Veterans Day

They are celebrating Veterans Day on Monday - in reality Veterans Day is on the 11th of November. It was so declared because the First World War was ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Now they celebrate on a Monday nearest to that date so there can be another three day week-end. Sad that our Society has found it more advantageous to set Holidays when they can accomodate lifestyle rather than on the day they
actually came into being.
I suppose my feelings come from my youth when this was such a very special day. Whether it fell on what ever day of the week. Things came to a stand still. Parades were held and special attention was paid to flying the flag all over this great nation. Of course there were picnics and trips to cemetaries to decorate graves. It was always such a special feeling to enter the Cemetary and see the majority of the graves covered with flowers and flags. Even those who were not Veterans found honor on this very special day.
Our family has always had Veterans to remember. Doing Genealogy it is apparent relatives have come forward when this Nations was threatened to serve and defend our Liberty and Freedom. Even before the Constitution was written there were those who stepped forward and did the unthinkable, stood up against those who would tax them beyond what was right.
During the First World War, which was to be the War that ended all War, there were a great number of men who either were drafter to serve, or volunteered. Thomas Gower Rosenberg was drafted toward the end of that War and did not have to go overseas to fight, but his older brother Harvey Rosenberg did and he was wounded and suffered the horrifying effects of being exposed to Mustard Gas. He survived, but was permentally effected by that exposure.
In the Second World War, which by now we hoped would be the War to end all War, we had even more family men who stepped forward and served. Both LaMar Harris Rosenberg an Uncle and our Jay Ford Rosenberg both enlisted and served in the Navy. Ralph Evron Smith and Ronald Charles Smith, Uncles, both enlisted. Ralph in the Army Paratroops and Ronald in the Marines. All four served in the South Pacific. There were a number of the Hall family, Cousins, who served as well. In all I should say we were well represented in that conflict. To my knowledge all who served returned home. Our family has been very fortunate indeed.
Oh, there have been other conflicts down through the years since then. We have had those who have stepped up and met the challenge of service to preserve our Freedom and Liberty. In Korea it was Jay Ford Rosenberg who was recalled to serve in the Navy. In Vietnam it was Gregory Webb Slane and Paul LaMar Rosenberg and Joseph Jay Rosenberg who were on the active duty rosters. Greg in the Marines and Paul in the Army Rangers and Cousin Joe in the Navy. All returned home, Paul, however, later developed health problems from exposure to Agent Orange that was used to defoliate the jungles where he was. When two of these family members returned from that War they continued serving. Greg in the California National Guard and Paul was switched first to the Navy as a Medic and then into the Marines where he served another 13 years. In fact he was one of those who was sent to Panama to free that Country from their tyrant leaders.
I don't suppose most of the family knew that Paul had been caught during one his normal trips to decorate fallen members of the Armed Forces on Memorial Day and Veterans Day by a Newspaper in Bakersfield. On these days Paul would get flowers and go into a Cemetary,very early, and walk about until he found a grave of a fallen Serviceman where he would clean the head stone, place flowers and then take a moment and have a prayer of thanks. He looked for a Soldier, a Marine and a Sailor. The Newspaper Photographer was there early getting ready for the Service that was to be held later in the day. He noticed this man dressed in uniform going about stopping here and there. He decided to follow him and find out about this. In the process he got a picture of Paul kneeling beside one of the graves giving his prayer of "Thanks". He didn't come close enough for Paul to know he was there, but when Paul was leaving, he approached him and asked if these were special friends. Paul explained he looked for a fallen "Hero" to thank for his service. As you may remember the Vietnam Servicemen did not get "Welcomed Home". In fact to this day, when they see another fellow Vietnam Vet, they always approach him and say: "Welcome Home", "Thanks for your Service". Well the picture was used and the story told of this Veteran who took time every Memorial and Veterans Day to remember an unknown falled "Hero".
This however is not the end of that story. Years later when the United States went over in the Desert to assist Kiwait against Sadam Husan our Troops again won a victory and were returning home, only this time, they were to receive a "heros welcome home". A Parade was planned with a great deal of fanfare. One of the planning committee went to the Newspaper and asked if they knew of someone who could act as Grand Marshall for the parade. A Veteran, who could represent all the Veterans. The man behind the desk had no problem with his choice. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a picture of a uniformed Veteran kneeling beside a grave with flowers in hand saying a prayer. He knew the mans name and where he lived. That is how Paul LaMar Rosenberg was honored by representing ALL VETERANS in the "Welcome Home
Parade" for the Desert Storm Troops.
It is quite common today to see people go out of there way to thank a veteran for his or her service. A great thing. It has taken years for people to realize a Veteran is always due our thanks for the time and effort he or she spent in serving and defending our Country from all enemies both Foreign and Domestic, no matter what conflict that service was given in.
So today, even on a day other than the 11th, we will fly our flag, and remember the Veterans who have given so much to keep our Country Free and our Liberty secure. It is the least we can do for those who have given service to both Flag and Country.

Written this 9th day of November 2009
by: Eileen C. Rosenberg