Veterans Day

 

 Have an honored Veterans Day

 

 

 Pictures taken at the grounds of Echovets, 

 

For Veterans By Veterans, A group here from RL, to serve our U.S. Veterans, and their family members.  Camaraderie & information about ANYTHING Veteran, Stacy Maracas

"Reach out anytime. We are here for you and to give a hand up, not out."

 

 http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EchoGroup%20BandofBrothers/139/137/24

The Russian Veteran Newcomer, Update on Hanna

 

 

 The Russia-Ukraine War remains in the daily news, the recent headlines being drone attacks on the capital city of Kiev (Kyiv). In Second Life, while the initial massive show of support has somewhat ebbed, some people still fly Ukrainian flags or have blue and gold displays up as a show of support. Last weekend, I'd gotten another reminder when someone in a veterans community, Soldier Waverider, announced in group chat he'd come across a Russian solider who'd just joined up with Second Life, and invited people to talk to him. As I was trying to calm down a friend who had a stressful day, I sent my alt Rezzdarnnit over. 

The soldier, whose name will not be mentioned in the Newser, had escaped Russia with his immediate family, and was now in Sweden. He had left partly out of not wanting to be part of the invasion again, and partially that he was about to be sent back despite post-traumatic stress disorder. He disagreed with Putin, and found no fault at all with the Ukrainians. 

Most of our conversation was in voice, and the man in question spoke in English with a strong accent. When he had first arrived, most greeted him with suspicion, some wondering if he was a troll. But then he ran into Waverider, and after some conversation the American veteran was convinced his story was genuine.

 

There's also an update on an Ukrainian resident of Second Life. Hanna Linberg (gabby11196), the owner of Osmia, was last reported hiding out in a city under Russian occupation, her situation complicated by pregnancy. Late last week, Hamlet Au would report that she escaped with her family and went to a free part of the country where she would give birth to her baby. While the war is still far from won, this one story has a happy update.

 

Addition: Third paragraph was added several hours after this story first went up. Sorry for those details being late.

Source: New World Notes.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Marine's Story (2011)

 

Memorial Day has many stories. One would first be told one Veterans Day in 2011. At the Second Life Veterans Tribute, Laken Titanium, a US Marine in real-life, was introduced to me. He had a story to tell, not of himself, but rather of a number of his platoon whom sadly never made it home. 

Read the story from 2011 in People.
 

Reader Submitted Poetry: Glory

 

Recently, Aola Tyrian (Ratatosk Independent) sent some poetry to the Newser. For November, she sent some originally done by "Laura." They make up what Aola calls "The War Suite." Today has the fourth and last of the poems.
 
Read Aola's poetry in Extra.
 

Reader Submitted Poetry: The Gray Platoon

 

Recently, Aola Tyrian (Ratatosk Independent) sent some poetry to the Newser. For November, she sent some originally done by "Laura." They make up what Aola calls "The War Suite." Today has the third of the poems.
 
Read Aola's poetry in Extra.
 

Reader Submitted Poetry: The Soldier

 

Recently, Aola Tyrian (Ratatosk Independent) sent some poetry to the Newser. For November, she sent some originally done by "Laura." They make up what Aola calls "The War Suite." Today has the second of the poems.
 
Read Aola's poetry in Extra.
 

Reader Submitted Poetry: Be Ready When The Call Comes

 

A few weeks ago, Aola Tyrian (Ratatosk Independent) sent some poetry to the Newser. For November, she recently sent some more. Originally done by "Laura," these make up what Aola calls "The War Suite." Today has the first of the poems. *
 
Read Aola's poetry in Extra.
 

Veterans Day

Have an honored Veterans Day from the Second Life Newser

Taken at Veterans Isle's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Veterans Day/Remembrance Day

To those who served to defend Democracy, thank you from Second Life Newser.

Cartoon of the Day

By Bixyl Shuftan

Tales From Podex: War Effort

 It was a fairly typical day in late May at the Podex Exchange. People were talking less about spring and more about summer, and customers dropping in talked about getting swimwear and beach gear. Between clients stopping by, the tellers chatted amongst themselves.There was a little talk about the preparations for the Second Life birthday celebrations, but that was a month away. They talked more about Relay for Life events. One mentioned Mount St Helens blowing up on May 18th, as well as "Towel Day."

