On Veterans Day

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A Few Words

Today was Veteran's Day in the United States, where we remember and honor the dead and especially those still living who have fought to keep our nation and many other countries free around the world.

I can't say I've always agreed with the reasons or the policies that put those of the armed forces in harms way, but I find it hard to fault the the service men and women for their desires to fight against tyranny.

Both of my grandfathers spent time in the navy during World War II. If they ever talked about it, I was not present when they told the stories. Some seem to find peace in discussing what they experienced, and others prefer to forget.

Some Facts and Figures

According to a fact sheet from the US Department of Veterans Affairs website, the breakdown of American veterans still living from World War II on (as of 2017) are as follows:

  • World War II—1,711,000

  • Korean War—2,275,000

  • Vietnam War—7,391,000

  • Desert Shield/Storm (First Gulf War)—2,244,583

After that, wars from 2001 fall under the general heading of the Global War on Terror and a number for the rest of the American veterans was not provided. However, according to history.com, there were roughly 18.2 million living as of 2018.

Also from history.com:

  • Veterans Day in the US began as Armistice Day, which took place on November 11, 1918, signaling the official end of World War I. The commemoration first occurred on November 11, 1919.

  • Thirty-five years later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a former general and supreme commander of allied forces during World War II, changed the observance of Armistice Day in the US to Veterans Day, in order to honor all veterans.

  • In addition to the United States, Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also honor veterans of World War I and II around November 11. In Britain and Canada, it is known as Remembrance Day. Throughout Europe and the Commonwealth countries, two minutes of silence is commonly observed at 11 AM on November 11.

Some Photos

I've had the opportunity to visit different war and veteran memorials in Hawaii, Washington DC, and more locally here in Oregon. What follows are some photos I've taken of those places and some thoughts about them.

Washington DC

World War I

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The top inscription reads: "The Second Division." The bottom says, "To Our Dead, 1917-1919." The flaming sword is made out of bronze, the base, Stony Creek Granite. Originally the memorial honored the dead of the Second Division who helped keep the Germans from invading France in World War I. The wings to either side were later added to commemorate those of the Second Division who fought in World War II and the Korean War.

Our youngest son was getting married in Washington DC, and the night before, we had a couple hours before it got dark to visit the Capitol Mall. We tried to see as much as we could before time ran out completely.

For all the political fighting, vitriol and questionable behavior that takes place within the US government, the memorials have a totally different feel to them. There is a sense of honor, sacrifice and determination that I wish I could say permeated all of Washington DC. I hope to get back here some day with more time.

World War II

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Top: The base of one of the flagpoles at the Washington DC World War II Memorial. The full quote reads: "Americans came to liberate, not to conquer, to restore freedom and to end tyranny." Above left: A part of the World War II Memorial remembering those who fought in the Pacific Theater. Above right: Yours truly in front of the fountain at the World War II Memorial in Washington DC.

Oahu, Hawaii

Pearl Harbor

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Top: Side view of the USS Arizona Memorial from the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. Above: The gang plank leading to the entrance of the memorial. Members of the US Navy escort tourists via boat, as the memorial sits in the water above where the USS Arizona went down.

My wife and I have been to the USS Arizona Memorial twice. Of the different memorials I've visited, it is the one that moves me the most. I don't think I have the words to adequately describe the emotions I've felt there, but among them would be the odd combination of serenity and loss. I encourage anyone who finds their way to Oahu to visit this memorial. I think it puts the conflicts of men in proper perspective.

The two times we went, there was a large percentage of Japanese visitors, too. All I saw was quiet observance by everyone who attended. I very much appreciated that.

Below: The list of names of those who perished when the USS Arizona sank in Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Bottom: This is an amazing thing to me, that survivors would also want to be interred here. There weren't very many that survived that day, but most were on the Arizona. Below are the latest shipmates to be interred there as of April, 2016.

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Canby, Oregon

Vietnam Era Veterans Memorial

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Top: A great quote from a man I greatly admire, President Calvin Coolidge. Middle: The Medevac "Huey" helicopter, a welcome sight, I imagine, to any wounded soldier during the Vietnam War. Above: "A Hero's Prayer", a bronze statue that represents actual Oregon men who served in Vietnam, along with a Vietnamese child. The soldiers are PFC Gary W. Martini, USMC, who received the Oregon Medal of Honor. He was killed in action in Vietnam. He is carrying US Army Spec-4 Warren E. Newton, a soldier from Canby who is still listed as missing in action in Vietnam.

I stumbled upon this memorial while working. Again, it was getting dark, and since I was still on the clock, I didn't get a chance to stay very long.

The helicopter is exactly how I would picture it either landing or taking off, and while I'm not one hundred percent sure, the gun, canteen and boots the soldiers are wearing all seemed to be real, covered in bronze.

Realizing I was that close to what could have once been a real weapon and war gear had an effect on me I didn't expect. Once more, I'm not sure how to describe what I felt in that moment, other than the essence of war became very real for me. I can only try to imagine what these men and the Vietnamese, especially the children, experienced.

This memorial does not only seek to honor the US Vietnam veterans, but also the Vietnamese culture. There is a buddhist bell inscribed in Vietnamese that reads: Believe in Peace.

Thank You

I am not at all an advocate of war, but I do believe that there are times where it has been justified, just not as many as have happened. As I said above, however, that doesn't mean that those who put themselves into harms way on behalf of their respective countries in defense of freedom should be vilified. While I would rather they not be sent out on every mission into every conflict, I value and respect their sacrifice to serve. And I am grateful for the freedoms that they have fought so valiantly to preserve.

All images courtesy of Glen Anthony Albrethsen. Pictures taken with the iPhone 6s Plus.



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11 comments
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(Edited)

@tipu curate Excellent post! @glenalbrethsen
Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country. We salute you! 🇺🇸🕇🇺🇸
#VeteransDay #honor #respect

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Wonderful photos of the memorials and all the information you have given us about veterans.
@tipU curate

Posted using Partiko Android

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Hey, @blueeyes8960.

Well, thank you. For the kind words and the tip. :)

I'm not sure what I intended to do with this at the beginning, but as I got further along I remembered I had all these photos and more that I haven't used, so why not? :)

There's a local Korean War memorial I've been to also that had a list of Oregonians who fought but apparently that was longer ago than I thought, since I couldn't find them in the cloud. :)

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I had to think about my friend @wolfhart

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Hey, @brittandjosie.

Very true. I like to think of him in a better place, free of pain and suffering, and even though he is separated from his family and loved ones, in a much happier state. :)

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