Guardians help veterans on Honor Flight

Guardians help veterans on Honor Flight visit to war memorials

WLOS ABC 13 News
by Frank Kracher
October 12th 2018

Some guardians were veterans, like Iraq War Marine Kevin Rumley, who was on his fourth Honor Flight..."As much as I'm moved by the experience every time, my focus as a guardian is always on the veteran and anything they need to just make their day better," Rumley said.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Blue Ridge Honor Flight took to the air last weekend for the 35th time, and the trip was a first.

Veterans of Vietnam, accompanied by Honor Flight guardians, who helped get them through a whirlwind day in Washington, D.C., were the focus for the first time.

Honor Flights are free for veterans; guardians pay for the privilege.

That group of volunteers is our Persons Of The Week.

From Asheville Regional Airport to Reagan National, the trip was the start of a "welcome home" experience so many Vietnam vets never had.

Among them, 71-year-old Yancey County native David Letterman.

First stop was the Lincoln Memorial, for a color guard flag ceremony and group photo.

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Veterans of Three Wars Took Honor Flight for July 4th

Local veterans embark on Fourth of July honor flight to DC
Spectrum News
By Reena Diamante
Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Before they took flight, the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans, could not help but to reflect on their years of service.

AUSTIN, Texas — Each day, there are fewer and fewer veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

For those who are still here, many have yet to see the memorials built in their honor at our nation's capital.

One local group is honoring them with a flight full of thanks.

There was a grand gesture of gratitude on Tuesday at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Hundreds of people lined the gates inside the departure terminal to show their support for the men and women who risked their lives for America.

“It means everything to me. I can’t believe this is happening.” said Frank Serpas, a World War II veteran. “It makes me feel so good to know that so many people respect the veterans.”

“It brought tears to my eyes,” said Jack Green, another WWII vet. “It’s been a long time.”

More than two dozen veterans took part in an Independence Day Honor Flight to visit the national memorials in Washington, D.C. and watch fireworks. For many, the experience is a trip of a lifetime.
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Regina McIntyre Early, WWI Veteran, Montana Native American

Women veterans of WWI—so many stories yet to tell
KTVQ News Montana
By Ed Kemmick
Mar 25, 2017

An Army veteran from Laurel has been working for years to prepare for an event that will take place on April 6, the dedication of a memorial to women with ties to Yellowstone County who served in the military during World War I.

But Ed Saunders’ work is far from done.

He continues to search for the records of female veterans of the war from all over the state, and just this week he made one of his most exciting discoveries yet.

On Monday, Saunders confirmed that Regina McIntyre Early, an Army nurse who served in four hospitals in France during World War I, was an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in northwestern Montana.

Regina McIntyre Early’s discharge papers showed she served at multiple Army hospitals in France during and after World War 1. (Photo courtesy of Ed Saunders)

Saunders said McIntyre Early could quite possibly be the first female veteran of WWI who was an enrolled member of an American Indian tribe in Montana.

Thanks to Saunders’ research, the confederated tribes told Saunders on Thursday that they will be sending three female members of the Mission Valley Honor Guard, all of them tribal members, to the dedication of the World War I memorial on the lawn of the Yellowstone County Courthouse on April 6.

That day will mark the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I.
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Rolling Stone Forgets How Long Other Generations Waited For Memorials

Iraq War Veteran Reflects on the Ground Zero Mall
On the failed efforts to build a Global War on Terror memorial, while a shopping mall is built at the 9/11 site
Roling Stone
By Scott Beauchamp
September 9, 2016

The primary reason no GWOT monument yet exists is that, per the Commemorative Works Act of 1997, combat must have ended a decade before work on a memorial can begin. The Global War on Terror continues unabated. How are we supposed to "remember" wars that might never end?

A grand opening event at the Westfield World Trade Center mall in August. Cindy Ord/Getty

Last month, nearly 15 years after September 11th, a mall opened at Ground Zero. The Westfield World Trade Center is aggressively ordinary, despite resting on the site of the nation's most memorable and deadly terrorist attack. As The New York Times notes, "there is little to suggest that [the mall] occupies consecrated ground ... this mall could be just about anywhere." Walking the pristine marble floors of the concourse, past stores like Apple, Sephora and Kate Spade, there's no indication that the soil underfoot might contain debris from the first foreign attack on American territory in two generations.

