Veterans/Active Duty Raffle Contest

[johnniegold]

To commemorate this Veteran's Day, the Mods have decided to hold an Active Duty Members Raffle. If you have an "Active Duty" badge by your username, then you are eligible to participate in this raffle. It is simple. Just pick a number between 1 and 200 and post it in this thread. The member who gets the closest without going over is the winner. As usual, our friends at random.org will pick the winner.

What will you win? Well, you will win an assortment of goodies that we are putting together with John at West Coast Shaving. Included in the prize package will be a stick of the elusive Irisch Moos Shave Stick.

We will let this raffle run for several days so as to give our Active Duty members a chance to participate and will post the winner in the upcoming days.

This is just our way of recognizing our members who participate in our Armed Forces and the Badger & Blade way of saying: Thank you.

[CarlJN]

74!

I don't know why 74, but the first in my head is as good as the next 199 that could come to mind

[johnniegold]

And we have our first contestant!

[johnniegold]

You are looking pretty good right about now Carl.

Where are all our active duty members?

[TorzJohnson]

Too bad I'm only a Veteran on this Veteran's Day.

[King of Kailua]

Why only active duty? Why not all veterans?

[SMOKE]

Why only active duty? Why not all veterans?

+10!

[rgjr]

I guess 115

[royalcrown]

Since jointing this site, I have been constantly amazed at the support and gratitude from the community. The commercials and the TV spots are nice as well as the letters from friends and family. But for me, I am always stunned and the heartfelt gratitude from what is effectively total strangers.

The vast majority of us have not met and probably never will, the only recourse we have towards each other at the end of the day is a thank you for the shaving tips. And yet so many of you go beyond this out of no other reason but your own generosity. For this, I am humbled and thank you from the bottom of my heart, words are clumsy in my thanks so I will leave at that.

To me though, Veterans day has been about those who have came before me. Some volenteered their time, some their health, others their very lives. It is each and every one of these Devil Dogs, Ground Pounders, Squids, Zoomies, and even the Puddle Pirates who gave me the inspiration take up arms against all enemies, foreign and domestic and give something back for what they so willingly gave of themselves to defend.

This day is theirs.

As such put in for number 98. Should I win, please contact TorzJohnson for his shipping address. Thank you Mods and thank you to all who have served.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Marc Morency
United States Navy

[TorzJohnson]

As such put in for number 98. Should I win, please contact TorzJohnson for his shipping address. Thank you Mods and thank you to all who have served.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
Marc Morency
United States Navy

Marc, I appreciate the sentiment but I'm not as much interested in the raffle as much as the reasoning behind having a raffle in honor of Veteran's Day, that Veterans cannot enter. By the way, thanks for your service and sacrifices, and keep up the good work.

with my best wishes,

Jim Gust
U.S. Coast Guard
1980 - 2000

[Bushranger]

186.
thanks, gr8 sentiment

[futurman]

Ummm.... 46!

[johnniegold]

If I may respond in kind to the respected member from Wingdale, NY. Please do not construe the omission of Veterans from this contest as an intended slight against the members here at B&B who have previously served in our Armed Forces. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The point is, we at B&B do not have any way of knowing which of our members are Veterans. At B&B, we pride ourselves on giving recognition to our members who currently serve our country by designating them with a special tag signifying that they are "Active Duty" members (of which there are currently about 200 Active Duty members here at B&B).

How could anyone forget the memorable post by Joel last Memorial Day paying homage to Veterans past and present worldwide:

It's better to die on your feet...

than live on your knees.

Tomorrow, I ask regardless of race, religion, creed, country of origin or political belief, you take a moment to reflect upon those throughout history who have stood up against evil... for the good of mankind. Whether a combat soldier or a support troop, millions of good men (and women) have been brutally scarred physically and mentally from the hell we call war. Whether drafted, or compelled by the cause these men and women have gone through true hell on earth - many of which paying the ultimate cost in order for us to sit comfortably behind our computers and play "keyboard commando" and have the freedom of speech, religion, etc.

Our freedoms are taken lightly as "rights" owed to us, however too often it is forgotten the price nations have paid to fight off evils and oppression. Regardless of what nation soldiers have fought for, or against - war is hell for all involved.... especially the holes left in the families these brave soldier leave behind. Regardless of your political beliefs (no one sane WANTS death/war) please take a moment of silence tomorrow to honor those who have experienced the demon that is war. Appreciate their courage, and the price they've paid for what they have fought for on our behalf. Appreciate what they've gone through, which we cannot comprehend, so that WE don't have to.

