Today is Veteran’s day. Originally called Armistice Day to celebrate the final day of World War I, Veteran’s Day was created to honor all our veterans in the Armed Forces. As a former Army paratrooper, I am just one of many in a long list of veterans in my family over the many years. My mom had a cousin who was captured by the Japanese during world war 2. He was held in the camp in the Philippines known as Bataan and was referred to as the March of Bataan or 100 mile march. He was liberated by the United States Rangers. My mom said that he went into the United States Army and had red hair when he was captured and after his was liberated and returned his hair had turned white. We never knew what happened to him and I wish I could find out but my mom has died 3 years ago and I’m not sure but I will start looking into the matter. I have had many relatives who went to war during World War 2, Vietnam war and the Battle of the Bulge, as well as an uncle who served in Italy.
General McArthur was a hero and made the promise to the Philippines with the famous statement he would be back and he fulfilled his promise. To this day he is revered a hero to all Filipinos. My wife is a Filipina immigrant herself, and our extended family relishes in the benefits of a free country. I look forward to a day where all nations get together without the need to go to war and celebrate every person in the world who pledges their lives to the defense of both their country and humanity as a whole.