Thank a Veteran & Christmas Card Swap

Today is Veterans Day so if you have someone in your family or a friend or see someone wearing insignia that indicates they are a veteran, during your daily travels, please be sure to thank them for their service.

Here's a photo of my Grandfather and his men during WWII.  He's the one in front center with the mustache.  He served in both the European and Pacific theatres.

We got our first real frost last night.  No wonder.....it spit snow a bit yesterday too.

I've got to start cleaning the house today as Elder son and his GF will be arriving next weekend for a couple of days.  I've also got to come up with a real nice meal for while they are here since they won't be here on Turkey Day and I am NOT going to cook that meal twice in one week(not a big enough fan of turkey to do so). 

I've also got to get the fridges in order(ie-leftovers eaten and cleaned out)so I can fit the bird in there soon.  And I need to figure out what I still need to buy(besides the turkey).....off the top of my head, it won't be much.  ;-)
I will be going to Target this week as they have their "Get $10 GC wyspend $50 on Food Deal".  I sent for a $50 Target GC a few weeks ago paying for that with our credit card points.  Get $10 GC for spending a "free" Target GC?  Yes, please!! 8-)

Also on the agenda this week is a trip to the Food Bank to drop off a car load of HBA/cleaning products .
We'll probably do that the same day we go out to The Christmas Tree Shoppes with Hubs.  There is one North of here about 30 min away now and I'v'e never been to one.  I probably won't buy anything but we are just going there to get out of the house and window shop.  We'll probably eat lunch out that day too.

Oh, and there will be a trip to Dollar General for some Taco Bell GCs as they are discounted at that store this week.
And of course, there will be a trip to, where else?, Rite-Aid......lolz

Lastly, head on over to Anne's blog, "Cooking and All That Jazz" to find out about entering her Christmas Card Swap.  She's done this for a few years now.  It's open to bloggers as well as blog readers so go join in! 

Sluggy

Lest We Forget

Veterans Day......it began as Armistice Day back after the "Great War" was fought and the eleventh day of the eleventh month commemorated the end of World War I, November 11, 1918.

Now in America we celebrate it as Veteran's Day while Canada and the UK calls it Remembrance Day.

But especially in the US it's a Day to remember and celebrate ALL Veterans of ALL wars we have been involved in.

I can't seem to find any direct ancestors who fought in WWI but I did record a man's grave in Drake's Branch, VA while headstone hunting my own family.

Bernard Jackson Wingo served in the US Army as a Wagoner and was part of the American Expeditionary Forces in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive(also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest).  He was part of the US Army's 81st Division of the 4th Infantry(the famed NC Wildcat Division), in Supply Company 323.
He was KIA 7 Oct 1918, just 33 days before the Armistice was signed. Bernard had turned 25 just 13 days before his death.

Bernard was a farm boy from rural South Central VA who according to his WWI registration card was the support of his mom and dad before he was shipped out to Europe.

Bernard was not interred at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery near the village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon in Meuse, France, like over 14 Thousand of his fellow patriots who died there, but was brought back to his home in Virginia to be buried near family.

Bernard's younger brother, Clyde Arlington Wingo, signed up to fight in March of 1918 and happily survived the "Great War". Bernard's youngest brother, George Elmo Wingo, went on in 1942 to enlist in WWII and also survived living to the ripe old age of 64.

Bernard's headstone reads--

Bernard J. Wingo

Sept. 25, 1892

Oct. 7, 1918

Supply Co. 323 Div. 81

Died in France while in the service of his county.

Greater love hath no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

Remembering these brave citizens, especially the ones who gave their lives, today. You and your service are not forgotten Bernard Jackson Wingo.
R.I.P.

Update--After doing more digging around in the family tree it turns out that Bernard Jackson Wingo IS related by marriage, being the brother in-law of my 3rd cousins 4 x removed, Paschal Lee Holt.

Bernard's sister, Alma Lee Wingo, married my cousin Paschal Holt in 1906.

Sluggy

Lest We Forget

Never forget that many that have gone before you have given of themselves to keep you free.
Many have given their all doing their duty.
And many who didn't have their all taken from them, were changed irreparably nonetheless.


Take a moment today, on this Veteran's Day to remember the great cost at which your freedom was won and is protected to this day.

Thank the veterans in your family tree, both living and dead.

Here, we'll be celebrating men like.....

Robert Foster, Ensign Army, Revolutionary War

Joseph James Hamilton, Private Army Reserve Corp., C.S.A., died as a POW

Raymond Maxwell Harper,  Private Army, World War II

Frank Bowman, Sgt. Army Corp of Engineers, World War II

Steve Arcure, Private Army Air Corp, World War II

and Anthony Arcure, Navy, Vietnam War (no photo)

Except for the last name above, our veterans are all gone now.

War is terrible.  Ask anyone who has had to fight.
We should not enter lightly into wars of an offensive nature.
A strong defense is however a different matter.

While we don't have troops fighting in Iraq any longer we need to bring the troops home from Afghanistan as well.

Show some appreciation to those veterans in your life who are still with us.
And donate to the WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT to help our Military Heroes who need a hand transitioning back to civilian life.
They gave themselves to keep you safe.
What can you do to keep them well.

Sluggy