It's a true shame Memorial Day has turned into a commercialized parade, or a lowly day off... for the dreams, courage, honor, blood, and the ultimate sacrifice made by millions to found this and many other great nations you'd think this would be the most serious, and widely celebrated holiday. For me, this is the most "religious" holiday, as regardless of your spiritual beliefs, evil and violence is an unfortunate reality, and to quell, must be met with equal or greater violence. The sacrifices that have been made to thwart evil and protect men, women, children, and the elderly are immense, real and frequent.

If you have a spare minute or two... spend some time to thank members here who have an "Active Duty" tag under their name (we need to make a war veteran tag) who are currently serving in the military somewhere in the world. Send a note of kindness or a prayer of safety to xChris - one of our honorable members serving in the military who has just (within the last week) been separated from his loving wife, and sent overseas. Watch a few minutes of video here honoring our brave warriors.

Whatever you do tomorrow... just be sure to think kindly of those in your family tree, friends down the street, or complete strangers who have stood up and taken arms against another - regardless of the cause, as many of these tattered souls did not have a choice and by them standing up, secured a safe position for others who in turn did not have to go.

These brave men and women deserve respect, appreciation and above all a continued faith in righteousness and freedom. Don't take their actions lightly - as one day it could be you and I standing up against evil for the safety, security and freedom our loved ones enjoy now.

To all those who have served or are serving in the armed forces I salute you, appreciate you, and honor your sacrifice. May the horrors you have experienced be lessened by the appreciation of the masses. Enjoy tomorrow.


NOTE: Pro/Anti-war comments, political, religious or off topic discussion will not be tolerated on this thread. This post exists for one reason only - for myself and anyone else compelled to express their gratitude to those who are, or have served in the armed forces.

You will note that I highlighted a suggestion made by Joel this past summer regarding a tag for Veterans. Unfortunately, this idea did not come to fruition, but in response to your inquiry, there is nothing that will take priority over this.

We are currently in the process of developing a tag that will be placed under the username of every honorably discharged Veteran who requests the tag. In the interim, please feel free to join in the newly re-named Veterans/Active Duty Members Raffle Contest by stating which branch of the Armed Forces you were honorably discharged from and the year. And, of course, don't forget to pick a number between 1 and 200.

When the "Veteran" tag is ready, all the "Veteran" members who participated in the raffle will receive the tag. If you do not participate in the raffle but wish to receive the tag, then just send me a pm.

Finally, our apologies to all our war Vets here at B&B if we made you feel slighted in any way. That was never our intention. As always, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our Vets and Active Duty members for all that you do and have done in the service of our country. Thank you.

[Intruderdriver]

Thanks for doing this. It means a lot to all veterans!

I'll take number 62!

USMC 1985
US Navy 1991

[texquill]

I would be amazed and disappointed if any B&B member who happens to be a veteran has taken serious offense because B&B hasn't yet instituted a "Veteran" tag. B&B is a great meeting place, and, like all good meeting places, seems to be constantly evolving to better serve the folks who participate. Without this evolution, B&B would wither away.

I think it's great that the Mods are contemplating one more way of getting a segment of the users to feel that they're getting some extra recognition.

Those of us who spent several years on active duty may well have a little deeper understanding of and appreciation for the commitment and sacrifice being asked of the volunteer war fighters who are presently serviing their country. I'm sure there's no resentment about them getting a little bit of special treatment from B&B!

former USAF SSGT (E-5)
1966-1970
SDV

[TorzJohnson]

Bob,

Kudos to you, sir, and the management at B&B. The sentiment is greatly appreciated, as is the forthcoming creation of the Veteran's tag.

I'll pick 127. Thanks very much

U.S. Coast Guard
1980 - 2000

[Mottern Man]

Awww shucks. Ya'll shouldn't have.

17 please.

USN Active 1999 -

[Mottern Man]

USMC 1985
US Navy 1991

Ahh I see you had a moment of reason.

Hey vets... Its an old thread (I am pretty good at digging them up) but I guess you can still check in at the B&B VFW.

[citizensoldierny]

42

[norman931]

Well, I think the veteran tag is a good idea, though I would rather the prize went to an active duty member. I can't resist throwing in my number, however; I'll pick 62. (US Navy, 1987)