NOVEMBER 11th

If I close my eyes, a vision of my grandparent's home comes to mind with all the poppies growing out front along the fence. While contemplating, memories of my dad donating money in exchange for the paper poppies fill my mind. Even today, the exchange of a donation for poppies goes on across the country. The contributions assist disabled and hospitalized veterans.

Today is the 11th of November. It's a day set aside to honor all men and women who have served in the arm forces. It's Veterans Day 2022, marking my seventy-fourth. In the past, Veterans Day has been observed with parades, picnics, and patriotic displays.

As a matter of fact, people sometimes get Memorial Day and Veterans Day confused. There is a difference. While Memorial Day honors the men and women who died in battle or from wounds from battles fighting for our country, Veterans Day honors all men and women who have served in all branches of the military.

Originally, November 11th was Armistice Day. On that day in 1918, the armistice was the very first step in bringing World War I to a close. After World War II, a veteran in Birmingham, Alabama organized the very first National Veterans Day celebration with parades and festivities to honor all veterans. Seven years later, by public law, November 11, 1954, became the day to honor all veterans from all wars. From that day forward, Armistice Day was known as Veterans Day.

Up until 1966, all of my observances of Veterans Day were held in Central Pennsylvania. By February 1966, living in Arlington, Virginia off Columbia Pike. with too quick a courtship, was married at the District Court in Washington D.C in July of that year.

Sadly, we weren't able to celebrate Veterans Day in the Washington D.C. area. Can imagine it would have been a spectacular celebration and memory. However, in November 1966 and a few more years, we were on the island of Oahu which is one of the Hawaiian islands.

By 1970, we were in Panama City Florida, and from 1973 to 1975 we were in Columbus, Mississippi. In 1976, we found ourselves in Alaska at Eielson AFB to be exact.

Because people like to have a three-day holiday, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1968. While it passed in 1968, it began in 1971. Instead of celebrating on the 11th of November. the holiday was changed to the last Monday in October. Admittedly, never liked the change, but by 1978 Veterans Day was turned back to November 11.

Do you remember where you were on Veterans Day, November 11, 1978? Understandably, you might not have been born yet. For me, the day will never be forgotten.

Why? Because forty-four years ago, we traveled from Eielson AFB down to Haines, Alaska. At Haines, we made connections with the ferry and traveled the Alaskan Marine Highway. After visiting relatives in Washington state, California, and a fun trip to Disneyland, we traveled to Texas. We were en route to Laughlin AFB which is located East of Del Rio, Texas on Hwy 90.

Following an exhaustive trip, we were nearing our destination. Traveling from one Air Force base to another, was quite an adventure. Recalling the blue sky and the sun shining, it was Saturday, the 11th of November 1978.

Immediately, things did not feel normal. As we drove on base, there wasn't a person or car in sight. This was most definitely abnormal for a military base. The base appeared to be totally abanded. A ghost town! But why? Naturally, scary thoughts and frightening scenarios entered my mind. Had they evacuated because a bomb was about to be dropped? Had we reached the outer limits of the Twilight Zone?

After driving around the base for twenty or thirty minutes, we headed back to Del Rio. Located a motel for the night and the desk clerk reminded us that it was Veterans Day.