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.