Veterans Day 2022

A day to thank our veterans for their service.  It is too bad that so many don't.  

I have or will write about veterans in all blogs today except one.

I was admiring the Ukrainian flag I have flying as I pulled out of the driveway and then remembered, "Hey, Veterans Day."  Pulled back in and put the big  U.S. flag on the garage and the smaller one out by the mailbox.  I already had a U.S. flag flying from the gazebo.

Went to Fox Lake to participate in the Veterans Day ceremony, but was unable to find it.  I sure wish the village and Legion would put out more information on these things.  So, drove over to McHenry and also could not find it at Veterans Park, so then figured that perhaps the ceremony would be at 11:00.  I had time to kill so went to Wendy's for breakfast.

Drove by Veterans Park, but no ceremony.  Same with Miller Park.  Then went to the VFW and caught the very end of it.  Oh well.

Later  tonight, I will be going to the Fox Lake Legion.

Thank You Veterans.  --RoadThankful

About Last Week: Back to MCCWRT, USMC 246th BD, Germanfest, Salute to the Vets and Donovan's

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Drove to Woodstock for my first McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting since March 2020 thanks to you-know-what.  It was back at the Woodstock Library.  Sure was good to be back.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10

A big happy birthday to the USMC, number 246!!  

Went to Stucky's for a Germanfest feast.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

A salute to all of our veterans on their day.  I went to Fox Lake for the ceremony at the train station but it was not there this year.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's in Twin Lakes Wisconsin, for live trivia and that great Happy Hour.

--RoadDog

A Salute to Our Veterans Today

A well-deserved thank you to all those who have, are and will serve the United States as members of our Armed Forces.  This is your day.

I have written about veterans in seven of my blogs and even went over to Fox Lake, Illinois, for the annual ceremony by the train station on Grand Avenue as I usually do, but, alas it wasn't there this year.  I don't know what happened to it.

Today, Bob Stroud did his own salute to veterans on his Ten at Ten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive, which was a bout the "Red, White & Blue."  This will repeat at 10 pm and it streams.

Here are the songs he played:

RED RAIN--  Peter Gabriel

REV ON THE RED LINE--  Foreigner

RED RED WINE--  UB 40

WHITE ROOM--  Cream

WHITE WEDDING--  Billy Idol

WHITER SHADE OF PALE--  Procul Harum

BLUE ON BLACK--  Kenny Wayne Shepherd

BABY BLUE--  Badfinger

BULLET  THE BLUE SKY--  U2

BLUE MONEY--  Van Morrison

Thank You Vets!!  

Veterans Day, 2020

My U.S. flags are all out.  Hope yours are as well.

At 11 am I went over to the McHenry, Illinois, American Legion on Riverside Drive where there was a joint Legion/PLAV (Polish Legion of American Veterans) ceremony honoring our veterans.  New commander Mark Hume opened with remarks and we had "Taps" played.  

The MIA/POW Table was explained and the history of Veterans Day was given.

All this was filmed for Zoom.

--RoadDog

Bob Stroud Is Doing a 'Red, White & Blue' Ten at Ten in Honor of Veterans Day Today

At 10 am (and 10 pm) CST today, Bob Stroud will be doing his Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive. on "Red, White & Blue" songs in honor of Veterans Day.

It streams so give it a listen.

I'll be going over to the McHenry American Legion (Illinois) for a ceremony.

Thank a veteran Today (and always).

You can see the ten tunes Bob played on my RoadDog's RoadLog blog of this date.

--RoadDog

Every Blooming THing, Early November

Keeping true to my goal of having something blooming with big color all the way between April and October, the yard has a lot of color right now.

Several hundred yellow and orange mums are still in bloom.  The sedum have the dark heads and yellow stalks.  Burning bushes are burning red.  Plus, my lone remaining Bradford pear tree has just gotten it autumnal tones.  However, I do have several Bradford pear tree seedlings growing.

Just finished raking pine straw up into my two pine islands; great mulch, but a whole lot of raking, especially with all the wind we've been having so that pine straw was spread out over a really bit area.  Hoping that I cut the grass for the last time.

Rolled up the front yard hose onto the reel (200 feet of hose) and will get to the backyard hose later this month after I finish burning limbs and twigs.  

We've been having a great Indian Summer around here with temperatures in the lower 70s for the last six days.  Last year this time, we had already had a Halloween surprise snow storm that dropped six inches on the ground and then there was another surprise Veterans Day six inches.  No snow this year, but we have had a couple frosts.

--RoadDog

Chicago's Soldier Field a Fitting Memorial to Our Veterans

Or, is it Soldiers Field as I usually call it?

From Wikipedia.

I started writing about this venerable site in today's Cooter's History Thing blog.  This is where Chicago's Veterans Day ceremony will be held today.

The design of Soldier Field is Neoclassic style with Doric columns rising above the east and west sides.  I am so glad they kept the columns after its interior was demolished and rebuilt with that huge bowl thing in 2002.