A nearby museum and memorial officially commemorate those who died in the World Trade Center attacks, underscoring the absurdity of the mall's presence there. The juxtaposition of the memorial and the shopping mall gestures at America's complex attitude toward commemorating wars and tragedies.

As a veteran of the Global War on Terror who deployed twice to Iraq as an infantryman, there's no permanent federal monument where I can publicly mourn and remember. As important as the country's various 9/11 memorials are, they're memorials to civilian victims of terrorism, not members of the military. There is no official government monument recognizing the casualties of what some have taken to calling the Long War.
read more here

If you really want to honor anyone, it would be a good time to refresh history of what already happened. Reminder, it is not the longest war. Vietnam still is at just under 20 years. First name on The Wall is "The first American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Air Force T-Sgt. Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. He is listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having a casualty date of June 8, 1956." and the last killed ""The ‘Mayaguez Incident’ The battle on Koh Tang occurred on May 15, 1975."

Gulf War "While Feb. 28, 2016, marked the official anniversary of the cease-fire that ended the war 25 years ago, no special celebrations were held on the day, a disappointment several war veterans fumed over." 


And this is how long it took for the Vietnam Memorial Wall to be built. "The Memorial (wall) was completed in late October and dedicated on November 13, 1982."

Korean War ended in 1953. It was dedicated on July 27, 1995 

 WWII ended in 1945. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004

Outset of the great war, a dreadful rumor arose

History lesson on Combat PTSD
WWI "Shell Shock"

The Shock of War
World War I troops were the first to be diagnosed with shell shock, an injury – by any name – still wreaking havoc
Smithsonian Magazine
By Caroline Alexander
September 2010

In September 1914, at the very outset of the great war, a dreadful rumor arose. It was said that at the Battle of the Marne, east of Paris, soldiers on the front line had been discovered standing at their posts in all the dutiful military postures—but not alive. “Every normal attitude of life was imitated by these dead men,” according to the patriotic serial The Times History of the War, published in 1916. “The illusion was so complete that often the living would speak to the dead before they realized the true state of affairs.” “Asphyxia,” caused by the powerful new high-explosive shells, was the cause for the phenomenon—or so it was claimed. That such an outlandish story could gain credence was not surprising: notwithstanding the massive cannon fire of previous ages, and even automatic weaponry unveiled in the American Civil War, nothing like this thunderous new artillery firepower had been seen before. A battery of mobile 75mm field guns, the pride of the French Army, could, for example, sweep ten acres of terrain, 435 yards deep, in less than 50 seconds; 432,000 shells had been fired in a five-day period of the September engagement on the Marne. The rumor emanating from there reflected the instinctive dread aroused by such monstrous innovation. Surely—it only made sense—such a machine must cause dark, invisible forces to pass through the air and destroy men’s brains.

Shrapnel from mortars, grenades and, above all, artillery projectile bombs, or shells, would account for an estimated 60 percent of the 9.7 million military fatalities of World War I. And, eerily mirroring the mythic premonition of the Marne, it was soon observed that many soldiers arriving at the casualty clearing stations who had been exposed to exploding shells, although clearly damaged, bore no visible wounds. Rather, they appeared to be suffering from a remarkable state of shock caused by blast force. This new type of injury, a British medical report concluded, appeared to be “the result of the actual explosion itself, and not merely of the missiles set in motion by it.” In other words, it appeared that some dark, invisible force had in fact passed through the air and was inflicting novel and peculiar damage to men’s brains.

