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| Mel Hanson's idea of a portrait. |
(Ed Note: This is our new columnist, a Garden City home-grown man of many talents. Now more than ever we need to think of what our veterans sacrificed to keep the world free and Mel has captured this so beautifully.)
On the 11th hour.. of the 11th day...in the 11th month of 1918...Germany signs an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car in the forest of Compiègne, France. The war officially ends on the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28th June, 1919.
The picture of the thousands of shell casings on the ground
are from one of the last battles that was fought that very morning...before
11:00 am. Even though both sides knew days in advance of the exact time of the
armistice...both sides sent thousands to their deaths for nothing.
Within minutes after 11:00 am....men from both sides meet
each other in...no man’s land...where
slaps on backs, hugs, dancing and souvenirs were exchanged.
It was....The War To End All Wars!...they claimed.
Just a very short 22 years later in June of 1940...Adolph
Hitler, after rolling over France with his tanks, planes and men in a few weeks
in WWII...demands that the French surrender take place at the same spot...in
the same railroad car...he sitting in the same chair that the French General
had sat in when the Germans had signed the Armistice ending WWI.
The world has never really seen global peace since!....most
likely never will...until Christ returns.
So we try for peace...by preparing for war. Just a fact of
life of the world we live in. So until Christ returns and puts a end to
it...we're going to continue to have conflicts and wars!... and with this
comes....Veterans! Brave men and women who volunteer today...to put their lives
on the line...leave their families behind for as long as it takes...to protect
our freedoms here at home... and try and protect and provide freedom abroad for
those not capable yet of providing it for themselves. Sadly...thousands lose
their lives, are wounded either physically, mentally and spiritually....along
with their families who suffer the same way.
So we strive to honor, support, respect them in many
ways...such as with the beautiful monument in my little rural town of Garden
City, that the Calder Family built in tribute to their Father and all the other
men...and women...I hope you can see Blanch Hodges's name, she served as a
nurse, (my Dad's first boyhood crush and girl he held hands with) who lived in
town..who served during WWII, by placing their names on plates. It's a
beautiful place! I think it's the greatest thing in our town. Many of the names
engraved have I remember and have lasting memories of. There are many others in
town who have fought..or served, in Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf etc. Such as
two of my greatest friends I grew up with...Dave Huefner (stood up for me when
I was married) and Jeff Hilsman...one of the gentlest guys I know!Thanks!!you two. I will forever love ya!
Just for today at least...hopefully every day...let's put
our pettiness, political views and parties aside...extend a hand..offer a
sincere word of thanks..a hug or kind act...to our Veterans! We'll never ever
be able to repay them! They don't ask for much... if anything at all...but I
know they'll take a....Thank you!, and God bless you for your service to our
Country!
It's up to....We The People..to do all within our power to
be worthy of their service and sacrifices. Maybe we could all start by being a
bit more humble in victory...and a bit more gracious in defeat???
1 comment:
Didn't know Aunt Blanche was John's first girlfriend!! I too think this memorial is the most beautiful place in Garden City!
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