Do your part to honor our military veterans on this national holiday

Opinion: November 11, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

Today is Veterans Day. Its inception began when fighting ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, in World War I, known as the “Great War” and regaled as the war to end all wars.

Armistice Day was declared by President Woodrow Wilson on Nov. 11, 1919. He stated, “... the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”.

President Dwight Eisenhower issued on Nov. 8, 1954, the first “Veterans Day Proclamation,” which stated “... in order to ensure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, veteran organizations and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose – a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve at home and abroad and sacrifice so much for the common good. ...”

America has seen many challenges of war since 1918. Defeating the Nazis and Japanese in World War II, sending troops to protect democracy in Korea, Vietnam and throughout the world to give a voice to the voiceless and persecuted.

Our brave men and women, along with their families, have stationed both within and outside the American borders serving heroically and helping others, often giving the ultimate sacrifice.

On this Veterans Day, please honor these sacrifices by extending your heart and hand and thanking veterans and their family for all their efforts to keep us all safe. Freedom is a full time job and our service members never get a day off, even on Veterans Day.

Please join me in saying to all our veterans,, “Thank you for your service, you are so appreciated”.

Karen Shesko, Lake Milton

Karen Shesko is public relations chairwoman for the American Legion Auxiliiary 737 of Lake Milton.

Honor the roots of today’s holiday as Armistice Day

Upon the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I came to an end.

My generation shared a living presence with the veterans of that war that ended on that date in 1918.

We honored and remembered them wearing “a poppy that grows in Flanders Field.”

We knew that day as Armis- tice Day. In memory I shall observe it as such. Lest we forget.

Louis Mamula, Lowellville

Veteran of the Korean War helped Valley GIs get home

I would love to share a story my father told about his service during the Korean War.

He graduated from Struthers High School and Kent State University and other than his time in the service, he spent his entire life in the Youngstown area. He often joked he graduated college on Friday and was drafted Monday morning.

Since he had a college degree he was assigned a desk job in Tokyo, Japan, during the Korean War. His job was to make sure every seat on every flight out of Japan was full.

At that time, all GIs who finished their tour of duty in Korea were processed through Tokyo prior to their two-week trip to the United States by boat.

If there were any empty seats on any flight out of Japan to anywhere in America, it was his job to fill them. Of course he would always pull servicemen from the Youngstown area first and then anyone from Ohio or Pennsylvania next.

He often wondered how these guys felt when they were pulled off the docks after 16 to 18 months of active duty and flown home that day.

My father, Ciro Montanaro Jr., passed away more than 20 years ago. I hope there are still some Korean War veterans in the area alive today who wondered why they flew home after their service.

Now they know. Thank you for your service.

Dr. David Montanaro, Boardman

Sportsmen, all Americans must never disrespect flag

Millions of men and women have fought and died, fought for all the rights and freedoms we have. The men and women in all the armed forces, in all the wars, in all the conflicts, and peacekeeping missions around the world. And even here we fought the Civil War for freedom, for all men to be equal to put an end to all slavery of any kind for all. All these people died so we could have what we have today.

And what do we have today? Football players who won’t stand for the national anthem and our flag, the flag that was carried in all wars in all countries. Men gave up their lives for their country – their flag for us.

If you’re unhappy with the way things are, change them. Instead of being a football player, become a police officer, EMT, a member of the armed forces, a governor, senator, congressman, or president.

Don’t turn your back on your country, your flag, your Constitution, or your freedom. Make your country better. Be better – do better, donate your salary to All Life Matters. Help change all wrongs instead of doing more wrongs. Tell me the name of all the football players and sports- men all combined who served in the armed forces in wars, in the service of their country.

How many have been killed, injured or maimed? We know you would die for football, but would you die for your country? Your children’s country?

I’m proud to be an American. I’ll stand. I’ll sing. I’ll salute the flag.

Millie Sayers, Youngstown

Patriotic Americans should boycott NFL

I recently attend- ed the Texas Tenors concert. It was a great show and one of the reasons was they sang several patriotic songs. They had films behind them on a screen showing the U.S. flag, soldiers, veterans, Washington, D.C., memorials, etc.

One of the songs was “God Bless the U.S.A.” A line in it was “stand up” and simultaneously, everybody in the audience stood up! (That’s because there were no NFL players at the concert).

There’s a saying: “Put your money where your mouth is.” In this case, “put your money where your knee is.” I get the symbolic gesture, but that’s all it is – meaningless and bears no fruit. If they want to do something constructive that counts, why don’t those overpaid millionaires go into your communities and schools and talk to the thousands of young people killing their own? Why don’t they use their collective millions of dollars and refurbish vacant homes and teach youngsters and their parents (single parent or a mother and father), to take care of their property?

Why don’t they encourage students to go to school to learn and not just take up space? Here’s a novel idea, help them get a real job, regardless of the salary, and let them learn a work ethic.

There are so many ways they can help, instead of taking the knee. Why don’t they teach them respect, not only for our amazing country, but for others and themselves? Who has achieved the American dream more than the NFL players? (And they worked hard to get there).

Our tax dollars have put millions into building huge stadiums. For those gutless owners and coaches and players – money rules! As long as fans keep supporting them, they’ll let the players insult and disrespect the pledge and the flag and what they stand for. All the rest of us hard-working, respectful people, and especially veterans, love our country and appreciate the freedoms we have (the freedom to be a contemptible jerk is not what the founding fathers had in mind).

The public should boycott every NFL game and event at arenas and on TV.

We managed to live without the NFL for years. Until they establish some basic human ground rules and regulations for proper behavior as a member of a team, with consequences if they don’t.

Terry Gallagher, Youngstown