By 1917, medical officers were instructed to avoid the term “shell shock,” and to designate probable cases as “Not Yet Diagnosed (Nervous).” Processed to a psychiatric unit, the soldier was assessed by a specialist as either “shell shock (wound)” or “shell shock (sick),” the latter diagnosis being given if the soldier had not been close to an explosion. Transferred to a treatment center in Britain or France, the invalided soldier was placed under the care of neurology specialists and recuperated until discharged or returned to the front. Officers might enjoy a final period of convalescence before being disgorged back into the maw of the war or the working world, gaining strength at some smaller, often privately funded treatment center—some quiet, remote place such as Lennel House, in Coldstream, in the Scottish Borders country. read more of PTSD in WWI Here War Neurosis

The Century: America's Time - 1914-1919: Shell Shock
ABC News

Sounds like they should have figured out what to do to help soldiers heal. The truth is, they didn't.

WWII
After WWI they had thought the issues veterans faced had more to do with the "shells" and the compression taking a toll on their brains. By WWII, they knew they were facing something different.

"During the early years of World War II, psychiatric casualties increased by 300% when compared to WWI."

"At one point in the war, the number of men being discharged from the service for psychiatric reasons exceeded the total number of men being newly drafted."

23% of the evacuations were for psychiatric reasons. Readjustments Problems Among Vietnam Veterans, The Etiology of Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (1978)

In the same article the Korean War was also discussed. Things changed for the better. They did something right.

Psychiatric evacuations dropped to only 6%. Why? Because clinicians were there when needed. "Clinicians provided immediate onsite treatment to affected individuals always with the expectations the combatant would return to duty as soon as possible. (Also from the above article)

By Vietnam, the number of soldiers diagnosed while deployed dropped. Why? Because they were in and out in a year. What followed was the number of Vietnam veterans needing help to heal.

Everything went up after that. Arrests, drug and alcohol situations made the news but homelessness, suicides, attempted suicides and everything else we see today happened to them, but no one cared enough to notice other than their own families.

Next time you hear some "expert" saying PTSD didn't exist before Vietnam, give them a history lesson.

Memorial Day Videos | National Memorial Day Concert | PBS

Memorial Day Videos | National Memorial Day Concert | PBS

Each year, the National Memorial Day Concert presents a unique program honoring the valor and patriotism of Americans who have served our country. The show pays tribute to their sacrifices, as well as those of their families and loved ones.

As the war in Afghanistan winds down, the 2014 National Memorial Day Concert will recognize our servicemen and servicewomen with a special “welcome home” to thank veterans who served in Afghanistan.

In these segments of the show, we’ll feature a story about a critically wounded veteran suffering from severe physical injuries and the grave invisible wounds of war. We’ll also focus on the story of a mother coping with grief after the death of her son, the first to die in Afghanistan. His service inspired her to become actively involved with Gold Star Mothers. Now she is helping other mothers with their loss, grief and healing as they move forward with their lives.

The 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion also will be commemorated in 2014. World War II veterans who participated in the invasion, a seminal moment that turned the tides of war in favor of the Allies, will be honored and featured in this tribute to the sacrifices of our nation’s Greatest Generation.

go here for more of this tribute

Last night was the 25th Annual Memorial Day Tribute Concert, hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise. As always, I was moved to tears many times.

Joe Mantegna

Joe Mantegna is a world-class and award-winning entertainer with a strong background in television, theater and film who returns to co-host theNational Memorial Day Concert for his ninth consecutive year with Gary Sinise. Currently, Mantegna stars as FBI Special Agent David Rossi in season nine of the hit CBS drama Criminal Minds... READ MORE

Gary Sinise

Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise has been actively and tirelessly supporting the troops for over 30 years. Among his numerous film and television roles, it was his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the landmark filmForrest Gump that formed a lasting connection with servicemen and servicewomen throughout the military community... READ MORE

General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.)

