Visalia vets gear up for annual remembrance
Veterans in Visalia are already getting things together for their ninth annual commemoration of Veterans Day at the Fox Theatre.
Organizers Dan Kelley, Bob McNabb and others are intent on reminding the public that Veterans Day -- the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month -- is more than just an occasion for a three-day weekend. This year's observance marks the 90th anniversary of the end of the tragically mis-nicknamed "war to end all wars."
The "Uncle Sam" recruiting poster at right is one of the enduring icons of the war.
This year's Veterans Day event -- which begins as the war ended, at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 -- will especially salute military personnel who have served in what organizers call the "Desert Wars" -- the Persian Gulf War to liberate Kuwait in 1991 and the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Families with soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from these battles are being asked to provide one or two photos by Oct. 25 to compile a presentation to be shown during the Veterans Day program. Contributors should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so their photos can be returned.
Photos can be sent to the Visalia Veterans Day Committee, in care of Theresa Broadnax, P.O. Box 4076, Visalia, CA 93278.
The patriotic program will also include talks discussing the South Valley's contributions and sacrifices for the war effort and musical numbers, including a medley of each military branch's anthems in which veterans are invited to stand when they hear their song.
Some of the past celebrations organized by the Visalia Veterans Day Committee have included dedicating murals honoring vets from the Vietnam and Korean wars and, most recently, World War II.
My father, who passed away earlier this year, was a World War II veteran who served in the Navy in the Pacific. I enjoyed, and sorely miss, hearing him recall his experiences. If you're a veteran, I'd like to invite you to comment below and share your own experiences with our readers.