Veteran's Day in Condon - warmth and remembrance

A venerable log building, a blustery November day in a small country community, the Pledge of Allegiance, the tolling of a bell. A scene repeated hundreds of times across the nation, yet as each name was read the personal, local feel of loss hung in the air. We think of great wars with legions of soldiers, but they are composed of young men and women from Seeley and Condon with moms and dads.

Last Monday, Nov. 11 was Condon's ceremony at the Community Center, followed by a lunch prepared by the American Legion Auxiliary. The atmosphere was lively over a hearty soup. I asked Lindbergh Lake resident Dave Johnson about his service.

Johnson served in Vietnam in 1969-70 as an artillery surveyor, planning the location of artillery attacks. His strongest impression of his service was the connection with the other guys, the camaraderie, the collective need to look out for each other. That was a common theme among the 30-plus attendees.

Mike Schuff spoke of a military way of life - his journey ranged from the National Guard to Korea to Germany. He found the rhythm and variety of his career to have been an interesting and satisfying experience.

So many stories. Neil Meyer trained troops in Texas in 1953. Mike and Robin Hall met in the military and had careers in nuclear science and law, much of it in Germany. Dennis Hawver told me, "I got in a spot of trouble in Vietnam," and was sent to Laos (where the U.S. wasn't supposed to be). He survived despite his banishment.

My father served in Italy from 1942-45. He was among 11 survivors of a group of 120 in his company. He took part in the battle of Monte Cassino as a member of the 34th Red Bull Division, a battle that cost 55,000 Allied casualties for questionable military gain. A preacher's kid, a devout Christian carrying a machine gun in the mountains in the winter, he rarely spoke of his military service. He was plagued with nightmares and guilt. He did tell me that in combat "the flag doesn't even flutter," rather survival and the guy next to you were all that mattered. His theory was that those who told war stories weren't in combat. He escaped with his life, but didn't escape completely, as many veterans have experienced.

The upbeat event belied the importance of recognizing the service of those in our community who served, who watch out for us in a dangerous world. The tragedies in Ukraine and the Middle East and elsewhere remind us that our safety and security have come at a cost, and we thank those that have paid that price.