For over 50 years, General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) has devoted his life to public service. Having held senior military and diplomatic positions across four presidential administrations, Powell’s deep commitment to democratic values and freedom has been felt throughout the world. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell was... READ MORE

Dianne Wiest

Oscar and Emmy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest recently finished shooting the feature film The Humbling opposite Al Pacino, directed by Barry Levinson. Over the years, Wiest has given memorable performances in films such as Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York; A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints; Hannah and Her Sisters... READ MORE

Jennifer Nettles

Jennifer Nettles, lead vocalist for international super duo Sugarland, has become one of the most popular singer-songwriters in music today. Since Sugarland exploded onto the music scene in 2004, they have worldwide sales of over 22 million albums and singles to date, have achieved eight No.1 singles and have won numerous awards... READ MORE

Danielle Bradbery

Seventeen-year-old Danielle Bradbery charmed her way into the national spotlight with a mix of country-western hits from several decades during season 4 of The Voice. The reigning star of the NBC hit show has become the youngest winner ever, and her coach, Blake Shelton, called her, "the most important artist to ever walk across... READ MORE

Megan Hilty

Megan Hilty recently starred alongside Sean Hayes in NBC’s comedy Sean Saves the World. Prior to that, she portrayed the seasoned triple threat, Ivy Lynn, in NBC’s musical drama Smash for two seasons. In March 2013, Hilty released her debut solo album, It Happens All The Time, which included fresh interpretations of... READ MORE

Jackie Evancho

Jackie Evancho’s first performance on NBC’s variety show America’s Got Talent left audiences and judges astonished that such a perfect, beautiful, soprano voice could come from a 10-year-old girl. During her next appearance in the competition, judges asked her to improvise a tune, which she performed flawlessly. It wasn’t just her... READ MORE

Anthony Kearns

Anthony Kearns, recognized as one of the world‘s finest tenors, made his official U.S. Grand Opera debut as the lead tenor in the role of Edgardo in Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera Naples of Florida in January 2011. His first appearance with the opera company came in early 2010 as Romeo in its production... READ MORE

Jack Everly

Jack Everly is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Baltimore and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and National Arts Center Orchestra (Ottawa). He has been on stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, appears annually with The Cleveland... READ MORE

National Symphony Orchestra

The National Symphony Orchestra of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, led by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, is recognized not only nationally but internationally as well, and is considered one of the world's finest ensembles. The Orchestra, in its 83rd season (2013-14), maintains a busy concert... READ MORE

Military District of Washington

The Military District of Washington works with Capital Concerts in coordinating the Department of Defense participation of the Premier Service Bands and Service Honor Guards.

U.S. Army Herald Trumpets

The United States Army Herald Trumpets is the official fanfare ensemble for the President of the United States. Founded in 1959 and patterned after traditional British “fanfare” trumpet ensembles, The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets was formed to add splendor to official military ceremonies. A performing element of The United... READ MORE

U.S. Army Chorus

In 1956, the U.S. Army Chorus was established as the vocal counterpart of The U.S. Army Band Pershing’s Own and is one of the nation’s only professional, all-male choruses. From its inception, the U.S. Army Chorus has established and maintained a reputation of excellence in the performance of male choral literature... READ MORE

U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters

The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters is the official chorus of the United States Navy. The ensemble performs a wide variety of music, ranging from traditional choral music, including the sea chantey, to Broadway musicals. Under the leadership of Chief Musician Georgina L. Todd, the Sea Chanters appear throughout the... READ MORE

U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants

The Singing Sergeants, the official chorus of the United States Air Force, is one of the world's most versatile and traveled choral organizations. Originally formed in 1945 from within the ranks of The United States Air Force Band, the chorus is now composed entirely of professional vocalists from leading colleges, universities and music... READ MORE

The Soldiers' Chorus

The Soldiers’ Chorus, founded in 1957, is the vocal complement of the United States Army Field Band of Washington, DC. The 29-member mixed choral ensemble travels throughout the nation and abroad, performing as a separate component and in joint concerts with the Concert Band of the “Musical Ambassadors of the Army.” The chorus has... READ MORE

WWII Navy Veteran Took Final Flight

Veteran dies after returning from honor flight
The Billings Gazette via AP
By Cindy Uken
May 1, 2014

For a weary, emotional and grateful Donald Buska, it was mission accomplished.

The 86-year-old U.S. Navy veteran fulfilled his longtime dream of traveling to Washington, D.C., on Sunday and Monday to visit the National World War II Memorial.

The once-in-a-lifetime trip with Big Sky Honor Flight of Montana afforded him opportunities he had only imagined.

