Today marks the 90th anniversary of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. My wife's grandfather, D. K. McGill was on his way to the front in France on 11 November 1918 when he heard Frenchmen running down the road towards his artillery unit, crying out, "La guerre fini! La guerre fini!"
Unfortunately the Great War to end wars was only the beginning as American veterans made a dangerous 20th century a free and safe one for our country as they fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East and other hot spots around the world. The 21st century has not turned out to be any safer as we are still conducting combat operations around the world.
Fortunate America is to have free people to protect it. As Hippocrates wrote...
“Now where men are not their own masters and independent, but are ruled by despots, they are not really militarily capable, but only appear to be warlike…For when men’s souls are enslaved, they refuse to run risks readily and recklessly to increase the power of somebody else. But independent people, taking risks on their own behalf and not on behalf of others, are willing and eager to go into danger, for they themselves enjoy the prize of victory.”
Our veterans, men and women, continue to make our country proud, safe and free.
Over 600 5th grade students from the Charleston County School district were onboard the YORKTOWN today to celebrate Veterans' Day. There was a short program in which our executive director, BGEN Hugh Tant, USA (Ret), welcomed the students onboard along with some great patriotic music from the School of the Arts band, a talk by current Air Force MSgt. Steve Smith from the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base.
Many of the schools toured the ship led by veterans after the program. All in all, a great event for the youth of our community and I'm sure some future veterans among them.
