Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

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Sunday, November 11, 2007

Veterans Day 2007

Today we pause to pay tribute to those men and women who have served our country through their military service. Veterans Day actually began as Armistice Day in 1919 to honor those veterans of World War I, often called "the war to end all wars." In 1954, after World War II required the greatest mobilization of the American Armed Forces and after American forces fought in Korea, the word "Armistice" was changed to "Veterans" and November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

To commemorate this year's Veterans Day, I am posting photos of my father who served this country during World War II.

My dad enlisted in the United States Coast Guard after the start of World War II. Here he is at home in Brooklyn on leave. Unfortunately, my dad suffered from an inner ear disorder which caused equilibrium problems resulting in severe seasickness. He was medically discharged from the Coast Guard and was then drafted into the United States Army.



After being drafted by the Army, he was sent to the South for basic training. While there, my grandmother became seriously ill and my father returned to Brooklyn on leave. While away, his unit was shipped to the European theater of war and my dad later heard that many of his fellow soldiers were killed or wounded. When my dad returned from leave, he was ordered to California and was eventually stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he remained until the war's end.

So today I hope you will take the time to pay your respects to the men and women in your lives who have served this country in times of war and conflict.

8 comments:

Lynn said...

Go Dad! Go Veterans! Even though you told me that you were going to post pictures of dad, my heart paused when I saw them. Damn, sometimes I really miss him.

Patti said...

You two ladies had a wonderful dad, it's clear to see.

As I told Lynn, we are off to a 1 p.m. service downtown. I'm sure the crowd will be a small one.

Carole Burant said...

Saying thank you for all the sacrifices these men and women made for us just never seems to be enough, does it. Your father is one of the heroes we will never forget. Remembrance Day here...Veteran's Day there...all the for same reason:-) xoxo

Linda said...

A big thank you to your father for the role he played in keeping our shores free. So many made the ultimate sacrifice and it's only right that we set a day aside to remember them and their service.

Thank you for such a lovely post for them!

ms chica said...

Those are nice pictures. They remind me of the photos of my dad when he served in korea. I love old B&Ws. They capture capture a raw purity lacking in color photography. Nice post.

Mary said...

Your father is one of the heroes who did his part to assure that we live in freedome. I salute him.

Thanks for sharing. I posted about the soldiers that touched my life yesterday and wrote a tribute to all veterans for today.

Blessings,
Mary

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

happy veterans day to all our vets!!!

smiles, bee

the moose buyer said...

The first time I saw Uncle M he looked exactly like the pictures. To my 5 year old eyes he was the most handsome man I ever saw and I loved him immediately.

Lynn, I too miss him a lot. We were very lucky that Mom invited him to join our family.

Now, he and Uncle B are pigging out every day at some "all you can eat" restaurant in Heaven and Auntie E is probably still shaking her head and tapping her foot.