Veteran's Day

Today, November 11th, we celebrate Veteran's Day.  It is an official holiday that honors all military veterans.  

I researched this holiday to find out that it was actually known as "Armistice Day".  It was a holiday that marked the end of World War I, when the armistice with Germany went into effect.  The United States holiday was renamed Veteran's Day in 1954.

As I reflect on Veteran's Day, I think about the men and women who have willingly served this country.  They fought wars so that I could have the freedom that I have.  

The men that I would like to acknowledge are my father, grandfather and father-in-law.  My father was in the Navy in the 1950s and was stationed in Cuba.

My grandfather was a private in the army in World War I.  He was shipped to France to fight against the Germans.  I never met my grandfather as he died in 1937 due to complications from the gassing during the war.  

My father-in-law was a 1st Lieutenant of the US Army Air Corp.  He was stationed in the Western Pacific on the Island of Saipan.  He served on a Boeing B-29 Superfortress with twelve other men. He flew thirty-five missions over Japan as a bombadier/navigator.  After the war, he rarely spoke of his service.

Each of these men wanted to serve their country so that their children and grandchildren could live in a country that would give them opportunities to become a person with integrity, ambition, independence, loyalty and optimism.  

Thank you to all veterans!

My father-in-law.