In September, a reader of this newspaper shared her concern that today’s students do not understand the significance of September 11 for her son had been wished “Happy 9-11.” She considered such a wish to be inappropriate and said the schools were failing to teach the students about the significance of that day.
Those of us who lived through 9-11 and the days that followed will never forget the fear and emotion of that day and the ones that followed.
As I thought about that conversation, I recalled other important days in our nation’s history and my reaction to them. As a high school student I remember serving as an on-the-air radio station personality the day following President Kennedy’s assassination.
In my early years working for this newspaper, I covered an “Armistice Day” observance in Superior’s City Park. I know the day was by then officially called Veterans Day but for the majority of the people gathered in the park I suspect it was still Armistice Day for they were World War I veterans and their close relatives. It was a cold and snowy day and I wondered why those “Old Folks” would get out on a day like that.
Now that I have reached their age or older, I have more appreciation for why they were there. Nov. 11 was an important day for them.
For me Aug. 4, 1964, is an important date. For that day I was in the Kansas City Induction Center taking a selective service physical. I was in room with many other young men when the word came that the North Vietnamese had fired on U.S. War Ships in the Bay of Tonkin and President Johnson had gone to Congress requesting permission to respond. In the months and years to follow, several of my friends would make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. One of those was a college roommate who, when he failed to gain admission to veterinary school considered his life was over for he knew he was going to war. He quit attending class and spent his “final college days” playing cards. He was drafted and I suspect gave his life for I have not heard from Marvin since we said our goodbyes in the spring of 1967.
Today, Dec. 7, marks the 82nd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
My parents were married in March of that year and were building a small house on Blauvelt’s Hill in anticipation of a highway relocation and the movement of their gasoline station onto the hill.
Instead of moving into their new house, they were to spend three years in government service. My father served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and my mother held civil service jobs with the Air Corps. My grandparents got to live in the new house and complete other improvements on the hill.
I remember my parents talking about V-E Day and V-J Day. I suspect few of our readers know the dates for either of those but they were important dates to my parents for they signaled the wind down of the war and renewed hope they could build a life along the Kansas-Nebraska state line and have an opportunity to raise a family. (By the way V-E which marked Victory in Europe was May 8, 1945 and V-J Day which marked victory in Japan was Aug. 14, 1945.)
While it is not documented as such, V-J day may be as important to me as my birthday for I was born about 9 months later.
Grandfather Blauvelt’s draft registration card which I keep under the glass which covers the old roll-top in my home office is a constant reminder of the sacrifices made to preserve our nation’s freedom. Two of my great-grandfathers served in the Civil War. I keep on my bedroom chest a small display case given to me by Grandfather Blauvelt. Among the family keepsakes are medals Great-Grandfather Blauvelt earned while serving in the Union Army.
And so as we go about our lives today, Dec. 7, 2023, let us not forget those who have served this country in past years. And may we renew our commitment to do that which is right in the years to come.
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