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RURAL-URBAN RECORD, November 7, 2022 Page 9

11TH HOUR CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE books, news reports and movies – those that have served do As Adlai Stevenson once stated, “Patriotism is not short,
not have that luxury. Not only should we remember that the frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady
In every conflict, inevitably a final service member pays democratic principles we hold so dear have been defended dedication of a lifetime.” Let this Veterans Day be a new be-
the ultimate sacrifice. In World War II, Private Charlie Havlat, by generations of Americans whom we honor on Veterans ginning. Go forth and find a way to serve our nation, our
the son of Czech immigrants, in the closing days of the war, Day, but more importantly we should take inspiration from communities and each other – we owe it to our Veterans.
found himself liberating his parents’ former homeland – word that sacrifice. Our country, despite all our self-imposed differ- Joseph Reagan is the Director of Military and Veterans
of the cease-fire reached his position minutes after he was ences, needs to look to our Veterans and see that there are Outreach for Wreaths Across America. He has over 10
killed. no divisions in a foxhole – there are only those who stand in years’ experience working with leaders within Government,
Officially, the U.S. has never declared a final casualty defense of democracy and those who stand against it. non-profit and Fortune 500 companies to develop sustain-
in the Korean War; since the armistice was signed, nearly While we may only celebrate Veterans Day with a few able strategies supporting National Security and Veterans
100 U.S. Soldiers have been killed in combat on the Korean moments of silence each year, we have an opportunity to Health. He served 8 years on active duty as an officer in the
peninsula. On April 29, 1975, Charles McMahon and Darwin use those moments to find our own way to serve as part of U.S. Army, including two tours to Afghanistan with the 10th
Judge were two of a small number of Marines tasked with our commitment to living up to the legacy of our Veterans. Mountain Division. He is a graduate of Norwich University,
safeguarding the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. They had been When the Armistice was signed in 1918 when the Japanese the oldest private military college in the country.
deployed for only 11 days when they were killed by a rocket surrendered, and when the last flights departed Kabul and By Joseph Reagan, Director of Military and Veterans Out-
attack. The U.S. would complete the process of withdrawing Saigon – these were not simply endings – they were new reach for Wreaths Across America and Afghanistan Veteran.
from Saigon the following day. beginnings. We honor those who serve by recommitting our- For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit
Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss was the last of the 2,461 Ser- selves to making the sacrifices necessary to preserve our www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
vice Members who died in Afghanistan; he, along with 12 way of life.
of his comrades, was killed in a suicide attack during the This page is sponsored by the following:
withdrawal from Kabul.
In every war, there is always one that must fill the digni-
fied but dubious role in history as being the last to give the Columbia VFW Post #9340 Grafton VFW Post #3341
full measure of devotion. Each year, on the 11th day of the 25742 Royalton Rd., Columbia Station 440-236-8111 781 Huron St. Grafton 440-926-3341
11th month, as a nation we pause, not only to honor those
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