Veterans Day: a Sweet Remembrance

On November 11, 2015, the United States observes Veterans Day to honor those who have served their country in the US military. Ceremonies, parades, reunions, and reminiscences will take place. Service in battles will be recalled, and while that is certainly of utmost importance, I'd like to draw attention to other important work of United States soldiers--that of humanitarian aid.

The children's book Candy Bomber tells the true story of US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen and other troops and citizens during the Berlin Airlift. Michael O. Tunnell's  book is aimed at fourth-sixth graders, but adults would appreciate it and its many photos from those times. (Thank you, Linda Baie at TeacherDance for pointing this book out to me!)

Lt. Halvorsen became known to the children of West Berlin as "Uncle Wiggly Wings," or "Uncle Chocolate" after he saw destitute children who needed a sweet boost. In addition to air drops of food and other supplies, Lt. Halvorsen and others dropped parachutes containing candy. He'd "wiggle" his aircraft wings to let the children know it was him, and they would eagerly rush for the falling parachutes. Lt. Halvorsen became famous for his efforts, but it was not fame he sought. He merely wanted to help others, bringing them hope. See more at his website, and take time to hear Lt. Halvorsen tell about his mission:

The US military continues to provide humanitarian aid around the world. Here are just a few illustrations: 

(By English: Lance Cpl. John Kennicutt, U.S. Marine Corps (www.defense.gov) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

US Marines delivering supplies to the typhoon-stricken Philippines in October 2010

(By U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

US Marines handing out supplies in Haiti, January 2010

(By English: Sgt. Arthur Hamilton, U.S. Army [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

US Army personnel handing out food and candy in Iraq, 2005

Thank you for your service, veterans.

Peace

(photo by Alice Popkorn http://www.flickr.com/photos/alicepopkorn/6032916957/sizes/z/in/photostream/, creative commons license)

Here we are approaching Veteran's Day--Nov. 11, 2012--a day to honor veterans of military service. And since it's a national holiday, many of us get the following day off from work.

President Eisenhower signing the document that created Veterans Day
(Photo by U.S. Government [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/72-901-1_HR7786_Veterans_Day_June_1_1954.jpg)

I read a letter to the editor in my local paper from a representative of the group Veterans for Peace. The writer requested that we change the name back to its original name, Armistice Day. Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918, commemorates the signing of the armistice between WWI allies and Germany. The writer said that the focus of Armistice Day was on peace--the signing of a peace agreement, whereas the focus of Veterans Day is on war.

Our country and states have just come through a contentious election. In some cases, relationships were severed due to differences of opinion, so the idea of peace among people appeals to me at all levels.

(Photo by Workshop Cologne: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handshake_(Workshop_Cologne_%2706).jpeg)


Here are some good books about that topic:
The Big Book for Peace is a compilation of works by such distinguished authors as Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, Lloyd Alexander, and others, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, Jerry Pinkney, Marc Simont, Allen Say, and others.

A new favorite children's author (to me), Todd Parr has dedicated his The Peace Book to the world. It contains simple messages of peace for small--and large--children. Things like "Peace is making new friends," and "Peace is helping your neighbor."

In Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World, Jane Breskin Zalben uses collage and quotations to highlight people who devoted their lives to peace, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Emerson, Gandhi, Elie Wiesel, and Anne Frank.

This November 11, we honor veterans to thank them for their service to our country. Let's also remember Armistice Day and work for peace. It can start simply, as Todd Parr says, by making friends. Let it begin with me.

Here's Gladys Knight singing in Washington, DC, Memorial Day, 2008

Thank You, Veterans

(photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatguyinalittlecoat/5310405113/ by Justin Cozart)

Imagine you are a young man, raised on a farm in South Dakota, USA. Imagine you are sent to countries you have barely heard of to fight during World War II. You train with guys from states that previously meant nothing more to you than an outline on a map.

(photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/dok1/1558842435/ Don O'Brien: "Okinawa September 1945, After 58 days on a troopship from France, we landed at Okinawa.The trip took that long because we stayed anchored for 3 weeks at MogMog awaiting orders after VJ Day. This photo was, as I recall, taken on the first day."


You and those guys ship out, and you rely on each other for your lives. Imagine being caught in a battle on a jungle island in the Pacific. Soldiers around you--guys you know--fall dead or injured. You could run to save yourself. Or you could try to help one of your own. What would you do?

(photo from Otis Archives. World War 2 - combat battle scenes (Pacific theater). A cavalry weapons troop moves from the beach past splintered trees and fires caused by the heavy bombardment preceding their landing on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Selected by Kathleen. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7438870@N04/2088150699/)

My husband's uncle, Howard Johnson, chose to help a fallen comrade, and in doing so, sustained injury himself. His wartime service earned him a Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Service Arrowhead, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

(photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/publicresourceorg/493901420/ Carl Malamud)

When Howard's family went through his things after his death this summer, they found and displayed his Army uniform. In the pocket, all these years later, was his ticket home.

Howard went on to work, marry, and enjoy the freedoms he helped earn, as so many veterans have. Across the United States are men and women who served in the Armed Forces with the desire to preserve that freedom and to come home to experience it. On Veteran's Day, November 11, we honor them and remember those who did not come home.

Thank you, Howard Johnson, and all who have served and who are currently serving in the US Armed Forces.

(For more family history and WWII connections, see this blog post.)

If you have a veteran's story you'd like to tell, please leave it in the comments below.

Thanks, Veterans!

Veteran's Day began in 1919 as Armistice Day, commemorating the day the fighting stopped in World War I. Though that was supposed to be "The War to End All Wars," many other soldiers have fought many other battles since. In 1954, Armistice Day became Veteran's Day, a day to remember and honor those who served and sacrificed for the United States.

Getting that idea across to children without glorifying war or causing fright is tricky, but several books strike the right tone. America's White Table by Margot Theis Raven, illustrated by Mike Benny, tells about a family who sets a special table for Veteran's Day with symbolic gifts that help them remember veterans. Eve Bunting's text and Ronald Himler's illustrations in The Wall depict a father's and son's visit to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., where they find the son's grandfather's name enscribed. These and three other books are mentioned at Anastasia Suen's "5 Great Books" blog.

Adults have many biographies, memoirs, and other non-fiction books from which to choose. One I recommend is a modern classic, The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw, about Americans who served in World War II and went on to rebuild the world and regain America's prosperity. I may be partial to this one because my dad was of that generation. His reading this book when he was in his 80's opened the door for him to talk about his war years with us for the first time.



How will you commemorate Veteran's Day?

Memorial Day--What Were Their Names?

The Reuben James (USS Reuben James (DD-245)) was the first US Navy ship sunk in World War II action. This destroyer was torpedoed by a German submarine in October 1941 off the coast of Iceland while escorting an Allied ship convoy. The entire ship sank within five minutes, and only 44 of the 159 crewmen survived.

The song "The Sinking of the Reuben James," written by Woody Guthrie and performed below by the Kingston Trio, tells the tale and asks us, "What were their names?"



Memorial Day began as Decoration Day, a day for remembering those who have died in our country's service. Its unofficial history dates back to women decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers.

As we observe Memorial Day today, let us pause to remember all who have given their lives for our country and our service veterans who have passed on. Tell me, what were their names?
(photo by cwwycoff1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlwwycoff/3561868382/)