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

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.

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 28-31: Friday Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Note, there are other celebrations on these days.  I just pick a few of the ones.  For all of them go to checkiday and type in the date.

MARCH 28

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK DAY-- **  So important for early reading.  Every child should have picture books.

EAT AN ESKIMO PIE DAY--  **  Avoid brain freeze, though.


MARCH 29

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY--  **  The last American troops came home March 29, 1973.  I'll be putting up my flags on Saturday.

NATIONAL MOM AND POP BUSINESS OWNERS DAY--  **  The backbone of America.


MARCH 30

PENCIL DAY--  **  Our first real writing instrument.

NATIONAL TAKE A WALK IN A PARK DAY--  **  It is so relaxing.  When I see parks, I don't get as mad with my taxes.


MARCH 31

NATIONAL TATER DAY--  **  Any kind of potato is alright with me, especially loaded baked potatoes, French fries and, of course, tater tots.

NATIONAL CRAYON DAY--  **  Please don't eat the crayons.  Keep that point sharp.

Taters, Taters, French-Fried Taters.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Underwater, you can hear a blue whale's heartbeat from two miles away.

A Busy Weekend-- Part 2: Old Friends, Vets and Ed Bearrs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

This being Pearl Harbor Day, the 77th anniversary, I wrote about it in all my blogs.  My flags were already up for President Bush's funeral.

I drove to Bristol, Wisconsin, to have breakfast with former teachers from John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois.  We had our first get-together back in November and hope to get it to being a regular monthly thing.  It is always fun to get together with old friends, especially ones you don't often see.  A lot of retired teachers from Round Lake have moved to warmer climes, but enough of us stay here to have them.

Afterwards, I drove to the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion Post 703 where we were putting on our annual Christmas dinner for the people at the VA Hospital in North Chicago.  I worked in the kitchen plating yams, mashed potatoes and gravy.  We served around 125.

Later I drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and visited the grave of Liz's parents in Memory Gardens and then, with some difficulty found the place where Ed Bearrs was going to speak for the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table at the Arlington Hts. Museum.  Mr. Bearrs is one of the preeminent Civil War people, having written many books and led many battlefield tours.  It was worth the distance and confusion to hear him.  I will eventually get around to writing about him in my Civil War blog.

A Very Long Day.  --RoadDog

JSS: Our Teams Out-- A Perfect Afternoon-- NFL Saying Sorry?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  OUR TEAMS OUT--  Saturday was not only a rainy and cool day, but a real bad one for the teams Liz and I were backing in the Illinois State High School Football Playoffs.  All three of the teams we were backing:  Palatine, Johnsburg and Richmond-Burton were beaten and are out of it.  At least now, I don't have to think about sitting outside in miserable weather.

2.  A PERFECT AFTERNOON--  Yesterday we drove over to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, where they were having a chili cookoff.  Not only that, but they had a band playing in the afternoon, cheap beer ($6 a pitcher domestic) and the Squaw is a perfect dive bar.  Those four things come together to make for a real fun afternoon.

3.  NFL SAYING SORRY?  With the commercials the NFL was running yesterday during the games and the coaching garb on the sidelines, I'd say the NFL was making peace with the great dishonor they did to our veterans with all that sideline kneeling during the National Anthem.

Liz and I were ready to boycott the NFL next Sunday as our little way of saying here's what we think of you.  Now, we can watch the Bears-Packers game, something which we were sadly not going to watch because of all of this.  Now, we'll watch some of it, but if those players kneel during the anthem before the game, the boycott is on again.

--RoadDog

Who Are the Real Heroes? The NFL or Our Veterans

Today, when all those NFL players take a knee and indicate to our veterans what they think of them, let's think of the real heroes.

Yesterday I attended the 34th annual Tom Grosvenor Memorial Marine Corps Breakfast for Toys for Tots at the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion.  This coming Friday, November 10 is the 242nd birthday of our Corps.

Everyone stood during the presentation of the colors and National Anthem except one man.

He was at the Vietnam War veterans table...and he was in a wheel chair,  He was missing a leg.

Certainly a reason not to stand, but I know he would have if he could have.

Something to think about today when you see that offensive show of disrespect out on the sidelines before the game.

I wonder who paid the price so those football players could make their millions of dollars?

