What YOU can do for WWII vets on Veterans Day

[PALADIN85020]

I just finished a talk today to a group of folks here in Phoenix, making them aware of Honor Flight, a group whose mission is to fly as many remaining WWII vets as possible to view their memorial in Washington, DC, at no charge to them. The WWII guys and gals, members of "the greatest generation," are being lost to us at the rate of about 1500 per day. Soon they will all be gone. The response to my talk was heartening, with many chipping in, as the work of Honor Flight is 100% financed with voluntary contributions - no governmental funds are involved in any way. It's strictly a grassroots movement. Here's a picture of Dick Plowden, a WWII P-47 fighter pilot and me taking a break beside the Potomac River in DC this September. I went with him at my own expense as his guardian, joining thousands of others who volunteer in this way.

Tomorrow is Veteran's day, honoring all veterans. Still, because the WWII vets will not be with us much longer, it is an entirely appropriate thing to single them out and let them have a chance, at no expense to them, to view their memorial which was so late in coming (completed in 2004). I'm shamelessly asking you to help out in this effort if you can. Any amount would be gratefully accepted. The flyer below is illustrated with a picture I took of 27 WWII veterans on the Honor Flight I was privileged to help out on. I enjoyed meeting each and every one of them; there are many more scheduled to fly. Help if you can, and many thanks.

John

 

[OMCHamlin]

The Navy base where I work as a contractor has a Chief Petty Officer's Association (or Mess). I am a retired Chief and as part of the association, I take part in a Veterans Day Victory Dance. We invite all of the local vets and put on a nice meal for them, including free booze, music, a reading of the POW Table ( I take it not everybody will have seen that, but it's a table set for one, but left empty, as a remembrance)
It in itself is a moving reading:
Those who have served, and those currently serving in the uniformed services of the United States, are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured and may still be enduring the agonies of pain, deprivation and imprisonment.
Before we begin our activities, we pause to recognize our POWs and MIAs.

You may notice this small table here in a place of honor. It is set for one. This table is our way of symbolizing the act that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst. They are commonly call P.O.W.'s or M.I.A.'s, we call them brothers.

They are unable to be with us this evening and so we remember them.

The table is round -- to show our everlasting concern for our missing men and women. Remember.

This table set for one is small... it symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner against his oppressors. Remember.

The table cloth is white... it symbolizes the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms. Remember.

The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades in arms who keep faith awaiting their return. Remember.

The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn on the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting for our missing. Remember.

A slice of lemon is on the bread plate... to remind us of their bitter fate. Remember.

There is salt upon the bread plate... symbolic of the family's tears as they wait. Remember.

The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God. Remember.

The glass is inverted... they cannot toast with us tonight. Remember.

The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation. Remember.

The chair is empty... they are not here. Remember.

Remember... all of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended on their might and aid, and relied on them... for surely... they have not forsaken you.

May god forever watch over them and protect them and their families.


...and with that, and a Parade of the Colors, we serve a good meal, enjoy fellowship with our veteran brothers and sisters, dance to some old music (right up through Vietnam era stuff) and generally have a fine old time. Been helping to put that on since 2007 (or 8, something like that). I usually hang in the kitchen and help cook or wash dishes, but I slip out and visit for a little while every now and then. We had many WWII vets, but as you can imagine, some don't come back, more each year. My father was an infantryman in the European theater, 116th of the 29th, and my Uncle was an infantryman in the Pacific theater. I believe they would have enjoyed this, and wish they were still here to share it.

 

[Kinman]

I've got a buddy that has gone with Vets on probably a half a dozen trips to the memorial. He lost most of the vision in one eye as a kid and was not allowed in the military, wanted to serve but was denied.
We've got a guy down at the range that is ninety years old and was at the Battle of the Bulge, try as we might we can't talk him into going on the trip, hes a tough old bird. I love to hear his stories and I think that is something many of those old guys enjoy. Many people like to say "Dad just doesn't talk much about his service." Yeah, OK...that might be true but you have to listen when they try to talk about it. You gotta be interested in what they have to say, not just keep reading whatever your reading and saying Yeah , yeah, yeah...Listen and hear what they got to say.
I did a tour in Vietnam, maybe that makes me a little more likely to listen to what the old guys have to say. I usually start wearing 1951 issue field trousers down to the range about this time of year because they have tons of room and lots of pockets and I always remembered how comfortable they were. We got into a discussion about the merits of field issue trousers from WWII to Vietnam era, the old guys were all involved, it was fun.