An “IS” reader asks if there is some way to honor veterans before they have died. I would suggest a visit to any veteran hospital that allows the public to talk to patients. It might be too much for some folks to see World War II veterans that have been patients since 1941. Or talk to young military men whose lives were changed forever when a sliver of metal entered their body in a battle fought somewhere. These unlucky persons sometimes “pay” for the rest of their life.
Another way to reward old veterans is to encourage conversation. Many have seen or been to hell and may now be ready to talk about it. Some never will but give them an opportunity. When I came home from Europe not one person asked where I had been for three years, what I had seen and done. Now no one can shut me up. I’d be delighted to address high school classes or any group that had an interest in history. Many still doubt that that chapters of the bible were written by the disciples. Our blog/website “IS” contains several War stories I have written to provide a non-technical story of an eighteen-year old boy’s war experience. My mind is still crammed with accounts of how it really was but the words will probably never make it to paper. I am honored whenever anyone expresses an interest in what our generation accomplished. I believe any veteran feels the same way. Time is slipping away: 3724 are now at rest in the Horton veteran cemetery.
4 comments:
My Father-in-law would not tell us of his experiences in December 1944other than his jeep hitting a mine, him lying on the ground watching the jeep roll harmlessly over him. His most vivid descriptions he shared was not of combat but of the piercing cold being surrounded by dense forest and German Soldiers and the smell and feel of the dirt hole he called home. That was enough for him to try and help us understand.
Pock you are overdue to be recognized for your years of service, leadership to the community. You rightfully deserve be the 2011 Suffolk First Citizen. Don't know if you are humbled or taken aback but that's the truth.
Young people say over the last 30 yars have no idea of what a veteran is much less could they engage any of our vets from the KW much less WW2. Many history lessons dont teach of war anymore but some of our schools can teach a youngin about how to put on a Trojan. Teach about Muslims and Islam, but not about God. People like a Bob Pocklington should have the opportunity and should be envited into every school in the system.It is now said that we are losing almost 1700 WW2 vets a day.
Before long they and the wars of their generation will just be ignored, forgotten and will disappear.
Anon 3:08
Your father-in-law and me were stuck in the same place that Christmas in the Ardennes Forest where the Germans had chased us during their last push. We were not properly, dressed, nor fed. We were able to prevent frost bite by encouraging drivers to keep their engines running while we took turns draped over it.In those two weeks America suffered 20,000 killed, 47,000 wounded and 23,000 captured. YOUR WIFE'S FATHER AND I WERE FORTUNATE.
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