And, it was an honor that came just in time.

On Tuesday, Buska, who had been in hospice care since Feb. 12, passed away.

“He had the time of his life,” said Buska’s son, Jeff, who traveled with him to Washington, D.C.

“What a way to go. He went out on a high note,” Jeff said.
read more here

One veteran on a mission helped 500 South Florida veterans

One veteran's mission to honor other veterans
Sun Sentinel
By Attiyya Anthony
December 27, 2013

Long retired from war, Tom Kaiser's current battle is to get every veteran the honors they've earned.

Kaiser, 86, a Delray Beach resident and World War II veteran, has helped more than 500 South Florida veterans receive government awards and medals for their military service.

"My goal is to get to every veteran an honor as long as I breathe," he said.

Kaiser honors veterans from World War II to those who have served in Afghanistan at the Boynton Beach Civic Center or Veteran's Park in Boynton Beach.

Many of the World War II veterans are pushing 100 and some have age-related illnesses, like Alzheimer's and dementia. Still, Kaiser won't give up.

Leuchter is a Holocaust survivor, who made it out by joining a French resistance group before moving to America to serve in the Korean War. Leuchter thanks Kaiser for helping him get the award.
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WWII Medal of Honor Heroes Honored with New Stamp

N.J. veteran among 12 honored on World War II Medal of Honor stamps
The Star-Ledger
By Jeff Goldman
November 04, 2013

A recently deceased World War II veteran from Bayonne is among 12 Americans who will be recognized by a series of Medal of Honor stamps to be released on Veterans Day.

The World War II Medal of Honor recipients recognized on a stamp to be released Veterans Day.

(U.S. Postal Service)

Nicholas Oresko, who died Oct. 4, achieved the rank of Master Sergeant in Division C of the Army's 302nd Infantry, 94th Infantry Division.

A dedication ceremony to mark the stamp's first day of issue will be held 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Oresko died after the stamps were printed; two of the other men died before they were printed. He braved heavy enemy fire on January 23, 1945, killing 12 Germans during a pair of one-man attacks in which he twice rushed an enemy bunker with a grenades.
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Veterans frustrated with shutdown

Vets frustrated with the shutdown rally at WWII Memorial
PBS News Hour
BY: CINDY HUANG
October 15, 2013

"We have been assured that budget won't be balanced on backs of veterans, but here we are today," Steve Gonzales, from the American Legion, said to the morning crowd at the memorial.

Dressed in navy sweat pants and sweatshirt and sporting an "Iraqi Freedom Veteran" hat, Bill Garcia used two canes to navigate his wheelchair around the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. He lost the use of legs in the Iraq war and has since been receiving veterans disabilities and vocational rehabilitation. But if the partial government shutdown -- now on Day 15 -- drags on much longer, the federally employed veteran fears his disabilities payments could soon stop along with his salary.

"The uncertainty broods over you, adds to the PTSD, adds to the anxiety," Garcia said. "It's stressful."

Garcia said he lost two friends in the war. And another one of his friends lost an arm in combat.

"We were there when we were called to war," said Garcia. And looking out onto the memorial, he said, "You said you'd take care of us after we do this."
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Military Coalition rallies to end government shutdown

Military Coalition rallies to end government shutdown
Army Times
Rick Maze
October 15, 2013

“After returning from war or disaster, they see that they are again being overlooked, making them feel that they are second-class warriors,” Davis said, noting that while Congress seems prepared to make sure federal civilian workers furloughed during the shutdown receive back pay, there is no plan to make up for the missed training and pay for the Guard and reserve.

With details still elusive on a possible deal to restart the federal government and avoid defaulting on U.S. debts, the 33-member Military Coalition is pressing Congress to resolve the impasse and stop scaring people.

At a news conference and rally held Tuesday at the National World War II Memorial, retired Army Col. Herb Rosenbleeth, national director of Jewish War Veterans and the Coalition’s president, said Congress and the White House are letting down service members and veterans as the partial government shutdown extends into its 15th day, with just three days before the U.S. Treasury won’t have enough money to pay all of its obligations, including military and veterans benefits.

Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff, chief executive officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said it seems as if some politicians have forgotten about veterans. “When the government shut down, our veterans still need support,” he said.
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Veterans protest shutdown at WWII Memorial FOR VETERANS

Military groups protest handling of veterans affairs during shutdown
The Washington Times
By Meredith Somers
October 15, 2013

A coalition of military associations on Tuesday lambasted Congress for its handling of veterans affairs in the wake of the government shutdown and demanded a permanent solution to balancing the federal budget.

Standing along the eastern plaza of the National World War II Memorial, dozens of veterans and military advocates pleaded their case that using veterans as political leverage harms the country.

“We were assured the budget would not be balanced on the backs of veterans, and yet here we are today,” said Steven Gonzalez, assistant director of the American Legion’s economic division.

Tuesday’s protest was different from other recent shutdown-inspired rallies at the war memorial, several of which devolved into confrontational shouting matches and aggressive dismantling of National Park Service-enforced barriers.
read more here

Veterans in Washington used yet again by politicians

They are the biggest reason they are suffering for what these politicians did! So who is using them like pawns in a political game? Showing up to "stand by them" is just another part of the game and when you read the names, you'll know.

UPDATED: "Million" vets are in DC to demand their monuments be opened
Metro News by Susan L Ruth
October 13, 2013

WASINGTON, October 13, 2013 – UPDATED: Thousands of protesters have arrived at the World War II memorial this morning to protest the closure of the memorials during the government shut down.

The protestors have removed the barriers and have entered the monument.

Senators Mike Lee - Utah and Ted Cruz - Texas as well as Sarah Palin were among the crowd that chanted “Tear down these walls” and sang patriotic songs according to local news coverage from WTOP, as the barriers were removed.

About 15 tractor trailer trucks from the Ride for the Constitution protest, which took place two days ago, but mostly turned out to be a non-event, have arrived at the memorial protest to lend their support to the veterans.

The truckers came down 17th street honking their horns while heading toward the Mall. Their forward progress was blocked by police barricades.

Although some people have remained around the World War II memorial, thanking veterans for their service, others have moved the protest to other parts of D.C.
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Where is the country they were willing to die for?

Where is the country they were willing to die for?
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 6, 2013

Flag raisers at Iwo Jima
Mike Strank

Their leader and Sergeant, it was Mike who got the order to climb Mt. Suribachi. Mike picked his “boys” and led them safely to the top. Mike explained to the boys that the larger flag had to be raised so that “every Marine on this cruddy island can see it.” It was Mike who gave the orders to find a pole, attach the flag and “put’er up!” He was killed by a mortar.

Harlon Block took over the unit after Strank was killed. Block was killed hours later.

Franklin Sousley was also killed on Iwo Jima at the age of 19.

Ira Hayes said after being called a hero by President Roosevelt, “How could I feel like a hero when only five men in my platoon of 45 survived, when only 27 men in my company of 250 managed to escape death or injury?”

Rene Gagnon and John Bradley also survived.

These men became a symbol of what this country means to the men and women risking their lives everyday to defend the nation. They do it for the others they are with. They do it for the families back home. This country was worth whatever price they knew they faced paying.

The Pew Research Group pointed out that only a fifth of the members of congress have military experience. They also have a fascinating graphic to show the decline in the number of veterans holding office.

This is very telling especially when you consider the next part their research showed. Veterans are only 7% of the population.

That should tell us something right there. They are only 7% of the population now but 20% of the Congress.

They come from all over the country, from different generations, different political beliefs but every one of them knows what it is like to put their lives on the line for the sake of others. In war, no one asks another how he/she voted in the last election before trying to save them. No one asks what they believe because they believe in one another. They are doing what the congress and the president at the time said needed to be done and that was all they wanted to know.

It was never about supporting a person as Commander-in-Chief but always about what the country needed and what other Americans were heading into.

Now as they see their age advancing, not knowing how many more years they have left to visit the Memorials this nation erected to honor their sacrifices, they find they can only see them from a distance. Really sad when you think that many of these veterans have arranged trips to Washington a long time ago but Congress didn't plan for keeping this nation running even though they have had years to put the country first. Pathetic when you think about it.

