Page 2 Veterans Day • Sublette Examiner & Pinedale Roundup November 8 & 11, 2016
One of my favorite war veterans By Stephen Crane, editor@pinedaleroundup.com
At first glance, I don’t recognize the person in this photo. The hairdo was ancient history by the time I arrived. The olive drab fatigues were long gone. But I recognize the posture. I recognize the smiles on the faces of those around her. If anything encapsulates all I know of my mother, this picture is it. Here she is, surrounded by kiddos in the middle of Vietnam, wrapping her arm around one and serving “the least of these.” The Vietnam War was not just about the good ol’ U.S. of A. fighting off the commie hordes. Lives were affected that transcended battle lines. As is so often the case, the dirt-poor villagers were stuck in the middle of the seemingly eternal conflicts that affected that country, whether it was the Viet Cong or the Chinese or the U.S. or the French before that or the Japanese before that. All the Vietnamese people knew was military conflict. Then there was my mother. I’m not sure she knew what she was in for when she went to nursing school on the G.I. Bill, agreeing to go into service after obtaining her degree. Soon enough, she found herself in the sweltering jungles of Vietnam, serving as a post-op nurse in a field hospital near Cu Chi in South Vietnam. She doesn’t think much of herself when it comes to her military service. Her recollections are often plagued with regret that she wasn’t strong enough in her faith at that time to share spiritual truths with those who may have needed it most – mostly teenage kids laid up in a jungle hospital bed who missed home and had seen more horrors than any person should.
U.S. involvement in derstood the innate “rights” bestowed by the Vietnam War, there our Creator, and they sought a form of govwas a lot of good ernment that protects them. Given that foundation, it seems we have going on, and frankly, it seems to me that’s a unique perspective on the world. We simply part of Amer- value the sanctity of human life far more ica’s DNA. Even if our than most. We are a nation built by underexecution isn’t always dogs. We’re compelled to help the helpless. My mom epitomizes these traits, which perfect, the intentions – particularly of those were further developed and nurtured on the on the ground – are other side of the globe. Somewhere in there, she met my dad. And after their tours good. Find me any con- finished, they made their way back to the flict from the last cen- States, got hitched and soon had four ramtury to present when bunctious boys on their hands. But my mom’s stateside legacy picked the U.S. servicemen and women aren’t out up right where it left off in Vietnam. I helping the affected know of no one else in this world who has civilians any way they a heart for service like Mom, and she incan. Europe, Korea, stilled those principles into her four young Vietnam, the Middle sons. It’s a blessing and a curse, let me tell COURTESY PHOTO East … helping those you. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My I have no idea where my West Coast cousin found this in need is an American mom and dad’s military service provided compulsion, and hisphoto of my mother, but it’s a favorite for many reasons. torically, it’s a rare trait them with a perspective that guided the foundation they laid in our lives. And it’s a for a nation at war. But the United foundation I’m duty-bound to pass along I have little doubt, however, that her own regrets are not shared by those she States of America is unlike any nation in to my own children. I know I’m not alone. So on this Veterans Day, I give thanks to served – the men whose wounds she the history of the world. Our God-given cleaned and bandages she changed. Many rights and freedoms are the foundation for our Creator for my mom, and for my dad, suffered horrific wounds and I can only a whole new form of government that set a and for all those military men and women imagine the sight of her was like an angel new standard for what it means to be who have served, who have helped protect had descended from heaven. She offered human, and what it means to be free. This the fragile legacy of freedom we were all more comfort than she will ever know – of republic was established by men of fore- so blessed to inherit from those who came thought and vision – and faith. They un- before. that, I am sure. Another big part of her job was deworming and immunizing the Vietnamese in surrounding villages. I figure this photo was taken during one of those trips, but I can’t be sure. For all of the condemnation cast on the By Joy Ufford, jufford@subletteexaminer.com
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED On Veterans Day, thank the men and women of our military for their service and sacrifice. We will always remember that freedom is not free. Proudly fly your flag, thank a veteran and show your support for those who continue to serve today.
