<p>A heartfelt thank you to all the veterans and to their families who serve as well.</p>
<p>Just called my Dad…Officer in the Navy, served in the Pacific WWII, had a very tough time and he is very modest about his service. God Bless him.</p>
<p>My thoughts also go to my grandmother today. How did she ever get through WWII.
Her husband passed away on 1940, and by 1942 all three sons were serving. Uncle Tom was with Pattons army, Uncle Bill flew B-17 bombers over Germany and Dad was in the Pacific. She was one tough bird.
Here’s to all of you with sons and daughters serving abroad.</p>
<p>I have a high school friend who is a Gold Star Mother because her son was killed in Falujah, Iraq. Through her, I learned of Veterans Artist Project which encourages the creative talent of current veterans now living stateside. Today, I heard on the news about a Veterans Guitar Project that is used to help vets with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are many other worthy projects to help veterans resume a healthy life at home, following their grueling military service overseas. </p>
<p>My Dad and FIL served in WWII but one is deceased and the other is well-honored where he now lives at a veterans home. WWII vets get special respect from staff and resident vets from later wars. He finds that especially gratifying.</p>
<p>My father was born on November 11, three years after World War I ended.</p>
<p>As a child, he thought the Armistice Day parades were in honor of his birthday. Later, they really were in his honor (along with that of many others) because he served in World War II.</p>
<p>He died seven years ago, but this would have been his 90th birthday. I think that he, and all who served during World War II, knew that the country honored them for their service. Later generations of veterans may not have been so sure – and that’s something we need to work on.</p>