Wordless Wednesday: Heros

Thank A Veteran

The above clip is a lighthearted reminder about an important and ever growing segment of our population: veterans.  In their honor, today is Remembrance Day for all of the Commonwealth nations and Veterans Day in the United States. But regardless of what you call it, the meaning and intent is the same: this is a day to remember and pay respect to our veterans.

Also known as Poppy Day in Great Britain, this day has been observed since the end of World War I to mark the end of the fighting between the Allied forces and Germany. The fighting is said to have formally ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Today ceremonies are held all over the world in the Commonwealth countries and even in those countries who host Commonwealth grave sites. Here in Europe, November 11th is recognized as a national holiday and as such businesses are shuttered, schools are closed and work stops. A ceremony will be held here in Mons today and when we were in Albania we joined our British peers and attended the ceremony at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Tirana each year. The rituals and ceremony surrounding this solemn day are a constant reminder of the sacrifices that have been made, and continue to be made, by the young men and women who defend their countries on a daily basis.   

In America the day is slightly different. We recognize Veterans Day, as the time to remember and show appreciation to the veterans of all of our wars.  Not to be confused with Memorial Day which remembers our war dead, Veterans Day recognizes everyone who has served in the American Armed Forces.  Unlike many federal holidays in the United States, Veterans Day is always celebrated on the 11th of November rather than the Monday closest to the actual day.  Ceremonies are still held throughout the country but for too many Americans, Veterans Day is just another day off from work and school, a day to hang out with friends and family, and a day to shop the holiday sales. (In true capitalist form, retailers have jumped on the bandwagon with numerous sales in honor of Veterans Day. Are their attempts patriotic and in line with the intent of the day or simply a marketing ploy to draw in more consumers? If you want to really recognize and thank veterans, how about making those sales available only to them?) But I digress....  

So today, please take a moment to stop and say thank you to a veteran.  It is only because of their sacrifice that we are able to enjoy the freedoms so many of us take for granted.  I know I will be giving my thanks and I hope you do too. 

Of WASPs & WAVEs

Tomorrow is Veterans Day in the United States and while people will be paying tribute to those men and women who have helped ensure that we enjoy the freedoms and liberties that we have today, I want to bring attention to a small but important group of women whose contributions to the war effort during World War II are all but unknown. The WASPs and WAVEs broke through ground and gender barriers and proved that women are just as capable of men when it comes to serving one's country.

The WASPs, or the Women's Airforce Service Pilots, was a paramilitary organization serving under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces. Formed in 1943, was comprised of female pilots whose service freed the same number of male pilots to fly combat missions during World War II.   The program was controversial since the idea of women piloting aircraft was still a novel idea, but it proved to be popular amongst young women who wanted to do their part to help with the war effort. Over the course of the program a total of 25,000 women applied to be a part of the program, 1,830 were accepted and 1,047 passed the training course which included commercial pilot training as well as 30 days of Army orientation before going on to become pilots.  Two of the women were Chinese-American, one was Native American and the rest were white. Rather than flying in combat WASPs flew on ferrying missions transporting supplies between bases both domestically and internationally in support of America's war effort. A few select women served as test pilots for both rocket and jet propelled aircraft. In total they flew over 60 million miles in every type of military aircraft and 38 made the ultimate sacrifice but because the WASPs were not granted full military status they were unable to American flags draped over their coffins. Their presence was all but unknown to people outside of their missions and after the program was dismantled in these pilots were expected to simply return to their pre-war lives. It wasn't until 1977 that WASP veterans were granted veteran status.  In 2009 the WASPs received the Congressional Gold Medal for having "performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after that achievement". In 1993 the then Secretary of Defense finally allowed women to fly in combat missions and you could say the rest is history.

The WAVEs, or Women Accepted for Volunteer Service, was the Navy's equivalent of the WASP program. Established during the summer of 1942, the understanding was that women who "volunteered" their time were doing so due to the unusual circumstances of the war and that at its conclusion, these women would readily return to civilian life with no expectation of continuing with their military service. However unlike the women serving in the WASP, WAVEs were a full part of the Navy, served as both enlisted personnel and commissioned officers attending the same trainings as the ranks as their male counterparts, received the same pay and were subject to the same disciplinary procedures.

