Senior Moments

Senior Moments

By Charles P. Eberson
A Senior’s Observations, Opinions and Rantings
November 11th is Veterans Day. I hold this holiday in high regard since my father served in WWII. Since his passing, I have attended some of his Air Force reunions in his stead and have a profound respect for those who have served and are serving now. He was laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery in Estell Manor and I make sure I pay my respects at that site at least every Memorial Day and Veterans Day. But last year, a confluence of events placed my wife and I at a friend’s house in northern Virginia during Veterans weekend. With me unable to observe the holiday in Estell Manor, I suggested we go into Washington and observe the holiday there. I guarantee if you have a shred of patriotism, it will be an experience you won’t soon forget. The monuments were awash with veterans from WWII, the Korean Conflict (War), the Vietnam War and veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most were wearing their uniforms, sporting their colors, displaying their military patches and insignias. At different times, you would hear the national anthem being played and I seriously doubt that anybody was taking a knee. The WWII monument is impressive for its sheer size, beauty and the manner in which it commemorates the veterans of that era. The Marine Corps Iwo Jima monument of the flag pole being planted on the top of Mount Suribachi is a must see as well. The Korean Conflict monument is smaller but depicts a squad of life size soldiers on patrol. Although not as grand a monument as you may find elsewhere in Washington, its lack of size does not take away from impact one feels when standing near it. Then there is the Vietnam Memorial. I guess because this was the war of my generation, I feel a connection to it and am familiar with some of the names on the wall. On this day, there was a solemn ceremony with notable and distinguished speakers. At the end of the ceremony, a bag piper played Amazing Grace which was followed by a trumpeter playing Taps. A visit to these monuments is not complete without a trip to Arlington National Cemetery where rows upon rows of precisely laid out headstones is a testimony to those who have gallantly served our country. These are monuments that people from all over the world come to visit. At some point, I believe that we should all make the trip to Washington on Veterans Day weekend.

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