In the middle of their discussions, a visitor walked in. He was foxlike with red fur and a bushy tail. But what also got attention was that he was in an army uniform, green and with a helmet. At least there was no weapon on him, so this was unlikely anyone trying to imitate Clumsy Cooper.

"Um, can I help you?" One of the tellers asked the man.

"Yes," the figure spoke, "I'm with a combat roleplay area, and the place just approved some new mesh weapons. So I need a few Lindens to um, 'requisition' some of the new gear."

"Well, you've come to the right place," another teller told him, "We accept US Dollars, Euros, and several other currencies."

"Just plain 'ol US bucks," he spoke, glancing around, "What's this about a Visa card?"

"It's a pre-paid Visa card," the teller explained, "You can load it by Paypal or money transfer. Completely anonymous. We send it to your doorstep."

"Maybe another time. For now just the Lindens."

"Certainly, just fill out this paperwork ..."

It wasn't long before the necessary papers were filled out, and the exchange was done.

"Thanks, now I can get the better weapons."

"So how big is this combat roleplay area?" one teller asked.

"Well, each side has seven companies, ours labeled from A to G. I was with Easy Company for a while. But just after I got this avatar, I was transfered to," he paused, "Fox Company."

They had a good chuckle, and the client went about his way.

The Podex Exchange is located at the Coda sim at (45, 218, 61), with a website at http://www.podex.info/.  Jacek Shuftan is the CEO.

Note: the preceding is a fictional story written for the purposes of both advertising and entertainment.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoon of the Day: WW2 RP

By Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: Second Life U.S. Military Veterans Center

Click Here if video fails to load.

From Bobcat, "U.S. Military Veterans Center, Created by and for U.S. military veterans, active duty and families. Bridging the gap between generations for all services, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard. DAV, VFW, Legion & more. Shop our Navy Exchange and the Hangar!"

Filmed at Patriot Island. The Veterans Center later moved to the Veterans Isle sim.

Veterans Day/Rememberance Day

To those who served to defend Democracy, thank you from Second Life Newser.

Remembering Lohti Aeon/Specialist Jacob D. Borton

Among the names at the Memorial Wall at the Second Life Veterans Tribute last week, there was one of a Second Life resident Lothi Aeon, whom in real life was Army Specialist Jacob D. Borton.

Lothi was mentioned in Second Life Newspaper on Memorial Day Weekend 2009:

Lohti Aeon’s profile description didn’t have much. A few groups, a picture of his virtual self, a single location. A man of few words, his 1st life tab simply stated, “I'm a 19-year-old soldier who spends his spare time on his computer, after balancing out school, family crises, work, and other mumbo-jumbo.”


In real life, he was Specialist Jacob D. Borton of the US Army. Described as a “shy video gamer” in his high school years, he joined the Army and was sent to Iraq. He was described as reserved, but not afraid to come to the aid of someone he felt was being pushed around, “He wouldn’t say much unless there was some injustice being done, and then he would speak up.”

Borton met his end not at the hands of Islamofacist terrorists or their booby traps, but by one of his own comrades. He was one of the five soldiers killed at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty on May 11, 2009 by a sergeant sent there whom left the building and returned with a gun. Borton is described as putting himself between the shooter and another man, trying to talk the assailant into putting his gun down. He was 20 years old.

Then, he was placed on another Memorial Wall on the Grid. Later on, he would be placed here as well to be remembered.

Bixyl Shuftan

A Marine's Story

Behind the big story of the Second Life Veterans Tribute last week, there were smaller, more personal stories. Among them was that of Laken Titanium, a US Marine in real-life, whom a number of his platoon met their end in Iraq. Second Life Newser had the fortune to meet up with him, and he had a story to share.

Read Laken's story in People.

Veterans Day

To those who served to defend Democracy, thank you from Second Life Newser.

The WW2 Combat Roleplay

Somewhere in France 1944, American and British forces battle in the streets of a town against the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS. Up above, Mustangs and Hurricanes engage in dogfights against Me109s and Focke Wulfs.

Who will win the day? Well, that's up to you.

The WW2 RP, three sims of furious combat over land and air. Both sides continue to accept new players into their ranks. If you're a history buff of the era, or find a thrill in combat gaming, this may be the place for you.

To read the story, go to Places.

Sunday Cartoon: WW2 RP Area

By Bixyl Shuftan