Pinedale observes Veterans Day PINEDALE – The American Legion Post 47 and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4801 are proud to honor veterans past and present with a special ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. Both posts and their auxiliaries are hosting the annual Veterans Day observance at the Pinedale High School Auditorium. The event features the Pinedale High School Band and Chorus with patriotic music, Boys and Girls State speakers and special guest speaker retired Command Sgt. Major Ken Persson, Sr., of Wyoming. All veterans, their families and friends, and the public is welcome to attend the observance and afterward, join up with everyone at the annual Veterans Day luncheon, starting at noon at the VFW Post 4801 in Pinedale. Chairman of the House and Vietnam veteran Stan Zierlein said the Legion and VFW alternate hosting the luncheon and this year’s meal is sponsored by the Legion. “It’s a way for us to show our recognition
for the veterans and their service,” he said. The VFW Post will be packed with service members and supporters, and Friday’s luncheon is also the time and place for a special raffle drawing for a handmade queensized patriotic quilt. Although Zierlein was out “hustling” tickets this week – limited to only 400 chances at $10 per ticket – he said he hopes to be sold out by Friday. “All proceeds from this are to be put toward putting more names of our veterans up at American Legion Park,” he said, adding it is the VFW’s intent to get the monument’s lists as up to date as possible. There are several names missed when the monument was built – which goes as far back as the Spanish-American War – as well as more recent veterans coming back from Iraq, Afghanistan and other locales. “It’s very expensive to get these names printed on the monuments,” he added. “There are always going to be new names to add. And thank you for all those who have donated or participated with this.”
Veterans Day Observance Friday, November 11, 2016 at 11:00 am Pinedale HS Auditorium
Please join the American Legion Post 47 and VFW Post 4801 and our Auxiliaries in honoring our veterans past and present. The Pinedale High School Band and Chorus will provide musical selections, Boys and Girls State Representative will relate their experiences. Guest speaker is Ken Persson, Sr. retired CSM, 1st Vice Commander Department of Wyoming. A public luncheon will be served at the VFW Post 4801 following the festivities.
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A belated birthday gift – 63 years later By Jaycie Cundall
PINEDALE – Roy Morrison celebrated his 93rd birthday at the Sublette Center in Pinedale on July 14. Around his neck, he wears a gift that he unknowingly received on his 20th birthday in France during World War II. Morrison was part of an outfit of U.S. Army replacement troops, sent to fill in for wounded or deceased troops who had landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. His outfit was assigned to the 9th Divison, 60th Infantry, who were battling Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s troops just north of Saint-Ló, France. They were reinforced with tanks and artillery from the 3rd Armored Division. On June 6, 1944, he landed at Omaha Beach with the first wave of troops. Out of the 12 men in his platoon, Morrison and another were the only ones to make it up the beach to a protected location behind a beach house. On Morrison’s birthday that year, he with other troops huddled in the hedgerows, when he heard the “rip” sound of German machinegun fire. Seven to 10 rounds had been fired toward him and one of the bullets struck him on the outside of his left knee, shattering the bone. He lay there for four and a half hours until Army medics arrived and temporarily treated his wound. The bullet had entered the outside of his knee and exited through the back of the knee. He was transported to a field hospital where his knee was repaired. Later, he was placed on a hospital ship bound for Britain for rehabilitation and recuperation. He lay
in a British hospital at Essex for six months in a body cast. Before the surgery to repair his knee, he asked a nurse to tape into his hand an 1889 silver dollar that his mother had given him on his 12th birthday. Then at the age of 20, the coin had never been out of his pocket. It remained taped in his hand for nearly two weeks after his surgery and then it had to be pried from his fingers. “I couldn’t use that hand for a long time after that,” Morrison said. Now the coin is kept in a safe and both sides are rubbed almost completely smooth, with Lady Liberty’s head barely detectable. After his release from the hospital, he was returned to active duty in Germany in January 1945 as a cook on a troop train, which eventually moved troops for Gen. George Patton up to the Battle of the Bulge. In the kitchen car of the troop train, he actually had a chance encounter with the famous general. “He asked me how many troops we had on board and I told him about 2,200 on this load. He said, ‘You’ll be damn lucky this time tomorrow if you have 22 left,’ and that’s about how many men he brought back with him,” said Morrison. After the troop trains were disbanded, Morrison was sent to Paris to continue his duties as a mess hall cook, making approximately 5,000 meals a day. When the war ended, Morrison returned home to Miami, Fla., to his old job of producing ice cream for the Dolly Madison Company. He later joined the City of Miami
