vietnam veterans who served in country Vietnam, there are 1,027,000 alive as of the 2000 census. It is interesting to note that another 15 million claim to be Vietnam veterans.

I agree, pay them a visit. Remember that the VA Hospital is there year around, one does not just have to visit on Veterans Day. The Vets in the hospitals might like the paperback books you have read. Some of these Vets do not have any family who care.

I agree with the above answers and would like to add one of my own. Talk to them. Better yet, listen to them. You will be amazed at how much you will learn. Many of their stories will make you laugh, some will make you cry. The most important thing, though, is that they will know they are not forgotten, that their service means something. If you love your country, thank a veteran.

I also agree, veterans need company in the hospital. As long as they are around you should tell them how thankful you are, they would really appreciate it.

You know what's funny, i ALSO agree!!!You should pay them a visit and/or give tham flowers.listen to their stories and how they surrvived.Thank then for helping us be free!

Generally, war veterans love nothing more than talking about the war. Remember that it was their war. Ask them specific questions about the regions where they were stationed during the battles or in between the fighting. You may do it on a return visit after researching which questions might be most interesting for the former soldiers. Usually, their relatives are tired of hearing the stories over and over again. Therefor, imagen how happy a veteran will be to find some new attentive ears.

The Old Guard or correctly known as the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. They have never failed to march their post. When Hurricane Isabella struck in 2003 and Washington DC was virtually shut down, they marched their post from flank to flank ...... They follow the code of the Sentry: The following is copied from Wikipedia under General Orders: (Caution, certain jargon used below may be hazardous to your health,) 1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

When you are a sentry, you are "in charge." This means that no one--no matter what their rank or position--may overrule your authority in carrying out your orders. The only way that you may be exempted from carrying out your orders is if your orders are changed by your superior. For example, if your orders are to allow no one to enter a fenced-in compound, you must prevent everyone from entering, even if an admiral tells you it is all right for him or her to enter. The petty officer of the watch (or whoever is your immediate superior) may modify your orders to allow the admiral to enter, but without that authorization you must keep the admiral out. Situations such as this will not often--if ever--occur, but it is important that you understand the principles involved. It is also your responsibility to know the limits of your post. This information will be conveyed to you among your special orders. You must also treat all government property that you can see as though it were your own, even if it is not technically part of your assigned post.[1]

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

"Keep your eyes peeled," as the expression goes. Be vigilant by looking around at all times. Do not be tempted to hide from the rain or cold in poor weather. If you see or hear anything unusual, investigate it.[1]

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

If, for example, someone is climbing a fence near your post, you must report it, even if the offender stops climbing and runs away after your challenge. In this case, even though it appears that the threat to security is over, there is no way for you to know whether this violator is the only one involved. And even though the climber may have just been seeking a shortcut back to her or his ship, you cannot be certain that there is not something more sinister involved. Let your superiors make the judgment calls; your job is to report what happens on or near your post.[1]

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse (or the Quarterdeck) than my own.

"In these days of modern communications, sentries will probably have telephones or radios at their disposal with which to make their reports. But if they do not, or if there is a power failure or some other reason that the modern equipment fails, the age-old practice of relaying the word is very important. The term "guardhouse" in this general order refers to the command post or point of control for the watches. It might be the quarterdeck on board ship or a tent in the field.[1]

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

It should be fairly obvious that you should not leave your post until someone has come to take your place or until the petty officer of the guard has told you that the watch is no longer necessary. If the person relieving you is late, report it to the petty officer of the watch but do not quit your post. If you become ill and can no longer stand your watch, notify the petty officer of the watch and he or she will provide you a proper relief.[1]

6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, and Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only.

