Thanks Chief.

Let’s Remember all the brave men and women who gave their lives so we can enjoy mocking Gary and his Baby Boy with impunity.  Let us also remember the innocent civilians, including children, who died as a result of the wars fought in their backyard.

Chief, about the opinions you think we’d be interested in, are you sure you remember how the game is played?  I mean we haven’t seen you around so maybe you’ve forgotten the game.

A quick primer: An offside is when a player enters the offensive zone before the puck does.  If you are a Blsckhawks fan, you hate the Wings with a burning passion by default. St. Louis still have not gotten over Yzerman’s O/T winner and treat us like we slept with their mother and sister at the same time.

Oh, and Gary’s Baby Boy has been a shell of his former self after being gang violated by the Red Wings in the SCF and losing his favourite linemate to the Wings in a case classified as Stockholm Syndrome.  Why else would Hossa leave $80 million on the table to come here?  He says the Cup, I say all the Swedes on our team made him go Stockholm on us after getting in his head last playoffs.

Babcock still has an inexplicable man crush on Sammy, and “HCMF” has taken to checkers after being dominated last SCF by Uncle Mike in the coach’s chess battle.  Now you are up to date, welcome back.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/11/08 at 08:40 AM ET

Oh, I almost forgot, Chief…

Li’l Gary can blow me. Ass.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/11/08 at 08:42 AM ET

Will we be returning to normal soon?  I believe so, but don’t quote me on that just yet.

What the hell is “normal” anyway? 
Amen to the call to thank a soldier. Toss your political BS in the can and say thank you to the men and women serving presently and just as importantly to those who’ve served and paid the ultimate price. At least make sure your place of work has the flag at 1/2 mast, I pitched a bitch today when I pulled in the day job ‘bout that.
RWBill posted some very humbling photos in the long winded meandering Evening Spin post that everyone should stop and take a look at. Truly, thanks Bill.
Voox, you left the whine ass bitch Dive off the list? And how can we forget our ever annoying “Bubba”.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/11/08 at 09:07 AM ET

Here, Here Chief:  My utmost thanks to you and to each and every Veteran of the Armed Forces; God Bless them all.

A quick personal note:  My Wife’s Grandfather, Bob Pollock was a tank commander of a Sherman Tank/minesweeper in Europe in WWII 5 days after D-Day until VE Day (he also served in Korea).  I’ve seen pictures of his tank with huge iron wheels attached to the front, about 10 feet from the front armor.  You get the idea, they literally drove over the mines so they would explode.  And as you can gather, generally led the cavalry charge.  Talk about brass cojones, I can’t even imagine the courage required to do that.  He says 4 of his Sherman’s were destroyed in combat.  Oh, and he “captured” a really awesome German garrison flag at Berchtesgaden (seen it).

Over 80 years old and goes to work every day at his and his Son’s machine shop.  A helluva man.

God Bless the greatest Armed Forces on Earth!

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/11/08 at 09:08 AM ET

Thanks, Chief!

Posted by clemshady from Greenwood, SC on 11/11/08 at 09:46 AM ET

Thank you Chief and any others here that served. Without you I couldn’t be wasting time here at working, posting on a site for the Wings. There’s a lot of little things we take for granted everyday that wouldn’t be possible without everything you guys do.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 11/11/08 at 09:57 AM ET

Okie, more like Iron Cojones, as brass couldn’t stand up to the shrapnel. 

As a civilian, my two greatest lessons on the futility of war come from:

1) Paths to Glory - Stanley Kubrick’s first great film. I challenge you not to cry during the final scene.  I wept like a baby.

2) The Great War for Civilization - Robert Fisk’s epic first hand account of more than 30 years of conflict as witnessed by the West’s greatest war journalist. Around 200 pages into the roughly 1200 pages Fisk points out that the reader will not read another happy story for the rest of the book.  And he is right.  A box of Kleenex and something to punch in anger are necessary companions for this book.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/11/08 at 10:12 AM ET

I have not read the Great War for Civilization.  Every time I think of those cemeteries or watch Private Ryan I am embarrassed about how much quality time I’ve squandered in my life.  That LBJ quote is one of his best, and best ever, when De Gaulle wanted all the US troops out of France.  We’ve got a beautiful cool sunny calm day in Virginia with the gold and red leaves everywhere and I will probably waste it - how? - buying a new first shooter WWII game for my xbox360, watching TV with my daughter and watching the Red Wings.  I hope I can watch live tonight instead of DVR delayed.