BPHS plans annual Veterans Day program
Beach Fire Department and served for over 29 years. In 1974, he retired at the age of 50 with the rank of lieutenant. He then moved to Clermont, Fla., and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for many years as a rural route postman until 1988. “I built my own house there on the lake so I could fish any time I wanted,” Morrison said. Over all of his very active working years, he has never had any problems with his leg, until January 2003. Morrison started having minor pains in the once-injured leg and some symptoms of what he felt might be circulatory problems. His physician ordered an angiogram and examination of the arteries of his left leg. During the X-ray scoping, the technician performing the procedure said to him, “You should really have that bullet removed!” Morrison said that he had, 60 years ago, or so he thought. Morrison asked to see the X-ray and sure enough, there was a 1.5-inch German machinegun bullet in his left leg, just about 6 inches above where he had been shot in the knee. “I thought, ‘I’ve carried it this long and it hasn’t bothered me so, I’m not going to worry about it,’” Morrison explained. So In December 2007, when he started having leg pain again and this time difficulty walking, he decided it was time to remove the bullet. After another visit to the doctor, it was discovered that the bullet had traveled six inches higher and was pressing on an artery. On December 21, 2007, more than 63 years after being wounded in France, Dr. Michael Ray of the National Training Center Sports Medicine Institute in Clermont removed the bullet. The bullet was presented
By Joy Ufford, jufford@subletteexaminer.com
BIG PINEY – Veterans Day is always a special time of observance in Big Piney and Marbleton, with this year’s Veterans Luncheon coming on Thursday and the high school’s special program on Friday, Nov. 11. The Southwest Sublette Pioneer Senior Center in Marbleton hosts its special luncheon honoring all veterans on Thursday, Nov. 10, beginning at noon sharp. A special table will be set aside for those veterans of many years of service and war who attend. Friday, Nov. 11, the entire community comes together at the Big Piney High School (BOHS) Gym, hosted by the National Honor Society and starting at 10 a.m. “We have a really big bash,” said BPHS
principal Jeff Makelky. “What’s so cool about it is the seriousness and respect our kids show the veterans. Our kids are super.” The Veterans Days program is completely planned by the students, he added. The BPHS Band and Choir will perform patriotic music and Boys and Girls State participants will talk about their experiences. Veteran Bill Budd is this year’s special guest, and a special slide-show presentation will be given for the veterans who will be seated in the front. The entire community, with all ages attending, turns out every year for the special BPHS Veterans Day observance program, which starts at 10 a.m. and will last about 45 minutes.
Saluting our Veterans one day a year is hardly enough, but we would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU! We will be closed Friday, November 11th in honor of our Veterans.
1ST BANK 221 E. Pine St Pinedale, W Y 82941
307-367-3350
On this day we remember those brave men & women who sacrifice to ensure our freedom!
JAYCIE CUNDALL
PHOTO
WWII veteran Roy Morrison shows off the bullet he had removed from his leg 63 years after being wounded. to Morrison as a belated birthday gift. Morrison’s body chemicals encrusted over half of the bullet with corrosion, but what remains visible is still a shiny brass. Just as he had kept his lucky silver dollar in his pocket for so many years, Morrison plans to wear his bullet around his neck for the rest of his life. After a bad fall back in Florida, Morrison’s son Frank decided it was time for him to come to Wyoming. “He’s a good kid – he’s taken care of everything and I don’t know what I would do without him,” Morrison said about his son. Morrison celebrated his birthday with his family, some chocolate cake and a piece of brass around his neck.
