Veterans Day event held at American Legion
By ED FRANKS
More than 100 people gathered in the outdoor pavilion of the American Legion, Post 136, Tuesday morning to remember veterans.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Commander Frank Taugner welcomed everyone and requested a prayer from the Chaplain.
“On this Veteran’s Day we are commemorating the services of all veterans of all wars,” Taugner said. “We remember how our men and women set aside their civilian pursuits to serve our nation’s cause. Defending the freedom of mankind and preserving our precious American heritage. We believe our strength on the field of battle or on the supply lines which nourished our armed might is the justice of our cause against the forces of evil. We believe that determination made us better warriors because we fought with our minds and our hearts as well as our bodies. We recognize service to our country and our cause does not end with determination of military service. We continue our endeavors in behalf of an honorable world peace with a feeling of profound gratitude to God and the men and women who gave their lives as part of this noble cause. Out of blood and sweat we learned of purpose, sacrifice, tolerance, bravery and discipline. These are solid foundation stones on which this great nation is built. In our continuing quest for an honorable world peace we must cultivate these virtues.”
American Legion Adjutant Barry August, a Vietnam Veteran, spoke next.
“I want to thank everybody for being here today – what a great turnout,” he said. “Walt Birdwell, past commander of the VFW, used to say to those who served, ‘Every day is Veteran’s Day.’ And to the families of the veterans, he would look at them, as I look at all of you here, and say ‘thank you’ – I thank you too.
“Larry Guy, past VFW commander, used to say, ‘I wish they wouldn’t make any more veterans’ in other words no more wars,” he continued. “I would like to read a poem by Lawrence Vaincourt. It’s called ‘A Soldier Died Today.’
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.
And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won’t note his passing, though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?
A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.
It’s so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.
The poem was followed by a 21-gun salute and playing of “Taps.”
One of the oldest veterans present was St. James City resident James Dolph, who turned 90 years old in April. Dolph served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1945 and when he returned he married his high school sweetheart.
“I served in the Navy in the Asiatic Pacific,” Dolph said. “I was aboard a fleet oiler known as ‘a floating gas tank.’ We refueled aircraft carriers, battleships, destroyers, submarines and you name it. They would pull along side and with 6 to 8-inch hoses we’d couple them up, and we had all kinds of pumping equipment, we’d pump for hours 100 octane gasoline.”
Commander Taugner closed the day with a few remarks. “The Legion thanks you very much for coming out to help us with this ceremony.”
The event wrapped up with lunch served to the veterans and their families.