It is essential that you receive and obey all of the special orders that apply to your watch. It is also essential that you pass these orders on to your relief.[1]

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

"Having conversations about matters not pertaining to your duty is distracting and must be avoided. If someone tries to engage you in casual conversation while you are standing your watch, it is your responsibility to inform them courteously that you are on duty and cannot talk with them.[1]

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

"While this is rather straightforward and obvious, keep in mind that a fire or disorder of some kind might be a deliberate distraction to keep you from observing some other disorderly or subversive activity. If you are certain that a fire is not meant to be a distraction, you should fight the fire if you have the means to do so. Remember, however, that your first responsibility is to report whatever is amiss.[1]

9. To call the Corporal of the Guard/Petty Officer of the Watch in any case not covered by instructions.

The rule here is "When in doubt, ask." If you are not sure what you are supposed to do in a particular situation, it is better to ask for clarification than to make an assumption or to guess.[1]

10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

Even though you are in charge of your post and everyone, including officers, must obey your instructions insofar as they pertain to your duties, you must still extend the appropriate military courtesies. Both terms, "colors" and "standards", refer to the national ensign. The national ensign may be referred to as "the colors" when it is fixed to a staff, mast, or pike (e.g., when flown from a flagstaff or carried in a parade). When it is fixed to a vehicle it is often called "the national standard." A flag is considered "cased" when it is furled and placed in a protective covering. If your duties allow, you should take part in morning or evening colors ceremonies, but do not sacrifice your vigilance by doing so. For example, if your assignment requires that you watch a certain area and the national ensign is being hoisted in a different direction, you should stand at attention and salute but do not face the colors; keep looking in the direction you are supposed to be watching.[1]

11. To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Challenging persons while you are on sentry duty is accomplished by a mix of custom and common sense. When a person or party approaches your post, you should challenge them at a distance that is sufficient for you to react if they turn out to have hostile intentions. You should say in a firm voice, loud enough to be easily heard, "Halt! Who goes there?" (or "Who is there?"). Once the person answers, you should then say "Advance to be recognized." If you are challenging a group of people, you should say, "Advance one to be recognized." If you have identified the person or persons approaching, permit them to pass. If you are not satisfied with that person's identification, you must detain the person and call the petty officer of the watch. When two or more individuals approach from different directions at the same time, challenge each in turn and require each to halt until told to proceed.[1]

General Orders for the Navy and Coast Guard are essentially the same, except for the wording of two orders: * 6. To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Day, Officer of the Deck, and all Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only. * 9. To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions. General Orders of the Coast Guard: * 6 is similar, however there is a difference in the officers. To receive, obey and pass on the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Field Officer of the day, Officer of the day, and all Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch. * 9. To call the Petty Officer of the watch in any case not covered by instructions. The United States Army now uses a condensed form of orders, with three basic instructions: Before ca 1970 it used the same Eleven General Orders as the Marines. # I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved. # I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner. # I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief. The Air Force Security Forces also uses a condensed form, with three basic instructions: # I will take charge of my post and protect all personnel and property for which I am responsible until properly relieved. # I will report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce and contact my immediate supervisor in any case not covered by instructions. # I will sound the alarm in any case of disorder or emergency. From time to time troops using these general orders will create new ones, used jokingly among themselves. The most famous one (commonly referred to in the Army as the 4th General Order) is, "(To/I will) walk my post from flank to flank and take no s*** from any rank."[2] The Navy's so-called "12th General Order" is said to be "Chief is always right." Another (possibly referred to as the "13th General Order" in the Navy and Marines, and the "5th General Order" in the Army) is, "To walk my beat, beat my meat, and f*** or shoot anything within 50 feet." Others include "Don't get caught," as well as, "Walk my post round and round, f*** this s***, I'm sitting down." Perhaps only those very few who have guarded the interior perimeter of a GI can for two watches back to back can appreciate the process of Learning, Knowing and Obeying all of the General and Special Orders. Semper Fi. # ^ a bc d e fg h i jk Thomas J. Cutler (1902-2002). The Bluejacket's Manual. US Naval Institute Press, 153. |The Bluejacket's Manual|Thomas J. Cutler}} # ^ Elting, John R. et al (1984). A Dictionary of Soldier Talk, 327. * Army General Orders Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Orders_for_Sentries"