Veterans Day

[ardilla secreta]

from 1943

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[Kismet]

Check out the Anthem Veterans Memorial in AZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthem_Veterans_Memorial

"The memorial's five white pillars represent the nation's military branches and are arranged in Department of Defense order of precedence: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Each pillar has an elliptical opening that slants downward toward The Great Seal of the United States. On Veterans Day – November 11 – the design allows the sun's rays to spotlight the Great Seal at 11:11 am Mountain Standard Time. The design goal was 11:11:11 am, but the variations each year cause the precise alignment over the next 100 years to be between 11:10:58 and 11:11:22.

Due to the leap years discrepancy between the official and astronomical calendar the effect can be observed at least one day before or after Veterans Day as well.

The award-winning monument is surrounded by 2200 red paving stones engraved with the names of veterans. The red stones, the white pillars and the blue Arizona sky represent the colors in the flag of the United States.

Renee Palmer-Jones created the design for the memorial. The engineer for the memorial was James Martin."



Thanks to all veterans especially my dad who enlisted in the US Navy in 1944 at age 17 and served in the Pacific and was aboard his ship in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered on the deck of the USS Missouri anchored nearby on September 2, 1945. Still have the Yen notes and the Japanese naval binoculars he brought home from that voyage plus a few photos he took (he was the Captain's yeoman and ship photographer) that day.

Just discovered that Norman Lear (creator of Archie Bunker and who recently turned 100) flew 52 missions in a B-17 and dropped bombs 35 times on the Nazis in World War II.

[DMac]

Wow, very cool memorial, lot going on there.

[njbill]

Standing on the deck of the Missouri (in 2009) is one of the great memories of my life. Closed my eyes and tried to transport myself back in time.

[cradleandshoot]

Standing on the deck of the Missouri (in 2009) is one of the great memories of my life. Closed my eyes and tried to transport myself back in time.

Your a lucky duck. There is so much history associated with the big Mo. My bucket list includes a visit to The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. We tried to get my dad to take the free trip to DC for honor flight to see the WW2 memorial. Some memories were just too painful for him to relive. My mom always said my dad was never the same person when he came home. My dad was a good and decent man and I love him and miss him every day. What he gave to his country is a debt that can never be repaid.

[njbill]

I visited the Arizona memorial the same day. That, too, is a lasting memory. To see the oil still bubbling up all these decades later is an incredible sight. The men on that ship were so young. Just kids.

If you possibly can, I would definitely recommend a visit. As much as it meant to me, I suspect it would mean multiples more to you.

[6x6]

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[a fan]

My grandfather, career military. Served in Philippines. Used GI Bill to get a MS in Mech Eng from Maryland.

All his kids would go to school as a result of this great program. WIsh he could have seen all that his family has built.

[DMac]

My grandfather, career military. Served in Philippines. Used GI Bill to get a MS in Mech Eng from Maryland.

All his kids would go to school as a result of this great program. WIsh he could have seen all that his family has built.

My first thought was your grandfather looked like Mikey Mantle.
Doesn't matter, just curious, what branch?
Grampa would be real proud of what his family has built.
Grampa has also rolled over in his grave once or twice when
the career military man saw a couple of the questions his
grandson has asked about the goings on on military bases.

[njbill]

Biden grants veterans and Gold Star families free lifetime passes to national parks.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... ilies.html

Uh,oh, cradle. You may have to start liking Biden.

[PizzaSnake]

Biden grants veterans and Gold Star families free lifetime passes to national parks.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... ilies.html

Uh,oh, cradle. You may have to start liking Biden.

Better get ‘em quick before they’re ruled unconstitutional…

[cradleandshoot]

Biden grants veterans and Gold Star families free lifetime passes to national parks.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... ilies.html

Uh,oh, cradle. You may have to start liking Biden.

I'm all good, I still have my 10% veterans discount at Home Depot.

[ardilla secreta]

Less talk, more action.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-good-c ... 00-10abd1h

[DMac]

Less talk, more action.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-good-c ... 00-10abd1h

This is very cool, a s, doesn't really require a whole lot of effort or materials yet yields pretty darn big results.
This is a good guy, sincere in his efforts, looking for nothing other than doing a good deed out of appreciation
and respect. Motivates me to want to do this this Spring, gotta be a satisfying pastime. My brother's would be
a good starting point, a site I haven't visited for 40+ years as it does nothing but pizz me off when I see it (died
at 25...was just so wrong). Was a veteran too (not a KIA) and I'm sure his tombstone could use a little tidying up.
Thanks for posting, and I know you've done this too. Hats off to ya, brotha.

[ardilla secreta]

Less talk, more action.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-good-c ... 00-10abd1h

This is very cool, a s, doesn't really require a whole lot of effort or materials yet yields pretty darn big results.
This is a good guy, sincere in his efforts, looking for nothing other than doing a good deed out of appreciation
and respect. Motivates me to want to do this this Spring, gotta be a satisfying pastime. My brother's would be
a good starting point, a site I haven't visited for 40+ years as it does nothing but pizz me off when I see it (died
at 25...was just so wrong). Was a veteran too (not a KIA) and I'm sure his tombstone could use a little tidying up.
Thanks for posting, and I know you've done this too. Hats off to ya, brotha.

Since I like to take walks through a couple cemeteries, which I find to be serene and full of history, it just seemed a natural progression to tend to few veteran markers. The neglect bothered me. Next spring I’ll have to step it up with some soap and a scrub brush.

[ardilla secreta]

Do this, then lose an arm, receive a Congressional Medal of Honor, then get labeled the Second Bravest Soldier in World War I.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Frank J. Gaffney (ASN: 1214882), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1918, while serving with Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division, in action at Ronssoy, France. Private First Class Gaffney, an automatic rifleman, pushing forward alone, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machinegun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts, and, after killing four more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcements came up, when 80 prisoners were captured.

….then get this.

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For the last two years I’ve been tidying up his marker. It’s astonishing inappropriate considering his accomplishments and I just don’t understand how he never got a proper marker then or in subsequent years. Talk about forgotten.

[DMac]

Wow, just incredible!!! Once again, hats off to you...thanks.
Looking about as good as it can at this point?

[youthathletics]

Do this, then lose an arm, receive a Congressional Medal of Honor, then get labeled the Second Bravest Soldier in World War I.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Frank J. Gaffney (ASN: 1214882), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1918, while serving with Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division, in action at Ronssoy, France. Private First Class Gaffney, an automatic rifleman, pushing forward alone, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machinegun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts, and, after killing four more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcements came up, when 80 prisoners were captured.

….then get this.
CE071DB5-B47F-448E-A5D3-1512657FEBB2.jpeg

For the last two years I’ve been tidying up his marker. It’s astonishing inappropriate considering his accomplishments and I just don’t understand how he never got a proper marker then or in subsequent years. Talk about forgotten.

+1

[a fan]

My grandfather, career military. Served in Philippines. Used GI Bill to get a MS in Mech Eng from Maryland.

All his kids would go to school as a result of this great program. WIsh he could have seen all that his family has built.

My first thought was your grandfather looked like Mikey Mantle.
Doesn't matter, just curious, what branch?
Grampa would be real proud of what his family has built.
Grampa has also rolled over in his grave once or twice when
the career military man saw a couple of the questions his
grandson has asked about the goings on on military bases.

Again, in my (lame)defense, he passed before I could ask him questions about his service. I sure do miss him!