We had our annual Veteran's Day celebration aboard the Iowa on Saturday, and it was great.
Food, live music, displays of military vehicles, and Vets all over the place.
The Army even brought in one of their new helicopters, and set her down on the fantail about 1000.
Sorry for the crappy picture, but all I had with me was my phone, and between operating the radio and helping a few other crew members, I just didn't have time to get close to it.
It's a Eurocopter from Ft. Irwin, and the paint scheme is generic "bad guy".
Anyway....a splendid time was had by all, and we were honored with numerous veterans who had served during WWII, a couple who had served on the Iowa.
Truly the Greatest Generation......
Glad y'all had a chance to do that!
ReplyDeleteHad another event today, but not as large as the one on Saturday.
DeleteHad the usual local politicos talking about what a disgrace it is to treat our Vets the way we do, along with a beautiful rendition of the national Anthem, and invocation by one of the staff who is a retired US Navy Chaplain, which I never knew.
And a Marine color guard to hoist the colors, and a bugler who played the most perfect rendition of "Taps" I've ever heard.
In a way it was almost nicer than the big event on Saturday because it was mostly crew and their families that attended, and it just felt more like a "family" event.
The Board of trustees for the ship has a new member, a retired "two star" Admiral who grew up in the L.A. area, and has now retired here after 37 years in the Navy.
I'd like to be there for one of those celebrations, some day. My first trip to Pearl Harbor was during the week before Veterans Day a few years back, and just meeting some of those gentlemen was humbling.
ReplyDeleteThey're wonderful old guys, with wit and wisdom, and now that so many years have passed, they find it easier to talk about what they went through.
DeleteMy town has a veterans day parade every year, with the American Legion, the Marine Corps League, the VFW et al participating. Sometimes there is an honor guard from the Army base in a neighboring county. I missed it this year but it's one of the very few times I will go into town when something is going on like that.
ReplyDeleteI was a very nice celebration.
DeleteI had the honor of pushing the wheelchair for a 98 year old WWII vet. He was quite a guy!