WAVEs were initially restricted to service within the continental United States and were not allowed to serve on combat ships or aircraft but were eventually allowed to serve in Hawaii. Within the first year there were 27,000 WAVEs serving mostly in clerical positions although there were women serving in the medical, aviation, intelligence and science and technology communities. The first female African-American officer was commissioned in 1944 and within the enlisted ranks there was roughly one black woman for every 36 white women. By the end of the WAVEs accounted for 2 1/2 % of the Navy's personnel. As was the original plan, at the end of the War, women did not simply slip back into civilian life. Rather, with the passage of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, women were granted permanent status in the armed services and that summer fourteen WAVEs became the first women to be commissioned as officers (8) sworn in as enlisted personnel (6) in the regular Navy.

My late great aunt Irene was a WAVE during World War II. She was always proud of her service and continued to attend WAVE reunions until her health no longer permitted her to travel. She would talk about her service at every opportunity she had, was a regular at her local Veterans Day celebrations and proudly wore (and showed) people her old dog tags at our Navy tradition infused wedding. Aunt Irene was a character and a tough cookie but when I think of the WASPs and WAVES I think of her. So tomorrow, Aunt Irene will be at the top of my list of veterans whom I remember and give thanks to.

In Recognition Of Those Who Serve

Celebrating at the Marine's birthday ball

This has been a weekend dedicated to appreciating and recognizing the military past and present.  Last night we celebrated the 238th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps by hosting a table of Albanian military officials at the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball here in Tirana.  This was our third ball in Albania and from the venue and atmosphere to the food and our dinner companions, it was the best one yet.  The Marine Corps, perhaps more than the other branches of the service, is steeped in tradition and ceremony and that was once again on display last night.  I am moved each and every time I watch the precisely executed ceremony and hear the birthday greetings from the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  It never gets old and reminds me that the birthday ball signifies so much more than a big party and a reason to dress up.

We stayed out later than we intended to last night so getting moving this morning for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony hosted by the British Embassy was difficult.  However, as we stood in the damp air at the Commonwealth War Memorial surrounded by other military members, Albanian and international alike, and stood at attention in front of the somber white tombstones of Commonwealth soldiers, I was again reminded why we were there.  As the ceremony's emcee reminded us, taking time out from our busy schedules and standing in silence for two minutes is nothing compared to the ultimate sacrifice of the thirty-eight young men buried near us.  Without the sacrifices made by these sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers, it is likely that we wouldn't even have the opportunity to stand there.

Commonwealth Cemetery--Tirana,Albania

(A little bit of background information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as to why there is a Commonwealth Cemetery in Albania:  "Following the end of the war in Europe, an Army Graves Registration Unit entered Albania with the task of concentrating the remains of Commonwealth Servicemen, lost in the struggle to secure Albanian freedom, into a site chosen in the capital, Tirana.  However, due to the political situation in the country, this task could not be completed, through 52 sets of remains were recovered in the short time available. Eventually, in 1955, after repeated requests to enter the country were refused, the Commission took the decision to commemorate the 38 casualties on special memorials erected in Phaleron War Cemetery in Greece.  The situation remained thus until 1994, when a change in the political situation in Albania allowed a Commission representative access for the first time.  He discovered that the original individual burials had moved by the Communist authorities to an unmarked collective grave located under a path near the university buildings in Tirana.  In the beginning of 1995, the 38 special memorials were removed from Phaleron and re-erected as close as possible to the site of the mass grave, in an area designated the Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery.  In 1998, following a study of the Graves Registration unit files, it was possible for the Commission's records staff to confirm the identities of a further seven casualties previously buried in Tirana War Cemetery as unknowns.")

And finally, tomorrow is American Veterans Day, the day we recognize and remember the veterans of all of our wars.  Not to be confused with Memorial Day which remembers our war dead, Veterans Day recognizes everyone who has served in the American Armed Forces.  Unlike many federal holidays in the United States, Veterans Day is always celebrated on the 11th of November rather than the Monday closest to the actual day.  It is a sheer coincidence that tomorrow happens to be a Monday and as such, we are in the midst of a three day long weekend.  For too many Americans, Veterans Day is just another day off from work and school, a day to hang out with friends and family, and a day to shop the holiday sales.  But this day is about so much more.  So tomorrow, please take a moment to stop and say thank you to a veteran.  It is only because of their sacrifice that we are able to enjoy the freedoms so many of us take for granted.  I know I will be giving my thanks and I hope you do too.