Celebrating the Veterans in Our Lives: Past or Present

A few years ago, Mr. Mike Schultz, a fifth grade teacher at Carman Trails, wanted to create a "Remembrance Wall' that celebrated relatives within the school's community who has in the past or is currently serving in any branch of the military.

Mr. Schultz served in the United States Navy Reserves from 1993 to 2003, completing two weeks of training each year at Navy bases in California, Thailand, and London, England. In addition, his daughter Sarah is an MP in the United States Army.

While stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, Sarah is currently completing her second deployment to Afghanistan. His son Patrick serves in the United States Navy as a Cryptological Technician and recently transferred to Fort Gordon, Georgia. During his time at Ft. Gordon, Patrick will be deployed occasionally to work aboard submarines.

Continuing his vision of honoring and remembering those who have served our country, Mr. Schultz began organizing and serving as Master of Ceremonies at the school's Annual Veteran's Day Assembly.

Fathers, mothers, sons and grandfathers gathered and were honored at the ceremony this past Monday. As I attended this year's 2nd annual event, it occurred to me in my short-sightedness that my personal knowledge of Veterans, past or present, was very limited.

My dad Roger voluntarily enlisted as a United States Marine Corps reservist from September 1958 to September 1964. He was prepared to be sent to active duty, but never was despite the Vietnam War and the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba overlapping his reserve duty. While my dad will certainly talk about his life as a Marine, he always seems to make a distinction between active and reservist duty, never really wanting to be referred to as a Veteran. And yet that is exactly what he is.

However, my dad's Olsen family history has a long legacy of active military men. My grandfather Edward was one of 11 children, ten sons and one daughter. Of these 10 sons, 6 of them served during World War 2. With a 24 year span of the 11 births, two of the sons were too old to serve (including my grandpa Edward), one was too young at the time, and one was physically handicapped.

They appeared in a July 1944 article in the Round Lake Beach town in which they lived, being given accolades for their dedication in serving our country. Olaf, Sr., born 1908, served in the United States Navy; George, born 1909, and Harold, born 1911, served in the United States Army Air Corps.; Iver, born 1913, was in the Quartermaster Division of the United States Army; Art, born 1917, served in the Merchant Marines (Art's son Brian also served in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1969); and finally, Everett "Boze", born 1922, served as a United States Marine.

My great-grandma Jennie, proud mother of the six sons serving in the military, had a flag bearing six stars outside her home in recognition and honor of the great sacrifice her family was making for our country. All six men returned home safely from war.

Each of these 10 brothers (and one sister) has passed away; the youngest son known as "Hap" dying most recently in February 2008. I did not have a personal relationship with any of my great uncles or Great Aunt Hazel.

Still, it is an honor to be related to them and to know that many of my great uncles served and sacrificed to help make our country the wonderful place it is today. This legacy continues through all the servicemen and women who are still actively serving today to preserve our freedom, making a personal family sacrifice and, sadly, sometimes sacrificing their own lives in the line of duty.

On this Veteran's Day, please take time to acknowledge our military men and women, past and present. Thank them for what they have done for us. But most of all, remember them.

As quoted by Dan Lipinski "On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred  obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free."