Late Veteran’s Day Entry

Greetings Fans, Friends, Fiends and Foes,

I apologize for neglecting you guys, but you know, sometimes life just happens when you had planned to blog. I really do appreciate you all coming here to read what I have to say and leaving your comments. Your time is valuable and I am thankful that you are there.

I went to church last night, and we had a special program to honor Veteran’s Day. Originally Armistice Day, celebrating the peace in WWI that happened at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, now it has been expanded to honor all veterans.

Pastor asked that all of the servicemen that had ever served come to church in their uniform; I think he should have added the caveat, “If they fit.” Anyway, it was neat to see everyone in their military finest. Some had recently retired and some were active duty so there were people that could fit into their uniform. There was a color guard that presented the colors and the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance, (WITH “Under God” of course) and a speech by Rev B about how our religious freedoms and freedom of speech are guaranteed by men and women who have been willing, through history, to defend those freedoms.

While he was talking he said something that made me feel both proud and humble at the same time. It was to the effect that there have been some who have never faced an angry bullet and did not stay in for twenty years but, they were ready and willing to go if they were called upon. Well, while serving during peacetime (I got a letter from the VFW offering membership??? I was in from 21Aug87 – 20Aug90 which they say qualifies me. I don’t remember any war going on.) Does, in fact, have its heartaches and sacrifices, I don’t compare them to what others went through. I don’t think it’s the same. Nevertheless, the point is made that there are, have been and will be, people who are just as important, even though their risk is negligible.

Then there are old warhorses like my buddy, Carter, who has been most everywhere, including Germany during the Cold War and Iraq and Iraq in both “hot wars.” His stories about how he got his Iraqi prisoners to talk, in a relatively simple fashion, without dog leashes, are humorous. I wonder, though, if threatening to take off his boots was against the Geneva conventions. Maybe he would be willing to blog a couple of war stories on the Herb’s Friends blog for us.

As they were talking about WWII I thought about a hero from my dad’s family. I wrote about him last year when I discovered my cousin’s website about my uncle, Herbert Thiel. He was my dad’s favorite brother who was killed. The site, http://www.rohna.org/ will have links to sites that tell about the attack on the transport he was riding on and how the Germans used a new technology, an “Air Torpedo” and how the government tried to hide the incident for fear that the people in this country would become frightened.

So, anyway, thanks to Pops and Carter (who’s still ugly) and all the rest of you who’ve served. Oh, and yes, I do recognize that people can serve their country without serving in the military, but this wasn’t their day.

Remember, the Good Book says, “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.” And, “Render therefore to all their dues…honour to whom honour.”