So now the press is jumping all over the reports of them showing up at the WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Wall, all closed down, but never seem to understand what those memorials really mean to them. It isn't about stones carved to honor them. It is how they have lived to honor the lives lost in war.

Most veterans are more upset about the fact congress did not manage to put the country first and keep the government running. Sure they care about if they will get their disability checks and be able to have their claims honored but they care about this whole country and political games being played. They are very unhappy with members of congress using them like pawns in this battle of egos.

When will members of congress ever learn they are supposed to be putting this country first so they will really honor the men and women from all generations willing to die to defend her? They care about every part of this country just as other Americans do. They have their own political views, again, just like every other American. Unlike members of congress, the right thing to do for the good of the whole came first. So where is this country they were willing to die for? Will Congress ever really get what they are supposed to do for the sake of the whole country?

UPDATE

Dennis Ross, GOP Rep: 'Pride' Is Why Republicans Won't Budge On Government Shutdown
Huffington Post
Sabrina Siddiqui
October 5, 2013

WASHINGTON -- With the government shutdown in its fifth day, many Republicans have conceded the fight is no longer about Obamacare. Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) added his name to the list on Saturday, saying the matter now boils down to "pride."

“Republicans have to realize how many significant gains we’ve made over the last three years, and we have, not only in cutting spending but in really turning the tide on other things," Ross told The New York Times. "We can’t lose all that when there’s no connection now between the shutdown and the funding of Obamacare."
read more here

I rest my case.

Congressman blames park ranger for closing WWII memorial?

Congressman Castigates Park Ranger For The Memorial Closure He Voted For
Huffington Post
Jason Linkins
October 3, 2013

Day two of Government Shutdown 2013 offered America plenty of surreal moments, from the brief and ridiculous re-emergence of the Grand Bargain, to the sight of multiple members of a universally reviled governing body offering to give up their paychecks as if they thought it was a move worthy of a medal. But nowhere did Salvador Dali's clocks warp and melt under the heat of sustained stupidity as badly as they did down at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Yesterday, it became pretty obvious that if you wanted to catch the eye of any Beltway reporter to discuss what you were enduring during the shutdown, you had to go on down to this memorial to make your case. Unfortunately, that's where many members of Congress decided to while away their day as well.
read more here

Worth A Thousand Words: Midway Remembered

Worth A Thousand Words: Midway Remembered
DOD Live
Posted on June 8, 2013
by bniegel

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Christiansen and Petty Officer and 3rd Class Jerin Raby prepare to throw a memorial wreath into the sea in remembrance of those who fought in the Battle of Midway during a ceremony in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) under way in the North Arabian Sea, June 4, 2013. Christiansen’s grandfather, Arnold Christiansen, is a World War II veteran and Raby’s great uncle, Earl Raby, is a survivor of the Battle of Midway.
(U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Andrew Schneider/Released)

D-day anniversary brings honor to Easy Company

D-day anniversary brings honor to Easy Company
By Michael Muskal
June 6, 2012

To commemorate the 68th anniversary of D-day -- the Allied invasion that paved the way for the end of the World War II in Europe -- a statue honoring Maj. Dick Winters and his fellow front-line leaders was unveiled in France.

The story of Winters and his fellow soldiers of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division was the subject of the 2001 miniseries, "Band of Brothers."

The 12-foot bronze statue was unveiled in the Normandy village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and shows Winters with his weapon at the ready. Winters, a native of Ephrata, Pa., who died last year at age 92, accepted serving as the statue's likeness after monument planners agreed to dedicate it to the memory of all junior U.S. military officers who served that day, the Associated Press reported.
read more here

Anonymous donor funds D.C. visit for 50 Brevard veterans

Anonymous donor funds D.C. visit for 50 Brevard veterans
May. 21, 2012
Written by
R. Norman Moody
FLORIDA TODAY

MELBOURNE — Air Force Lt. Jack Wilson, 25, listened intently as World War II veteran Ralph White shared stories about his service in the Navy.

