Let’s observe Veterans Day

Let’s observe Veterans Day

As Veterans Day approach es, my thoughts flashed back to the years when as a small boy, my parents would get all dressed up, Father in a suit and Mother in one of her best outfits and we would go to downtown Youngstown. We would park in one of the many parking lots and walk four blocks past the police brigades on the side streets, to a spot on West Federal Street and stand right on the curb, which was already lined with thousands of kids and adults on both sides of the street as far as you could see.

Most people there had small U.S. flags, and were waving them, and the air was filled with excitement and anticipation. For me I was very proud because I knew that I would get to see my brother Lamar, who would be marching with the Youngstown Fire Department, along with Army, Navy, Marine, and untold VFW posts, and the American Legion too. There were marching bands from each school in Youngstown and the parade was led by the mayor or another prominent area leader. It was a swell time.

For the last several years my wife and I have attended the Veterans Day services in the Mahoning County Courthouse downtown. As I watched the people file into the rotunda area where the services are held, I would see the WW II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm veterans talk and shake hands with their comrades who they might only see once a year. But as time goes on, the gathering gets smaller and smaller. It saddens me not to see any of the school kids that in years gone by numbered in the thousands, cheering and clapping for the veterans.

Nov. 11 was set aside to honor the veterans of all the military branches for the sacrifices they have made for this country and the people who live here.

To see such a small turnout for this occasion and the veterans makes one think that the citizens of Mahoning County are too busy or do not care or have just forgotten what the veterans of the country have provided for them.

It is the veterans of the country that are the true heroes that we all should look up to. Instead we seem to look to the overpaid, self-centered, sports and Hollywood individuals, who only entertain us by catching a ball or acting on the screen, that have been cast as heroes when in reality are only celebrities.

Take, for example, Pat Tillman, who played in the NFL prior to enlisting in the United States Army. When asked why would he give up a multi-million dollar contract to join the Army. He stated “What have I done for my country except to get an education and play football, now it’s time for me to give something back to the U.S.A.” Mr. Tillman went on to be a U.S. Army Ranger, and ended up giving his life for this country.

So here is an open challenge to the area schools’ history and civics teachers. This Veterans Day, which is Thursday, instead of going shopping or playing with your MP3 players, drive down to the courthouse in Youngstown and at 11 a.m. watch and listen to those who we owe our freedom to. Show these veterans that what they have done is not forgotten nor taken for granted. Come and meet some real heroes and shake their hands, and maybe just maybe they will share some of their stories with you, then you will have met a true hero and know what the true meaning pride and being a veteran are all about. Show them you really do appreciate what they have done for you and our country.

Dale Rhinehart, Canfield