I am a veteran. This means I have served in the armed forces. I was honorably discharged at the end of my obligated time of service on June 10, 1979. I'm not especially proud of my service, but I did attempt to follow the rules and freely admit at this juncture that I should have been more 'gung ho'.
I know a lot of other veterans. Some of my best friends were shipmates during my hitch with the Navy. I am sorry to say that many of these have been lost to their passing.
Most recently were my best friend, Jerry Landry of Barnstable Massachusetts who had found his reason for being in the form of a high school teacher.
My very good friend, Clark Orwick — who was originally from Atlanta — but traveled extensively with 'Ded Bob' (he was the character's bearer, Smuj). He passed in Michigan in the midst of some Renaissance fair excursion which too had become his life and calling with which he was very happy.
It began as Armistice Day and is a federal holiday in the United States observed each year on November 11 honoring our military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. It now coincides with other holidays, including the aforementioned Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. These are commemorated in other countries, marking the anniversary of the end of World War I.
Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major US veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Veterans deserve our appreciation and respect for their sacrifices while protecting and serving our country.