Blue Star Chronicles

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. On November 11, 1919 President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day with the following words:

“To us in America, the reflections of armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

After World War II and the Korean War left the United States with millions of Veterans, President Eisenhower signed legislation changing the holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day.

I have a fondness in my heart for Veterans. My father was a World War II Veteran. He was a Marine and fought in the South Pacific. He was part of the Island hoping campaign, fighting in the Makin, Carolinas and Gilbert Islands.

I think of my Mother as a Veteran in her own right. She wasn’t a member of the military. But she took care of their two young daughters (my older sisters) and kept hearth and home running while waiting and worrying about her Handsome Prince to return from war.

She gives us a glimspe of romance during World War II. She also has a poem posted on her blog about her marriage to my father.

It was women like my Mother and her friends and neighbors, the many woman who worked hard and survived without their husbands for years, who kept America working while the men were gone to war. It was these women who their men were protecting by fighting on the other side of the world.

My Uncle Tom fought in the Battle of the Bulge (Cozy Reader’s Daddy). My Uncle Grady participated in over 20 bomber missions in the Pacific. My Uncle Jack fought in Europe.

My father joined with a couple of his childhood friends. I have been fortunate enough to develop a friendship with the son of one of those friends. His friend served as a Marine in the Pacific and his son, my friend, is a Vietnam Veteran. The other friend was wounded in the war and was never ‘right’ again.

My Beloved Curmudgeon is a Vietnam Vet. I will respect his privacy and not post a photo of him, but he was very dashing. He also stayed in Vietnam more than a couple of months.

And now my son is serving in the Global War on Terrorism.

I come from a long line of patriots who valued service to country. I love and admire them all.

It is good we have a day set aside specifically to honor our Veterans. They deserve much more than that, but at least theres that. Today we will honor them with solemn pride in their heroism and gratitude for the sacrifices they make on our behalf. I hope we will honor them every day.

Thank you for your service to our country.

See the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.
John at Argghhh! remembers well.

What’s Everybody Talking About?

November 10 - 12, 2006

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