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Serving those who served By John Kelly
As a 1981 Pinedale High School graduate and a U.S. Navy veteran (US Navy, 1982–1991), I appreciate all of the efforts of individuals in Pinedale and Sublette County to serve local veterans. Since I returned to Pinedale on July 4 of last year, I have been fortunate to encounter many extraordinary individuals here who are devoted to serving veterans – including Cheryl Allen, the local Veterans Service Officer; Dayle Reed-Hudson, a counselor at High Country Behavioral Health (HCBH); Mary SimBarcelos and Ken Murphy, cofacilitators of a weekly veterans group and counselors at HCBH; JJ Huntley, director of the Pinedale Aquatic Center (PAC); and Dawn Walker, administrator of the Sublette Center. Veteran services The sign at the Pinedale Clinic has a section that reads “Veteran Services.” It could just as well read “Cheryl Allen.” Allen is the local Veterans Service Officer and may have single-handedly done more to help Sublette County veterans in the past several years than any organization. When her name comes up in conversations with local veterans, there is usually a respectful pause followed by “She’s amazing,” “She’s extraordinary,” or “We’re so lucky to have her here.”
Sublette County has an approximate population of 10,000 people with about 75 percent over 18 years old – and, with a population of about 750 veterans, has one of the higher ratios of veterans. Cheryl may know most of us. Her office at the Pinedale Clinic is meticulously neat, and she greets veterans with a warm presence that goes well with her keen, experienced knowledge on how to navigate the complex bureaucracy of the Veterans Administration (VA). She helps local veterans in two main areas: first, compensation and pension claims; and second health care services. Compensation and pension Many veterans have experienced a wide range of minor to major injuries or illness during their service. Title 38 CFR Part 4 codifies a schedule for rating veteran disability. However, the process of application, evaluation and VA determination is nearly impossible to navigate without assistance. An appropriate evaluation and determination can make a significant difference in the wellbeing of veterans and their accessibility to further health care. Health care services Many veterans are eligible for some type of further health care after their military service. I highly recommend
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Mary SimBarcelos is co-facilitator of the Veterans Group and counselor at HCBH.
Dayle Reed-Hudson is a counselor at HCBH. The Pinedale Clinic is a good first stop for Veteran Services.
High Country Behavioral Health (HCBH) hosts counseling and group meetings.
for all veterans to meet with Cheryl to determine individual eligibility. In some cases, a 5-year deadline after discharge may apply for enrollment in VA health care, so it may be imperative to pursue enrollment in a timely fashion. Many local veterans receive health care from a VA clinic in Rock Springs, or the VA hospital in Salt Lake City. Also, since Pinedale is more than 40 miles from the nearest VA clinic, many local veterans qualify for the “Veterans Choice Program,” which allows us to be seen with advance approval at the Pinedale Clinic. Invisible wounds Tragically, an average of 20 veterans a day die from suicide. However, healing is possible. The understanding of invisible wounds – such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and traumatic brain injury – is improving significantly. Recent studies include Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery and the documentary film The Invisible War. Many veterans experience nightmares, panic attacks, dissociation and periods of uncontrollable anger or rage. Fortunately, excellent assistance for invisible wounds is also available in Sublette County. One location where this assistance is available is at High Country Behavioral Health in Pinedale. High Country Behavioral Health (HCBH) High Country Behavioral Health (HCBH) offers free
JJ
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Veterans Day • Sublette Examiner & Pinedale Roundup Page 5
urphy is co-facilitator of the Veterans Group and counselor HCBH.
The Pinedale Aquatic Center is a place to improve physical and mental health.