The stadium cost $13 million to build, a very large sum of money for a sporting venue at the time.  By comparison, the  the L.A. Memorial Coliseum cost $1 million.

In its earliest configuration, 74,,280 spectators could be seated with additional seating that could raise attendance to 100,000.  Now, attendance is limited to 61,500.

Armistice Day Today, Also Veterans Day

Quite a day in the history of the world today.  One hundred years ago, World War I or, the First World War as the British later called it, ended four years of fighting.

It is still commemorated in the United States, but now called Veterans Day, a day to honor and thank our military veterans.

From Wikipedia.

ARMISTICE DAY

Commemorated every year on November 11 to mark the Armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiegne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I.

It went into effect at eleven o'clock in the morning --  "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."

"Thank God For The United States Marine Corps"

I put up my U.S. flags today in honor of two things.  The first was the 243rd birthday of the USMC.  The second was the end of World War I one hundred years ago and Veterans Day tomorrow.

This quote is from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1945.

"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen.  Thank God for the United States Marie Corps."

I'll Second That.  --MarDog

I'd Celebrate That!! November 5 to 11: Saturday Is the 243rd Birthday of the USMC!!!

**  I'd celebrate that.

NOVEMBER 5, MONDAY--  American Football Day**  Doughnut Day**  Especially those Britt Donuts at Carolina Beach, N.C.

NOVEMBER 6,  TUESDAY--  Election Day**  I'll sure be celebrating the end of it.  It's been a long year and a half.   Nachos Day**

NOVEMBER 7, WEDNESDAY--  Job Action Day   Not sure what this is.   Hug A Bear Day**  Well, not the ones out in the wild, but those lil' cuddly teddy bears.

NOVEMBER 8, THURSDAY--  Cappuccino Day**  Especially pumpkin spice cappuccino,  99 cents for a large at Thornton's.  (I'll probably never know how to spell it without looking it up.    Parents As Teachers Day**   Let's hope parents are doing some teaching.

NOVEMBER 9, FRIDAY--  Scrapple Day**  Never had any, but I hear it is really good.

NOVEMBER 10, SATURDAY--   U.S. Marine Corps 243rd Birthday**  The best.  

NOVEMBER 11, SUNDAY--   Veterans Day**  Fly Those Flags.

Happy 243rd, Marines!!   --RoadDog

Doing My Bit for the Veterans and Marines

What with the USMC birthday yesterday and Veterans Day today, I have been busy.

SATURDAY, NOV. 4

I attended the USMC birthday/Toys for Tots breakfast at the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion (See the Tom Grosvenor posts in this blog).  Later, in the afternoon, Liz and went to the Legion to see a band.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1O

Since this was the Marine Corps' 242nd birthday, I posted about the Marines to all seven blogs.

I went to the flag-raising for Lance Corporal Matthew S. Medlicott at Waukegan, Illinois, High School.  He was killed in Iraq in 2007.

I also saw the movie "Thank You for Your Service" at Fox Lake Theater.  This was a hard movie about problems soldiers faced with PTSD on their return to civilian life after posting to the Middle East.  Later, we met the Usual Suspects at the Legion for the 50-59.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Since this is Veterans Day, I posted about veterans on all seven blogs.  (Yesterday, I posted about the Marines on all seven blogs.

I went to the 11 a.m. ceremony at the Fox Lake train station honoring veterans, complete with speeches and a 21 gun salute.  Later tonight we will go to the Legion for the Lakes Area Swing band show with all that great World War II Big Band/Swing music.

Can't Do Enough For Our Veterans.  --RoadDog

Heading Out for the Veterans Day Ceremony in Fox Lake, Illinois

In just a few minutes I will be leaving for the Veterans Day ceremony at the train station in downtown Fox Lake, Illinois.

It is a cold and blustery, cloudy day to honor our veterans.

I Hope That Everyone Today Does Something to Thank Our Veterans.  --RoadDog

Busy Weekend Last Weekend

NOVEMBER 11, FRIDAY--  We missed the Veterans Day ceremony at the Fox Lake train depot because of dentist appointments.  In the afternoon, we had Greg's 65th birthday party at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, with entertainment by Jim Sieg.

NOVEMBER 12, SATURDAY--  I went to the Marine Corps Birthday and Toys for Tots kickoff at the Fox Lake American Legion. Then I drove to DeKalb, Illinois, for the joint SCV camp meeting (Rock Island Prison and Camp Douglas) at Ellwood Steak House and heard a talk by Jim Barr on the Confederacy in Illinois.

Came home and watched Palatine High School win its quarter final game in the IHSA football playoffs.  Never thought I'd see Palatine on TV.

We then went to the American Legion in Fox Lake and enjoyed the music of the Lakes Area Swing Band playing all that Big Band music.

NOVEMBER 13, SUNDAY--  We went to Squaw Bar and met the Usual Suspects and saw the first half of the sorry Bears game.  We then went to Sunnyside for the second half and then to Oak Park Lounge for their chili cookoff and then back to Sunnyside.

