Remembering Veterans' Day--a bit melodramatic but with good intent

In most of Europe, this is Remembrance or Armistice Day, and recognises the signing of the armistice that ended the Great War (World War I)--and with the subsequent Treaty of Versailles, eventually led to World War II. It is the reason you often see poppies (a symbol of the sacrifice of soldiers, as illustrated by the famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'. Because America already had Memorial Day (or Decoration Day, as it's often called in the South), which had its roots in the Civil War, this day instead is one of remembrance of all veterans, living or dead.

So...let me take a moment to remember the veterans who have served in our armed forces, and particularly, the ones in my family...

Allan J. Broadbent * Allan M. Broadbent * Richard Cobb * Robert Cobb * Samuel Cobb * Tyrus Cobb * Vergil Cobb * Edgar Craig * Joe Craig * Oscar Craig * Roy Craig * Levi Doty Jr * Cantrill Duncan * Catlett Duncan * Joseph Duncan Sr * Squire Duncan * Stephen Karnes * Terry Karnes * Curtis Mefford * Leonard Mefford * Lindsay Mefford * Orville Mefford * Billy O'Banion * PT O'Banion * Woodrow O'Banion * John Montgomery * Frances Duncan Broadbent Vanarsdall

I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones I know of, spanning as far back as the Revolution to just a few years ago. I don't know anyone in the family currently serving, but if so I hope they're reunited safely with their loved ones soon--a wish I hope for all out there. So many times we take our military for granted. Even though I'm not big on the destructive power of the military--that should be obvious from reading my writings, I've always supported the military personnel themselves and their families--having been raised in the Air Force myself and a child of the Vietnam era. Don't take them for granted...our free society does rely on often very young men and women who have agreed--or in the past, drafted--into many hardships, for very little pay, recognition, etc. Those of you who are younger may find it hard to understand what sort of 'homecoming' the veterans from Vietnam received. And although the men and women who served in WWII were welcomed with open arms (well, mostly the men), they're just now getting a national memorial, when so few are still left to see it.

So keep in mind when you're going out to Veterans' Day sales or if you're fortunate to be off what the holiday really means.