Huntley is the director of the PAC. counseling services to veterans. One counselor at HCBH who works with veterans is Dayle Reed-Hudson. On a personal note, I have worked with her weekly for over a year. Historically, there have been some stigmas for veterans to see a counselor. I like to think of this work in two ways – working with an emotional fitness trainer/coach and working with an emotional guide. For example, if you want to learn to swim, it makes sense to work with a fitness trainer/coach to learn basic skills and techniques, and eventually more advanced techniques such as flip turns. In the process of a regular practice, your health and fitness improve significantly. I think of my swimming practice as a metaphor for this emotional work – and my swimming fitness has improved to the point where I was able to complete a 9-mile swim across the length of Fremont Lake this summer. As another example, if you want to hike in the local wilderness, it makes sense to work with an experienced hiker as a wilderness guide. I completed a beautiful hike this summer to Sacred Rim out of Elkhart Park, and I hope to improve my skills and fitness one day to be able to summit Fremont Peak. Veterans support and resource group Mary SimBarcelos and Ken Murphy both work as counselors at HCBH and have worked with individual veterans for several years. Eventually, they felt the need to create a Veterans
Dawn Walker is the Sublette Center Administrator. Group, which they started over a year ago. This group meets weekly on Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the Pinedale Clinic, and all veterans are welcome to attend. The meetings are pretty relaxed, and we generally just have an opportunity to connect with other veterans. It’s also helpful to hear how other veterans are navigating VA health care and benefits and to learn from their specific experiences. In Mary’s work with individual veterans, she focuses on meeting people where they are at, working with their strengths, and developing empowerment with education so people can know their triggers and develop healthy coping strategies. She also encourages a holistic approach, exploration of alternative healing methods, and a sense of humor. In Ken’s work with individual veterans, he takes a broad focus on improving balance in five main areas: physical, social, spiritual, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Pinedale Aquatic Center One excellent location where veterans can work on physical and social well-being is the Pinedale Aquatic Center (PAC). Many veterans swim, walk, run, bike, lift weights, row, rock climb or take classes in water aerobics, tai chi or yoga. Or we sit in the lobby, drink coffee and visit with other PAC patrons. PAC Director JJ Huntley is committed to offering a wide range of programs and services for everyone from
toddlers to super-seniors. JJ works to make these PAC programs and activities relevant to the local environment as a way of “moving from the known to the relative unknown” – for example, numerous summer programs take youth outdoors, and some rock climbing courses in the PAC conclude with an outdoor rock-climbing experience. Another example is the periodic offering of Wilderness First Aid courses, which prepare patrons for possible wilderness healthcare emergencies. The PAC offers a 50-percent discount to active duty military and their dependents, and a 10-percent discount to veterans. Sublette Center As veterans age, we are fortunate to have the Sublette Center as a housing option. For veterans with serious medical concerns, there is a medical wing that provides skilled nursing services. For other veterans, there are independent living apartments available. Along with the Sublette Center, additional independent living apartments are available across the street in Aspen Grove. Sublette Center Administrator Dawn Walker oversees a large staff who are committed to providing compassionate, skilled support to aging veterans, along with the broader population of Sublette County. As a local veteran, I am proud to have served in the U.S. Navy, and I am very proud of the people in Sublette County who passionately assist those who have served.
Page 6 Veterans Day • Sublette Examiner & Pinedale Roundup November 8 & 11, 2016
STEPHEN CRANE
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Korean War veterans pose for a photo and include (front row, from left) Jim Noble, Norman Pape, Joseph Kaumo, Tony Gosar (who served during the era but not in Korea), Darrell Walker, James Bond, Elmer Bager and Art Hamilton.
Honored for ‘preserving our freedom and democracy’ By Stephen Crane, editor@pinedaleroundup.com
PINEDALE – The Korean War is sometimes referred to as “The Forgotten War,” as it is often overshadowed by the wake of World War II and the prominence of the Vietnam War a decade later. But for those men and women of the U.S. military who served in that conflict, the war will never be forgotten. And for the Republic of Korea – also known as South Korea – the memory of that war remains ingrained in the population. War memorials have been erected that are dedicated to the U.S. military, honoring their sacrifices on behalf of a then-unknown nation. In August, nine Korean War veterans in Sublette County were honored with Peace
Medals related to their service during the war and were bestowed with the title of Ambassadors of Peace by official proclamation from the Republic of Korea. Those veterans included Gerald Schaffer who served in the U.S. Air Force, Richard Gordon of the U.S. Navy, Williams Evans of the U.S. Navy, Norman Pape of the U.S. Army, Joseph Kaumo of the U.S. Army, Darrel Walker of the U.S. Navy, Ted Reinwald of the U.S. Army, Elmer Bager of the U.S. Air Force, and James Bond of the U.S. Army. Jim Noble and Art Hamilton were also Korean War veterans in attendance who are expected to receive their medals at a later date.