Thanks Veterans and those still serving.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/11/08 at 10:36 AM ET

Thank you, Chief.

I am thinking of my grandfather today who landed on the beaches at Normandy.  He’s still alive at 96.

I would love to see some kind of ceremony before tonight’s game like the one they had Saturday before the HOF game on HNIC.

Unfortunately, my job will have me miss the game tonight but I have the DVR fired up for later viewing.  I love hockey in HD.  Truly amazing!

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 11/11/08 at 11:13 AM ET

Thank you Chief, and all servicemen and women for all that you do every day to help keep this country safe.

Respectfully,
Kate

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 11/11/08 at 12:13 PM ET

VooX ,  I thought I was the only one that noticed Bab’s man crush for Sammy. I still do not get Sammy on the point during the power play.  Fedorov is the only forward that I have seen that can handle that role. Tonight should be great. Here’s hoping that Hossa the beast will score a few.

By the way did anyone notice there is a new Chief in town? He is Tony F from The Confluence. Too many Chiefs around here for my liking. One is more than enough.

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 11/11/08 at 12:34 PM ET

Many thanks to all Veteran’s on this day.  Hat’s off to you Chief for your service and continued support of the military.  RW Bill….awesome fotos.

No apologies needed on the Blog front…take care of business on the home/work front.  The 19 just hang out like “Gypsies in the Palace”, to steal a line from Jimmy B.

Wings vs. Small Flightless Birds with No External Genitalia…Tonite on VERSUS!?

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 11/11/08 at 01:05 PM ET

Small Flightless Birds with No External Genitalia

Another reference to the long lost Baroque…. seems like the IQ level is closer to my level ‘round here with her extended absence.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/11/08 at 01:26 PM ET

No sah…thank YOU, Chief, and all your compatriots.  May Providence bring you victory in your endeavors and calm seas home.

Oh, and VooX, agreed on Paths of Glory (an oft-overlooked masterpiece) and The Great War for Civilization.  In that vein, Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose is a great read, if a bit cranky and taking more than a few liberties.  Yes, the Spielberg series was based on it, but it outshines what little I’ve seen of the series.  A great book from one of America’s most-missed glittering stars of history.

Oh, and NASN’s info for tonight’s game reads:

“The Penguins and the Red Wings come face to face in a repeat of last season’s Stanley Cup Final.  Can SYDNEY Crostby and co. earn some revenge?”

So I guess that time off was for a different kind of operation.  Glad to know he doesn’t have to suffer being trapped in the wrong body any more.  And I guess this genuinely does make him our bitch.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 11/11/08 at 01:37 PM ET

[stands up and salutes the fallen and currently serving]

Forever free. 

Thanks.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 11/11/08 at 01:56 PM ET

Thanks to all who serve.  Thanks, Vets.  Thanks, Chief.  God bless you all.

Posted by BobTheZee on 11/11/08 at 02:04 PM ET

I don’t know if it’ll mean anything to you guys but my grandfather was not a soldier or a military man.

He was a saboteur against the Japanese in WWII.  Stories I’ve heard from people who’ve known him during that time regarded him as a man of unshakable, unbreakable, uncorruptible Integrity.  He was blowing up supply lines during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.  Whatever he could do to make life miserable for the Japanese, he did.

That is until he was captured.  The Japanese used his own home as a base and to add further insult to injury, they beat up on him in his own living room.  The only reason why he didn’t die was because the Japanese CO wandered into the house and saw a picture of my grandfather with a familiar face beside him laughing as if they were best friends.  The CO looked more closely and recognized the other man:  it was the CO’s father.  The CO grabbed the picture, turned around, and asked my grandfather, “Who is this man?”  My grandfather answered him truthfully.  The CO ordered him released and told him to escape to the jungles and to never return.  My grandfather packed up the young family he had and hid in the mountains of Mindanao where he stayed till the end of the war.