Love That Marine SOS.  --RoadDog

Thanking Our Veterans Today

Say thanks to any U.S. veterans you meet today.

In honor of this day, Bob Stroud is doing his Ten at Ten on the Red, White and Blue.  It starts at 10 a.m. CDT and will be replayed at 10 p.m. tonight.  It streams on WDRV.com.

REV ON THE RED LINE--  Foreigner
RED HOUSE--  Jimi Hendrix
RED RAIN--  Peter Gabriel

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE--  Procul Harum
WHITE WEDDING--  Billy Idol
WHITE ROOM--  Cream
JACKIE BLUE--  Ozark Mountain Daredevils

FOR YOU BLUE--  Beatles
DEACON BLUES--  Steely Dan
BABY BLUE--   Badfinger

Thank a Vet.  --RoadDog

Thank a Veteran Today

I went to the Veterans Day ceremony at the Fox Lake, Illinois, train station earlier this morning.  There was a good-sized crowd there and the weather was sunny, fairly warm, but breezy.  Very pleasant for this time of the year here in northern Illinois.

The American Legion rifle squad was also there as were several groups of Cub and Boy Scouts, the Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders.

We had short speeches by the VFW, village president, Auxiliary and our American Legion Post 703 commandant.  Jose said that last year he had gone around Fox Lake on Veterans Day while wearing his military cap and just one person, a kid, thanked him for his service.  he asked the people assembled to go out of their way to thank every veteran they encountered.

Like He Said, Thank a Veteran Today and Any Day for That Matter.

Dedication of the Vietnam Memorial in McHenry, Illinois

This past Tuesday, I joined around 300-400 others at Veterans Park in downtown McHenry for the dedication of this.  It was a really crummy cold, drizzly day and no fun to be out there on that count, but a very worthwhile one on a much larger scale.

McHenry's VFW, American Legion, Polish Legion and the Marine Corps League were in attendance as well.

The city was honoring four young men who graduated from McHenry High School, three in 1964 and one in 1967, who gave their lives there all those years ago.  This has been an ongoing effort for the past 14 years by the Class of '64 and one man in particular, but I didn't catch his name.

We had several speeches and McHenry's mayor called this a beautiful day for McHenry despite the weather.  It was.

Then, the families of the four fallen were introduced.

The monument stands in the southeast corner of the park and has four benches around it, one for each man.  The stone has their names, a map of South Vietnam showing where each fell and pictures on the back of it.

As a member of the Vietnam Generation, I was especially appreciative of all the efforts..

It Is a Very Fitting Memorial.

Dedication of Vietnam Memorial Today in McHenry, Illinois

In just a little over an hour, I will be going to McHenry, Illinois, so I can be at the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial at Veterans Park.  i usually go to the ceremony at the train station in Fox Lake, but the Vietnam War was my generation's war, so it means even more to me.

This is a project by the McHenry High School Class of 1964, to honor three of its classmates who were killed over there.  It also honors another one from the Class of 1967, who also died.

Sadly, it is on a cold and nasty day outside, but these veterans had to overcome all sorts of weather -related hardships, so that is another way to honor their memory.

I will be writing about it tomorrow.

Thanks, Veterans from All Wars.

Winter Arrived Yesterday, Time to Fire Up the Snowblower

We started getting snow flakes about 10:45 after rain. Lots of wind and cold. Standing out at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Fox Lake train station wasn't much fun. Went to some downtown stores afterwards to warm up and dry off.

Decided to go to see the new movie "Last Vegas" which was one of the funniest I've ever seen. Leave to some old farts to show Vegas how to have some fun. By the time I got out, I had to clear off the truck windows. Driving home was not great with all the ice still on the windows. Fortunately, it didn't stick on the pavement, but we ended up with close to two inches on the ground and nature did her "painting" on the trees and bushes.

I guess later today I'm going to have to fire up the old snowblower and hopefully it will work.

Always Hate to See Winter's Arrival. --RoadDog

Been Honoring America's Veterans

I just got back from a cold, rain-soaked Veterans Day ceremony at the Fox Lake, Illinois, train station. But, as miserable as standing out in that crummy weather was, I could only think of the veterans over the years who were out in crummy, miserable weather and with the added possibility of being killed while protecting our freedom. And, standing out there for days and weeks.

Saturday, I went to the USMC 238th Birthday Breakfast at the Fox Lake American Legion and then watched the very moving Doolittle Raiders Final Toast live as it happened.

I flew our U.S. flags today, including the one on the mailbox, the banner and a big one on the back deck. Sadly, those flags are getting quite wet with all the rain and now, snow. We have a couple inches on the ground and it's still falling. First snowfall of the season.

Thank You Veterans.

Two Straight Days to Honor America's Freedom Keepers

Happy 239th birthday today for the United States Marine Corps. Also, put those flags out and say thank you to all veterans tomorrow.

I'm either going to the ceremony at the Fox Lake, Illinois, train station or perhaps to Cantigny Museum in Wheaton, Illinois, honoring the U.S. Army.

--RoadDog