Young airmen from Patrick Air Force Base joined World War II veterans, most in their 80s and 90s, for Honor Flight, which takes the veterans to visit and reflect at the monuments built in their honor.

“I’ve seen many of the monuments except for some of the memorials,” said White, 93, of Titusville, as he prepared for the start of the trip early Saturday morning.

“I’ve wanted to do this for years,” Wilson said. “I got the email about this and I literally replied in 30 seconds.”

The 25 World War II veterans (including three women), 24 airmen and one soldier made the trip courtesy of an anonymous donor of $40,000, enough to cover the cost of two trips.
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More women WWII veterans take Honor Air Flight

More women WWII veterans take Honor Air Flight

Written by
Jim Matheny

Wednesday marked the eighth flight in the history of HonorAir Knoxville. The volunteer organization flies veterans of World War II to Washington D.C. for a one-day visit to the national memorial that honors their service and sacrifice.

Among the 142 veterans from East Tennessee on Wednesday's flight, five were women veterans of World War II.

"This may not seem like much, but it is a record number of ladies traveling on one of our flights," said Eddie Mannis, chairman of HonorAir Knoxville.
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More women WWII veterans take Honor Air Flight
WBIR-TV

Feds urged to recover Marines killed in WWII battle

Memorial Day is coming again and it seemed like a good time to bring this up. I am still searching for where my husband's uncle is buried. I came across this. There are many of our fallen buried in other countries and we have a feeling my husband's uncle is one of them. I know several were returned and buried at Arlington.

Friday August 17, 2001:
WWII Marines Buried at Arlington

Playing "Onward! Christian Soldiers,'' the Marine Band marched Friday along the twisting paths of Arlington National Cemetery to the open grave sites of 13 World War II Marines whose remains had lain nearly 60 years in a mass grave on a South Pacific battlefield.

The full honors ceremony marked the homecoming of 2nd Raider Battalion Marines killed during a 1942 raid on Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.

The battalion destroyed most of its target, a Japanese seaplane base. But, hurriedly departing under fire from hostile aircraft, they were unable to carry away their dead.

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http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/raiders-1942.htm

It would be a great thing to bring them all home or at least find out where they are.

Feds urged to recover Marines killed in WWII battle
From wire service reports
Posted: 09/15/2009 10:26:27 PM PDT

U.S. Marines hunker down for protection against fierce Japanese fire on the beaches of Tarawa during World War II.
The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday announced a plan to urge the Department of Defense to recover the bodies of hundreds of Marines killed in the World War II battle of Tarawa, left in temporary graves where they fought and died more than 65 years ago.
The unanimous vote to send a letter to Congressional representatives, seeking legislation and funding for a recovery effort, came in tandem with the presentation of an honorary scroll to Leon Cooper.
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky asked the board to bestow the honor and proposed the letter.
Cooper is a veteran of the Tarawa campaign and five other Pacific battles, including Iwo Jima. His documentary, "Return to Tarawa: The Leon Cooper Story," narrated by Ed Harris, calls on the U.S. government to honor the memory of the dead who fought on Red Beach in Tarawa.
"Our government has done nothing since 1943 to recover and repatriate these brave Americans who gave their lives in defense of our freedom," Cooper stated.
During 76 hours of combat, 1,106 Marines were killed and 2,200 wounded. Of those killed, 118 were buried at sea, 88 were listed as missing in action and the remainder were buried in temporary graves.
The Department of Defense acknowledges that 25,000 to 30,000 bodies of men "missing in action" are recoverable, but fewer than 100 are brought home each year, Cooper said.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_13346176

The 4th Marine Division landed on Saipan 15 June 1944. The severity of this battle was indicated by the 2,000 casualties suffered in the first two days of battle. The Flag was raised on Saipan after 25 grueling and bitter days of combat. The Division sustained 5,981 casualties killed, wounded and missing. This represented 27.6 percent of the Division's strength. The Japanese count was 23,811 known dead and 1,810 prisoners were taken.
http://gyrenesgungho.com/history.htm