Vaughn Hardacker here: Today, November 11, is special to our veterans. Memorial Day honors all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their life to maintain our way of life. November 11 is Veteran’s Day and it honors all who have served in our country’s military services not just those of us who are combat veterans. Always remember that although many veterans did not serve in a combat zone, all were willing to go if sent.
Pvt V. C. Hardacker June 1966
Those of you who attend the New England Chapter of the MWA and Sisters In Crime CrimeBake Conference may have noted that while I attended the first eleven (serving on the committee for five of them) I have been absent for the past ten. The reason, it falls on Veteran’s Day weekend and as the Commandant of the northernmost Marine Corps League Detachment in the continental United States I have any number of veteran and Marine Corps events (November 10 is the Marine Corps birthday–this is our 243rd year) which I have come to believe are more important than CrimeBake. A few years ago I came across a poem that really hit home with me and I’d like to share it with you. It is titled: A VETERAN DIED TODAY.
Flag Raising, Iwo Jima Island February 1945
A VETERAN DIED TODAY
Anonymous
He was getting old and paunchy, and his health was failing fast.
And he sat around the Legion, telling of his past.
Of the war that he had fought in. Of the deeds he had done.
Of the exploits with his buddies. They were heroes, every one.
Though, sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke.
All his 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 Veteran died today.
No, he wasn’t mourned by many, just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way.
And the world won’t note his passing’ though a Veteran died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing, proclaiming they were great.
The papers tell their life stories, from the time that they were young.
But the passing of a Veteran, goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of this land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow, who in time of war and strife,
Goes off to serve country. And offers up his life.
The politician’s stipend, and the style in which they live.
Are sometimes disproportionate, to the service that they give.
While the ordinary Veteran, who offered up his all
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension small
Its so easy to forget, for it was so long ago.
That our Bobs and Jims went to battle, but we know.
It was not the politician, with his compromise and ploy,
Who won for us this freedom that our citizens enjoy.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand.
Would you really want some cop-out, with his ever waffling hand.
Or would you want a veteran, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and his country and fight until the end?
He’s just a common veteran and his ranks are growing thin.
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, we find the Veteran’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor, while he’s alive to hear the praise.
Then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days
Perhaps a simple headline in the paper that might say
“Pay honor to this hero, for a Veteran died today”.
Reflections by Lee Teter
Every day I reflect on many of my fellow veterans who are no longer with us. Above the head of my bed is a print of Lee Teter’s painting Reflections and I spend a few moments studying it each day recalling all of my brothers and sisters who gave of themselves so that those who preceded us and those who follow us will be the beneficiaries of the freedoms which many of us take for granted.
In closing, any time that you greet a veteran saying: “Thank you for your service.” Shake their hand, if they are close friends or relatives give them a hug it will tell us that “Thank you for your service,” is more than just impersonal words like “How are you doing.”
Kait Carson
Charlene D’Avanzo 
Thank you and here’s a hug (((((((((()))))))))). My two sons were in the service – one a Marine and the other in the Army. This Mom was happy that they didn’t have to go to war even though they went overseas.
You welcome Gram. Every vet I know says the same thing: “I’d do it all over again…”
That’s an excellent poetic statement. My dad, a veteran of WWII, worked every Veterans Day. Every year he sent letters to his representatives asking that they make it a national day for VETERANS. Every year the banks closed, the post office closed, the county offices closed, the state offices closed, and every year he went into work on Veterans Day.
We had a veteran of recent service who was running against an entrenched, head-patting politician. Our vet is exactly the kind of person who should be in the legislature. Guess who won. I am so sick of old, white career politicians who are out of touch yet get sent back term after term to glad-hand and back-slap and ignore the real needs of their constituents. A perfect example of this happened during the only debate this guy would agree to. Some of the veteran’s supporters got a little noisy. When the career politician told the veteran to get control of his supporters, the vet turned to the career politician and replied, “Sir, they are YOUR constituents.”
All the men in our family are veterans of foreign wars. They had not planned to serve, but they did when they had to. My son, who serves others every day but did not have to serve in the military is the only exception.
Thank you for your service, Vaughn.
Thank you Julianne…For years I’ve said: “Everyone gets Veterans Day off but the veterans.”
Thank you for sharing this poem. My husband, who counseled war vets with PTSD at the Caribou Vet Center for 16 years, was brought to tears when I read it to him. I posted it on my Facebook page because I wanted to share its powerful message.
Thank you for this, Vaughn. My dad was overseas in WWII for years, and I still have the box of letters (heavily censored) that he wrote to my mother. Today might be a good day to read some of those. We miss you at the Bake, but you can still come to the Crime Wave in June.
Kate