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED On Veterans Day, we salute the American veterans and active-duty military whose courage and dedication have protected our freedom and our way of life for generations. We recognize their service and their sacrifice, their selflessness and bravery, their hard work and their faith. Please join us in celebrating the men and women of our military, past and present, this Veterans Day. Proudly fly your flag, thank a veteran and show your support for those who continue to serve today.
The Korean War started in 1950 and over the next three years, communist forces from China, Russia and North Korea battled South Korean and United Nations forces – 88 percent of which was U.S. military personnel, numbering more than 320,000 – in a battle for control of the Korean peninsula. The war of attrition was defined by brutal weather, bloody conflicts and devastation for the Korean people. Both sides made dramatic pushes for control, with the capitol city of Seoul changing hands four different times throughout the conflict. The U.S. had 36,574 killed in action during those three years, with an additional 7,926 missing in action. More than 100,000 U.S.
military personnel were wounded. When the dust finally settled, the two sides signed an armistice agreement – or a cease-fire – on July 27, 1953, and agreed to establish a demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the 38th parallel, which is still in place today and separates the countries of North and South Korea. Technically, the two countries are still at war and periodic – and sometimes deadly – small-arms skirmishes continue to this day, with high tensions ever present. According to Sublette County Veterans’ Services Officer Cheryl Allen, there are about two dozen Korean War veterans in Sublette County.
As veterans day approaches we would like to send our thanks and appreciation to the veterans in Sublette County. Those men & women who courageously served and died to give us our freedom and those who have served and are serving to this day. We honor you for your dedication and loyalty to this country.
American Legion Auxiliary Post 78 Big Piney Wyoming
November 8 & 11, 2016
Veterans Day • Sublette Examiner & Pinedale Roundup Page 7
ABOVE: The official proclamation from the Republic of Korea lauds the veterans for their ‘boundless sacrifices’ and appoints them as ambassadors of peace. LEFT: U.S. Army veteran James Bond receives his Ambassador of Peace Medal from Sublette County Veterans Services Officer Cheryl Allen. LEFT: Army veteran Joseph Kaumo poses with his Peace Medal.
Remembering our veterans
The Peace Medals await their recipients. RIGHT: Army Col. Timothy Sheppard gives the keynote address in the Lovatt Room of the Pinedale Library, lauding the veterans for their service during the Korean War.
On Veterans Day, we honor the members of our armed forces who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage and dedication will always be remembered. Lest we forget. Veterans Day 2016, November 11
Honoring All Veterans Past, Present and Future 145 5 E.. Pinee Streett • PO O Boxx 2029 1 • 307-367-7600 Pinedale,, Wyomingg 82941 www.rockymountainbank.com
219 E. Pine Street • Pinedale, Wyoming 82941 (307) 367-2123 • www.pinedaleroundup.com
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How to show your appreciation to the military For the Examiner and Roundup
Civilians who join the military find their lives change forever upon entering the service. The armed forces shape a person, teaching discipline, humility, bravery, and many other life lessons. Joining the military often means making substantial personal sacrifices, as servicemen and women are typically called away from their families and the comforts of home. Many grateful men and women want to show their appreciation to those who risk their lives to defend their country, but they may not always know how. The following are a number of ways you can show your appreciation to members of the military. • Thank a service member. If you see a person in uniform, thank them for their service to the country. Use the person’s title if you can identify rank, or simply use the respectful terms of “sir” or “madam.” Though a simple gesture, a verbal token of gratitude can go a long way toward brightening a soldier’s day. • Volunteer with a veteran’s association. Volunteering is another way to show veterans and active service members how much you appreciate the sacrifices they have made. Volunteer at a veteran’s hospital or help to organize an event that’s commemorating the efforts of local veterans and active service members. • Propose an event to honor local service members. Petition a town council for a special parade to honor your community’s military personnel, including veterans and active duty members. • Raise funds. Fundraisers are another way to show military members how much