Wingnuts, may I honor my grandfather in the same way I do with every other Veteran?

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 11/11/08 at 02:16 PM ET

Many thanks, Chief, and any other vets amongst the 19 or anonymous readers of this refined blog.  Catching the game on the DVR later this evening.  I’m hoping Mars puts his “bestie” and soulmate (if you read some reports) of three months right through the glass tonight.  Talk about a story that won’t go away… you’d think Mars held Mario’s stick as a young boy at the Igloo the way Pens fans and media claim him.

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 11/11/08 at 02:29 PM ET

“The Penguins and the Red Wings come face to face in a repeat of last season’s Stanley Cup Final.  Can SYDNEY Crostby and co. earn some revenge?”
So I guess that time off was for a different kind of operation.  Glad to know he doesn’t have to suffer being trapped in the wrong body any more.  And I guess this genuinely does make him our bitch.

Not to stray off the very honorable path of today and this post…..
But that quote needs a BWWWWWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/11/08 at 02:32 PM ET

you’d think Mars held Mario’s stick as a young boy at the Igloo the way Pens fans and media claim him.

I said that on the KK page to a different post today. At least we’ll have a full season and playoffs to lament if we don’t resign him. The Pens had him for a handful of regular season games and 4 measly playoff rounds.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 11/11/08 at 02:33 PM ET

Taken from our sight
although, not our heart and minds
A beloved son, brother, uncle, husband and friend.

A brave courageous soldier
a gentle, kind loving soul
we remember thee so fondly.

We long for the day when our hearts won’t be so heavy
the pain will ease
and our memories will bring about smiles and laughter.

You will live on in each one of us
we will draw on your desire, leadership, and perseverance
you made everyone you touched stronger wiser and happier.

we miss thee, Daniel
however, we take thee with us everyday
to love and honor forever more.

In loving memory of Lt. Daniel Fredrick Mondon

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 11/11/08 at 02:48 PM ET

SYF,
That’s an amazing frigging story.  Hats off to your grandfather.  I’ve walked the Bataan Death March route in the Philippines and done a little reading on the sacrifices made in that country during that time: by Americans and Filipinos, civilian and military, alike.

Your grandpa was a stud and deserves this day as much as anyone else.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 11/11/08 at 02:51 PM ET

Prior to WWII, he had attended UC-Santa Cruz to earn a Mechanical Engineering degree and had seen firsthand how much Freedom meant to us Americans.  He believed in it as much as the next guy.

Thanks for letting me share that story, Chief.  In my conversations with him, he never told that story himself.  Because I bear his name as mine, I am continually confronted with stories from those who’ve known him since before my dad was born.  I know these are second-hand stories but they all have a common theme.

One of these days, I will go back and see the areas he was born, raised, survived, and lived.  He passed away in 1991 here in the US whose Ideals and Fundamentals of Democracy he cherished and continually reminded us that this could all go away.  It is often said that the price for Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.  May the United States remain that beacon of Hope in the way my grandfather fought for.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 11/11/08 at 03:23 PM ET

@ Kate from PA - Thanks for the mention, and by the way, there are never enough Chiefs around, you can take that one to the bank….

Quick addition to the stories on this solemn day…. In addition to my 20 years and 9 days of service (but I wasn’t counting ), my maternal grandfather died in World War II in the Netherlands….

Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 11/11/08 at 05:09 PM ET

SYF that’s insane.  Incredible story and thanks for sharing.  We think we’ve got it rough now, and the economics may get worse before they get better, and Al Qaida might be JoeBiden their time until the next random attack, but there are stories of heroism during 10 years of the WWII era that we’ll never hear of unfortunately.  That story is just crazy.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/11/08 at 05:14 PM ET

I don’t know whether to put this here under the Veterans’ Day theme or on the new thread, so I might do both.

Here is Mr. I’s contribution to matriculating Veterans back into the economy by helping them establish franchises at reduced fees, or if disabled, completely waving the franchise fee.

Again, thanks Mr. I, you deserve as many Stanley Cups as these guys can win and even a couple of World Series titles if Dave D can get some pitching.

http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/exclusives/0507/littlecaesars-1.phtml

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/11/08 at 05:16 PM ET