We Know.  --RoadDog

Vietnam Veterans Remember-- Part 6: "I Got Spit On"

As with his in-country experience, Jim Miller also had a different experience when he returned home.    He met protesters when he returned in 1971.  "I got spit on," he said.  "They said I was a baby killer.  They blamed us."

In contrast, Don Pendleton, 66, left Vietnam in 1971 after 14 months there where he was a base guard at Long Binh Post.  the war wasn't as traumatic for him, but he did lose a few friends  He landed in Oakland, California, and a few hours later, he was a civilian.

"I don't remember there being that much harassment.  We stood in line for 24 hours, 36 hours to get out of the service.  From there, we got on a plane and came home."

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 5: Coming Home

The unpopular Vietnam War was a lightning rod for protesters in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and returning veterans experienced a wide variety of homecomings.

For Pete Haley, his return in 1968 was uneventful since protesting the war had not yet hit its peak, he said.  Instead, Haley's experience with war protesters came on the battlefield.

"We actually killed a NVA, North Vietnamese (army) regular on patrol over there, "Haley said, "and he had a medicine kit on him that was donated by Berekely College of California.  I found that very offensive."

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 4: Sicknesses Linked to Agent Orange

Sitting nearby Pete Haley at the bar is Jim Miller, 65.  His Vietnam experience is quite different.

He went to South Vietnam in 1970 as a healthy young man and left a sick man plagued by ailments that haunt him still.  He attributes his illnesses to his time in Vietnam where he worked with grave registration.

"I took care of the dead over there," Miller said.  I got Agent orange from picking up dead bodies."

Agent Orange was a herbicide sprayed from planes to defoliage areas of the Vietnamese jungles and expose the enemy's troop movement.  the chemical is blames for health problems of veterans who came into contact with it.

Asked who he memorializes on Monday's holiday, Miller said,  "Anybody who served time and survived it because there's a lot of guys who never made it back -- from Vietnam, especially."

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 3: Memorials

Monday marks 49 Memorial Days since Pete Haley's return from the war and this month denotes 50 years since the fight that claimed his buddies' lives.

"I put a wreath on the monument in Battle Ground," he said when asked about memorializing his fallen friends.

We Raised Some Money for Veterans to Go to D.C. on Veterans Day 2016

And, we sure had a good time doing it.  The McHenry Polish League of American Veterans held their fundraiser at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, Illinois, over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

It was hot, extremely hot with temps in the nineties both days, but everyone had a good time.  There were plenty of brats (this was being called "Brat Fest" but, sadly, there was no sauerkraut and everyone knows a properly "dressed" brat has to have sauerkraut) as well as pints of beer.

Saturday, we had four bands and we stayed for two of them:  Wildwood Drive and we really liked Blindspot, a band we hope to see more often."  I know of no other band that plays Cream songs like "Badge" and "Sunshine of Your Love."

There were silent auctions and raffles as well as 50-50 all day.

Sunday kicked off with a leisure motorcycle ride to four area bars after a breakfast and then we had the band Practice in Public playing outside.

A Good Time for a Good Cause.  RoadDog

SILLY PUNS:  They told me I had type A blood, but it was a type O.

Good Times Around Here This Weekend

Most of it will be taken up with the two day fundraiser Saturday and Sunday at Sunnyside Tavern in Joghnsburg which will be hosting the McHenry Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) as they raise money to send veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials.  There will be five bands over the two days as well as food and beer tents.  Sunday there will be a motorcycle ride.

Also Saturday, there is a band at Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and one Sunday afternoon.  Plus, the New Invaders (British Invasion) will be playing at Fox Lake's Lakefront Park.

There is a blues jam at The Grove in Spring Grove on Saturday afternoon.

Too Many Places to Be.  Not Enough Time.  --RoadDog

SILLY PUNS:  I did a theatrical performance about puns.  It was a play on words.

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.

Some More About NIU's Victory This Past Wednesday

On Thursday morning, I was shocked to see Mary Dixon mentioned the Northern victory on her morning newscasts on WXRT FM. Morning host Lin Braemer said he was a huge Huskie fan. Mary said "Not!" It turns out that Mary Dixon went to NIU. They mentioned that David Letterman probably watched the game since he is a Ball State alum.

The final 48-27 score may look like a blowout, but it sure wasn't. The score was 27-27 with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter when the Huskies scored three touchdowns. (It was like the Orange Bowl game against Florida State when, at the end of the third quarter and Northern down just 17-10, the Seminoles intercepted the ball on their 20-yard line and then scored twice more to make it 31-10.)

NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch put on a great show again, but by far the best play was on a third and 2 play when he was caught by two Ball State defenders behind the line and managed to break lose for a first down.

The USA Today had a video clip of Huskie mascot Diesel giving a high-five to a cheerleader after a Northern TD.

Huskie players wore special jerseys, all with the name "Heroes" on the back in honor of our nation's veterans. NIU helmets had the NIU in red white and blue.

A brand new pickup truck was given to a wounded Afghanistan veteran by a World War II veteran who also played for NIU. And, the guy who sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Chicago Blackhawks games performed with the Marching Huskie Band. I bet some of the Ball State fans were wondering what all the cheering and yelling during its singing was all about.

Yup, Sure Enjoyed That Game. --RoadDog

It's an 11-11-11 Thing

Let's see, yesterday was 11-10-11. That means...today is....

And not only is it 11-11-11 by the calendar, it's also 11-11-11 by the Veterans Day. World War I ended with an armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month as they like to say. It became known as Armistice Day and became a day to honor the World War I veterans. Later, it was expanded to honor the veterans of all wars, both before and since, even though World War I was to be the War to End All Wars. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

I'll be putting the boat up for the winter in a barn out in Hebron, Illinois, and will make sure to 11-11-11 the check instead of writing out the date as I usually do.

Then, it's a traditional stop at the restaurant at 47 and 173 for breakfast and the American Legion/VFW ceremony at the Fox Lake train station at 11 am.

Then, a newly traditional NTN cruise with Kelly and Kevin to southern Wisconsin.

Thanks Veterans. --RoadDog


PARAPROSDOKIAN SENTENCE: A plane is also where they now charge you big-time for luggage and still lose it anyway.

Meet-A-Vet, A Football Game and a New Place

This past Saturday, I went to the American Legion in Fox Lake, Illinois, for their second annual Meet-A-Vet Day. I had long talks with a survivor, Al Zalent, of the sinking of the USS Princeton, an aircraft carrier at the Battle of the Philippines. I also had an interesting discussion with Burton Showers who was a member of General MacArthur's staff during World War II. I will be writing about them in my history blog.

Then caught the last half of the Richmond-Burton Rockets-Mendota Trojans Class 4A IHSA Football Playoff game in Richmond. The Rockets were losing 7-0 when I arrived, but scored and led at half 10-7. They went on to win 37-19 and will go on to face Evergreen Park in the 3rd round this Saturday.

Everyone was invited to a pizza party at Turtle Creek Banquets in Spring Grove, so I went home and got Liz. It was auce for $5. We had heard about the place, but never been. This was a good opportunity to see it. The place is on 23 acres and has a huge North Woods-style lodge. Pretty impressive.

Last stop was Tommy's where we watched Northwestern upset Nebraska and then home where I watched that boring #1 LSU vs. #2 Alabama game at Margaritaville.

A Good Day. --RoadDog

Goodbye Boat (for the Winter)-- Winter Put Up-- Veterans-- Shel Silversteen

I'm going over to pick up the boat from the marina today. It has now been winterized and the hull cleaned. Next week, I take it over for winter storage. Then, I will spend time bringing in stuff from the gazebo, deck, front porch and yard. After all, winter is coming.

The Fox Lake American Legion is hosting the 2nd Annual Meet-A-Vet Day in the afternoon. There will be a Pearl Harbor survivor, Medal of Honor winner and member of MacArthur' staff along with many others. More on this in my History Blog.

Later, thinking of seeing ten short plays by Shel Silverstein in Richmond.

Too Much to Do. Not Enough Time to Do It. --RoadDog


PARAPROSDOKIAN SENTENCE: I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

Thank a Vet

If you're enjoying your freedom right now, you really should thank a vet. There are those who are jealous of us and who would be more than happy to take it away. Only that thin line of brave Americans stand between their objective.

Today is their day and one well-deserved.

In my family, my cousin Graham was a Navy pilot in Vietnam. Uncle Delbert was in WWII and at the Battle of the Bulge. Cousin Phillip was in the Navy. Daddy Graham, my grandfather on my mother's side, was in WW I. Nor Nor, my grandfather on my dad's side was in the Merchant Marine during WW I.

A Salute to Those Who Served. --RoadDog