you appreciate their service. Collect money for a military-based scholarship, asking a local high school or university to establish the scholarship in the name of a localveteran or active duty service member. • Provide a forum in which a serviceman or servicewoman can share his or her story. Soldiers can offer unique insight on issues that affect civilians, and the community can benefit from servicemen and women who share their stories. When hosting a community event, ask a soldier to be a keynote speaker. • Send gifts to active military. Make care packages or write cards and thank you notes to stationed troops. Organizations like the USO, Military-Missions.org or AnySoldier.com can ensure your packages make their way into the hands of soldiers. • Help an active duty service member’s family. Spouses of active duty military personnel often must handle all of the chores that come with managing a household on their own. To show how much you appreciate a service member’s efforts, offer to lend a hand around his or her house. This can make life easier on a service man or woman’s spouse, and your companionship may provide a world of good. You can even go the extra mile by organizing a military spouse appreciation night at a nearby church or recreation hall. Offer free babysitting and provide refreshments and entertainment. • Publicly display your patriotism. Active duty service members and veterans joined the military to defend our way of
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Veterans deserve our eternal gratitude and there are many ways to show it. life, and you can show pride for your country and appreciation for their efforts by hanging a flag outside of your home. • Pick up the tab. Surprise a person in uniform by paying for his or her meal at a restaurant. It’s a simple gesture, but it
shows how much you appreciate that service member’s sacrifice. Gestures that show military personnel how much you appreciate them need not be lavish. Any and all expressions of gratitude can make a world of difference.
Veterans Day facts and figures For the Examiner and Roundup
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A veteran salutes the American Flag during a Veterans Day observance.
Did you know? Veterans Day For the Examiner and Roundup
The origins of Veterans Day can be traced to the ending of World War I nearly a century ago. Known at the time as “The Great War,” World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in France. But the fighting had actually ended seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allies and Germany went into effect on Nov. 11, 1918. The following November, United States
President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 as “Armistice Day” in honor of the cessation of the hostilities, and the day became a federal holiday in 1938. That act was amended in 1954 after veterans service organizations, in recognition of the efforts of soldiers who fought in World War II, asked that the day be renamed “Veterans Day” so it honored all soldiers and not just those who fought in World War I.
Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated on Nov. 11, 1919, the anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1928, the United States Congress passed a resolution for Armistice Day to be an annual observation, and by 1938, the day became a national holiday. Differing from Memorial Day in May, Armistice Day, which would be renamed Veterans Day in 1954 under President Dwight Eisenhower, pays tribute to veterans who survived various wars. Memorial Day commemorates those veterans who lost their lives. Americans celebrate Veterans Day, while residents of Great Britain, Canada and Australia celebrate Remembrance Day. Those who want to learn more about Veterans Day can consider the following facts. • According to the American Community Survey, there were 19.3 million military veterans in the United States in 2014. Of those, 1.6 million were female. • California, Texas and Florida comprise the states with the largest number of veterans, equalling one million or more. • Veterans consist of people who served in the military. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Veterans serve in times of war and peace. • The word “veteran” comes from the Old English language and means “old, experienced soldier.” The first use of the word was documented in 1789. • Although many veterans are working,
and the average annual income of male veterans is $37,000, some veterans continue to be unemployed. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall unemployment rate for veterans rose to 7.6 percent in January 2013. The unemployment rate of post9/11veterans or those who participated in the Gulf War reached 6.2 percent. • Upon retiring or being discharged, veterans may need help acclimating to life outside the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs says about 30 percent of Vietnam War veterans have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. • Between 1971 and 1977, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. It was changed back to its original date, Nov. 11, in 1975 when President Gerald Ford signed bill S.331 into law. The change went into effect beginning in 1978. • An American soldier was buried at the national cemetery in Arlington on Nov. 11, 1921. His identity was unknown, and the gravesite is known as the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” A guard from the Society of the Honor Guard stands watch over the grave each year on Veterans Day, and the president or another high-ranking member of the government places a wreath on the grave. Veterans Day occurs each year on Nov. 11, marking the end of World War I. The day has evolved into a celebration and remembrance of the heroism of America's brave soldiers.