We will remember, all their sacrifice.
Everyday is a gift from those who served to try to make a better world.
Don’t take it for granted. Honor them with your work for Peace.
This blog has always been dedicated to my father, Arthur, a true hero at Guadalcanal. His is the photo above. Next week, he would have been 95 years old. He volunteered to serve his country the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He and his brother, Ezra, went to join the Navy, but Daddy had “the right stuff” and became a Marine.
He was fabulously healthy and strong in mind, body and spirit. Just as well, because the experiences he had in that war, (of which he shared with us only the tiniest bit of the horror he lived), were enough to last many lifetimes.
I am sure that one of the most horrendous episodes, where, due to his leadership, he got all his men out alive, was what started the cascade that eroded his Health after the war. He could never forget that terrible night.
He went to therapy for years, even though Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was yet unnamed, he strove to become whole again. It took great Courage to try to live a “normal” life again, when the Terror had not subsided.*
War doesn’t “stop” after a veteran comes home, and in today’s even more brutal wars, (where the other side truly has NO honor, at all), the over-extension of forced combat tours is also a tremendous stress on all parts of our national family and their personal family, as well as to the service personnel themselves. Situations like the terror at Fort Hood need to be explained in that context. According to a PBS report for Veterans Day, 37% of all Vets are returning with psychological problems.
Our country truly needs to start another chapter, with new vision.
After watching Bill Moyers’ Journal last Friday, I wanted to be sure you honor our vets in a unique way, using the links below.
Today is the opening of a special documentary film, and about half of it is being shown on Bill Moyers’ PBS website. The experiences of the Afghan and Iraq vets is chilling, like my father’s experience of other troops out of control or failing to follow-through and leaving troops in tremendous, unnecessary jeopardy.
I feel it is tremendously important for you to see this film.
I also wanted to let you know that 10,000 people filled Trafalgar Square this morning to honor all the Allied service personnel who saved Britain, during World War 2. It’s really important that we honor the courage they had to stop evil. And, that we never forget!
My little grandson was born this year, and there were many, many children in the British crowd today. All the adults now need to be sure they are pressing governments in every way, every day, to work out this mess, so our children and grand-children will no longer be sacrificed. They are not a commodity for politicians to use.
Make Earth a peaceful planet, where fanatics never get a hold, because we’ve effectively made the needy people’s lives more equitable and given them Hope.
Make every effort to help other people live happy, better, safe lives — with a decent secular education, hope for decent futures, a reasonable job, fair payment for their labor, equality for girls and women etc. as starters!
It won’t happen unless we all demand it happen. And, until it does, to some extent, we have failed to use the Great Gift those who sacrificed gave us.
We cannot let successive generations live with the specter of War always looming. War and Terror should become totally unacceptable notions. Period.
Bill Moyers’ Journal – “The Good Soldier”
Silence in the Square, Trafalgar Square London, November 11, 2009
5 minute video of Silence in the Square, London, November 11, 2009
Veterans Oral History Project – Library of Congress. Tell your veteran’s story.
*As a follow-up about my father: he became a self-taught metallurgical engineer, holding at least 2 world patents. At one time, one of his alloys was in every General Motors and Ford vehicle on the planet. He was a brilliant, loving, caring and successful man, who rose above all that life had thrown him in the War and in his youth e.g. his father dying when Daddy was 13 and sharing head-of-household duties from then on. This is why he was not able to finish at the prestigious Technical School he had been attending, and then have the chance to go on to University. But, that and the war did not stop him, and I hope his success inspires you, too. Overcome what Life has dealt you. Learn from it, adapt, but keep going!
Best to all — Em
P.S. Today would have been my father-in-law’s 95th birthday. Due to severe myopia, he remained stateside, “holding the fort”, helping to run the City of Detroit. Back then, everyone found a way to help the nation, and the troops, when our nation was at war. Everyone “served” in their own, important way. We’re thinking of you too, today!
(c)2009 Em at http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com
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What a beautiful post Em! I have to work today, but will check out those links.
I too have a new grandson born this year. Congratulations to you
and me 
He’s my second. Grandchildren can change us in amazing ways. Being a grandmother is an amazing experience.