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Show 3 ftHi&opTknai cvtnti 7, 2002 Commentary America's finest caiied to protect ideals, freedoms by Douglas Wadsworth department of Veterans Affairs regional office director This Veterans Day, we honor the long line of men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. M ore than half of the 48 million Americans that have served since the Revolutionary War are with us today. They range from a few hundred World War I veterans, all more than 100 years ojld, to recent high school graduates serving on ijiilitary duty around the world in our nation's War on terrorism. JThis is a proud line qf service, as strong is our belief in freedom and as enduring as our history as a free people. Thanks to our veterans, it is also an t nbroken line. That is v 'hat Veterans Day is all about in thanking cur veterans. Our nation e ndures because they ejndured. We remain free, because they gave i p their freedom when duty called. We call it service to our country. That serI! vice goes well beyond 57 years from the end of World War II; Korea ended in 1955; and we disengaged from Vietnam in 1975. Events since these major commitments of America's military have brought names like Persian Gulf, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia and now Afghanistan into our vocabulary and consciousness. America's finest have been called to serve us in not only protecting the ideals and freedoms we enjoy, but to honor and perpetuate the cause of freedom and the interests of America worldwide. Too often we relegate the notion of veterans to those aged soldiers, sailors and airmen who march in parades and wear caps of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and other veterans to wear the uniforms of our military services are our neighbors, our it Veterans Day 11 ? " 7: '""t J ""VH em? was originally set apart as a day to commemorate the end ofWorldWarL In focusing on the today, we often lose sight of the "Our nation endures because they endured. remain free, because they gave up their freedom when duty called" Hill ', L'",:w Nov. to be done, to be paid for and to use as a career choice. I know 1950s Gary Garilck nests on his bunk while serving in contributions of our otf few career choices Korea. citizen soldiers, our veterans. We forget tjiat require employees to bear arms in the that in looking at those protection of others. aged citizens, we are The closest parallel is looking at our neighanother service that bors, who in their youth, i defended us protected performed daily for We law citizens our liberties, and came qur home to build a stronger enforcement and fire nation. They used the protection. SAD of these activities skills of service to others to build schools ae for the common fjood, and we as a sociand communities, famt ilies and businesses. ety would be ill prepared to meet the They built America to where it is today. challenges of dairy livwithout the efforts We in the Departing of the men and women ment ofVeterans Affairs Douglas Wadsworth that are in our service. enjoy what I believe is We have observed the noblest mission in 11 this to a has that service and Sept. country government, caring for our veterserving sjnce ans. Public interest and public support make that cpsL jThe contributions that we recognize annually possible, and each citizen can do his and her part oh Veterans Day are a special type of service, on Veterans Day. ehvisioned by the framers of the Constitution Show veterans you care. Fly the flag. Attend a of to would the citizens nation our Veterans tjiat empower Day ceremony. Honor the veterans become organized and effective protectors of the where you work, go to school or worship. And freedoms and privileges we all enjoy. It has been maybe most important of all, just say thanks. 85 years since the end of the War to end all wars; Thank you for my nation and my liberty! j(j)b Kathy Hambleton checks charts on a refueling flight (luting Operation Desert Shield. 1990s -- -f friends and the common men and women who have made our country the envy of the world. fir' nt orga- nizations. The citizens who have and continue 'O the Emhalions of ernploy-rjiein the sense of a 0 i o U ' A 7 f nu i5 a a -- "7 . 1 990s Vern Orndorff, on leave 1940s from World War II, visits with his father, Bill. Ray Barney visits Saigon, South Vietnam 1970s I '.r 1 .mi. ' -- I ,- r- iii ii ff if n ili'ir Troy Garlick, third from right, with friends during Operation Desert Storm. Street views 'What veteran has influenced your life the most?' r i i r V .mm.? -- J) r .1 J if .; . .. - 4 u'-.- l Airman Angelina Roberson Information manager 75th Civil Engineer Group "My grandmother was with my grandfather when he was stationed in the Pliilippines during the war. The stories they have told me my grandfather was a prisoner of war and my grandmother has lived through a lot Although grandmother wasn't really in the military, she has inspired me through her whole life all the things she has been through and how strong she is." Capt. Trecey Splelmann Maintenance engineering flight commander 75th Civil Engineering Sherrle Lowe Group commander's Airman 1st Class Walter Flgueroa Personnel 75th Civil Engineer Group manager assistant 75th Civil Engineer Group Squadron 1 would have to say my grandpa influenced me the most. I didn't even know the stories he had until I joined the military. He was in World War II. I am inspired by the stories of how he helped people during the war. He is so proud that I am in the military now. It is neat to talk military jargon with him when I go home my grandma just rolls her eyes." To be honest, I was born in Panama, Central America, so we do not celebrate Veteran's Day. I really didn't have a veteran's influence growing up. Growing up it was the uniform that caught my attention. My brother is in the Air Force and is probably my only influence to join." "When I was a young girl I did not think much about Veteran's other than an extra day off until I had a boyfriend killed in Vietnam. Then it was Day directly related to me and changed the way I looked at veterans. I learned to have a lot of respect for them through letters we sent back and forth, where they told me about the things they were going through." "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force Quality Systems for America's Air Force HilSfop Times Published by Ogden Publishing Coip., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Monte Osiek Deputy 75th Civil Engineering Squadron Joan Orawlec Production controller 75th Civil Engineering Squadron "My only close contact with The veteran that influenced my life was my father. He was in World War II and served on the USS Massachusetts in the Pacific. My father always showed a love of his country, which is why I joined the service and why I work for the Air Force today. My dad's attitude and way of life taught me a lot. One of his sayings was: The great people find opportunities or make them. These people push open the closed door." Monte a veteran is my Osiek. I really respect him. He is very patriotic. He is very helpful and a kind person work with. Whenever I go to him he is always there for me. That is the way I want to see veterans someone like him. I am not really familiar with a lot of veterans but if they are all like him, all right." Global Power and Reach for America. " U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Coip., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be maiJe available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Iigistics Center Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 1 102. Call Ext. with story ideas or comments, or send to "hil!iop.pafefhill,af.miI. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Gen. Scott Bergren Ma. Shawn Mecham Bill Orndorff Commander, MaJ. OO-AL- Director, Public C Attain Editor A$$lstsnt Editor Karl Tllton Gary Boyle, Beth Young Airman 1st Class Mlcah Garbarino Start writer Deadlines: Editorial and "Around the Hill" Items, 3 p.m. Friday, sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, classified ads, 2 p.m. Tuesday, week of publication. For more Information, call the editor, Ext. RCOPV ff-"J.s- ,-. |