The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Donna J. Grisham, Quill Staff
An American soldier of WWI was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River.
At 11:00 a.m. on November 11. a color guard representing all military services present arms at the tomb.
The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of presidential wreaths and the bugler then played Taps.
Other ceremonies occurred early in France and England.
An unknown soldier was buried in the nation's highest place of honor. All these memorials took place on November 11, celebrating the end of World War I fighting at 11:00 a.m., November 11, 1918 - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was known as Armistice Day.
In 1926 through a Congressional resolution, Armistice Day received its name in America. If the idealistic hope had been realized, World War I was "the war to end all wars", November 11 still would be called Armistice day. After the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four-hundred seven-thousand of them died in service and more than 292,000 in battle.
Representative Edwin K Rees of Kansas proposed to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day to pay tribute to those who had served in the latest, great war. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 Veterans Day.
In 1958, two unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean conflict. A law in 1973 passed, providing interment of a Vietnam War unknown soldier, but none was found for several years. An unknown soldier from that conflict was placed alongside the others in 1984. To honor all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard keeps all day and night vigil (Information gathered from internet, Celebrating America's Freedoms).
I visited this past week with several veterans. Here's something you might like to read about. Winston Thompson served as a machine gunner in WWII. He was wounded in Germany and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart with two clusters, Good Conduct medal, European Theater Campaign Ribbon, Victory medal, Army Occupation Medal with three stars, Combat Infantry badge, French four-Ragerre and Distinguished Emblem. Winston had five brothers, all served their country and one was a POW.
Ernie Brown was married and had two children, he received a Christmas greeting from the government informing him he had been drafted. Ernie went to sleep one night in a house surrounded by American guards.
The next morning, all of the guards had been captured. Mr. Brown was awarded the Purple Heart. He and four other soldiers in a group, were fired at by a German soldier, wounding them.
Bill Berlett served his country during the Korean conflict and was awarded the Silver Star. Bill was stationed where there was nothing but hills. They took sixty men into battle and came back with ten. Bill said the war just continued on. Asked what it was like, Bill said, "It was Hell."
John Lee was stationed in Phu-Tai during the Vietnam war. His job was to protect the ammunition dump (area where shells, ammunition and dynamite were stored).
They patrolled the perimeter of the ammunition dump in two hour shifts. When John's shift ended, they crossed the street to the military police compound to get coffee. The Vietnamese bombed the "Dump" while twelve soldiers ran for cover under a large tank. Eleven came out and the twelfth was never found.
Mike Van Fleet's base camp, Camp Eagle II, was located in Northern Saudi Arabia, near the town of Dahran. The desert environment could be rather hostile with a heat index sometimes at 140Ñ150 degrees.
Mike's job while serving in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm was to intercept retreating forces before they could reach Baghdad. They assisted engineers in blowing up a road connecting Basra, in the South to Baghdad, in the north.
Mike stated after the cease fire was signed, a couple of weeks later, they were loaded onto a 747 and headed home. It was one of the greatest feelings of his life, possibly only surpassed by the feeling from seeing all the people of LaHarpe lining the streets and all the school kids standing in the school yard the day he got home. This is a day that I will always remember, even to the smallest of details.
I wish I were able to ask every veteran about their story, unfortunately I can't. Regardless of where they served, how long they were in, whether they received a medal or not, we are very proud of every veteran who served their country during peace or war time. If not for them, we would not be a free country.
Commander Dan Gillett, Harry Fark and Hank Snyder honored veterans at La Harpe Care Center on Monday. Duane Furrow was a turret gunner in the Air Force.
Front: Residents Dale Dunn, Bernard Thompson, Bill Cox, Reginald Hardy, Eldon
Hughes, and Leroy Thibault.
Back: Dan Gillett, Hank Snyder, and Harry Fark.
Dale Dunn was a gunner's mate trained on all the big guns, while serving in the Navy.
Bernard Thompson was in the Army Infantry and was a POW for two years in Germany.
Bill Cox was in the Army Military Police. He was an honor guard to escort the war dead through New York City.
Reginald Hardy served in the Army Medical Corps and administered medical care to the wounded on the battlefield.
Eldon Hughes drove a semi-tanker in the Army and delivered fuel to other bases.
Leroy Thibault served in the Army as Chief of Audit. He served in the same unit as Gen. Mac Arthur.
Commander Gillett presenting certificates to the veterans.
L to R: Bernard Thompson and Bill Cox.