Remembering our service men and women

 

Last updated 11/5/2014 at 4:32pm



As Veterans’ Day approaches, I begin reminiscing.

When I was about eight or nine years old, my father introduced me to Sgt. Wilburn Ross at Fort Lewis. All the non-coms and officers looked up to Sgt. Ross in total awe and reverence. We were in the presence of greatness. I thought then, and do so now think, that this man, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, walked on water! Years later I would understand what he did as Private Ross on October 30, 1944, near St. Jacques, France. Single-handedly, he killed or wounded at least 58 German soldiers and saved the remnants of his company, Company G, 350th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division. All I knew as a young boy was that Sgt. Ross was a hero. His office was the Holy of Holies that day for me.

I also remember my Canadian grandfather, who served his country near Verdun in World War I. Later he would volunteer to be a recruitment sergeant for the Canadian Army while his youngest daughter (who would be my mother) would serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. My father served this country in the United State Army for over 28 years, spanning World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War era. He was among those few who also became military test subjects for the atomic blasts in Nevada during the mid-1950s. Numerous uncles and cousins, American and Canadian, male and female, would serve in World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan.

Now, I add to that list of remembrances those students I taught at Odessa High who served, are serving or will be serving in this country’s military forces: Scott Knerr, Keegan King, Phillip McClanahan, Ben Volkmann, David Nixon, Joshua Frederick, Scott Bacon, Sean Bacon, Troy Ferderer, Eriza Puz, Chris Hansen, Shane Gilbert, Tony and Danny Quilici, Josh Cook, Luke Rosman, Wes Witt, Megan Selbach-Allen, Drake Costlow, Raye (Galloway) Scrupps, Chris Scrupps, Ryan Scrupps, Ryan Greenwalt and Alexa Boss. I am very privileged to have known all these fine men and women.

November 11 is a day for thanking our veterans, to be sure. It is also a day to remember what keeps this country great – those serving today to keep America a strong democracy, resting its powers in the people of this land. America’s democracy is still the model for other nations. And we must give thanks and due honor to all our military, past and present, for their duty to country.

Our country is noted for its greatness, generosity, and open hearts. People from other countries come here as to no other country in the world. Many serve in our military to ensure for us and for them “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Pericles, the ancient Athenian statesman and general (circa 495-429 BC), noted that “Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.” The courage of people like Sgt. Wilburn Ross and others before and since his service have kept this nation great for over two centuries.

Let us this day honor our veterans, living and dead.

Let us this day, and every day, thank our active military for so nobly protecting this country.

Let us remind ourselves every day that we enjoy our freedoms in this great country because of our courageous military men and women.

As a nation, we have much to thank our military for. Let us do so with reverence and honor.

 

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