How Do We Appreciate Our Military?

Wayne Baseball Big Screen

Wayne Baseball Big Screen

Wayne Ship Flags

Wayne Ship Flags
The month of May contains at least four significant celebrations each year. They are VE Day; Mother’s Day; Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. On May 8th, we celebrate VE Day, the day marking the Allied victory in Europe in 1945, remembering and honoring those who served and sacrificed during WWII. Of course, where would any of us be without our Mothers, so we salute and thank them for their sacrifices on the second Sunday of May each year. Then comes Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday of May, when we pay tribute to all the men and women serving in our United States Armed Forces. Lastly, on Memorial Day, the last Monday of May, we pause to honor and remember those who have died while serving in the U.S. military, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

All of us may choose to pay tribute or participate in each of the above special days in various methods or ways. Some may place flowers or flags on the markers of their loved ones; others may attend local parades in their hometowns, and some may just join with friends and family for a picnic celebrating the beginning of Spring time. Hopefully, all will be thinking of and thanking those who have served and are still serving to protect our freedoms.

For me, the month of May has brought mixed emotions. Thoughts of my mother who is in Heaven made my eyes tear a bit on Mother’s Day, but my work with Wreaths Across America made me proud to take part in honoring those who have and are serving in the military throughout the rest of the month. This was especially true leading up to Armed Forces Day as I was honored to take part in the 2018 Vietnam Commemoration, USS Constitution Underway Demonstration, in Boston Harbor, on May 18th. This was an opportunity and celebration to honor hundreds of my fellow Vietnam Veterans and family members as we boarded the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides”, the oldest commissioned warship afloat, with Commander Nathaniel R. Shick, 75th in Command, and his crew taking us all on a cruise to Castle Island where the ship’s cannons were fired toward the island, answered with return fire from a cannon on the island. Upon returning to berth, we were all designated as “Honorary Crew Members” by Commander Shick and presented with an appropriate certificate.

But my day wasn’t completed. Directly after the event on the USS Constitution, I was further honored by being selected, along with fellow Vietnam Veteran Bill Thomas, to stand near the pitcher’s mound to represent the thousands of other Vietnam War Veterans during an official Vietnam War Commemoration. Bill and I were “pinned” in a ceremony to recognize all Vietnam Veterans and their families conducted during the pre-game ceremonies at Fenway Park prior to the Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles baseball game. Cheers and shouts from those in the stands again brought a tear to my eye realizing that those present understood what our Vietnam Veterans had missed on their return home and they wanted to let them all know it will never happen that way again.

It’s not what we do, but why we do it!