Wednesday, November 14, 2018

World War One Centennial and a Welcome Home

With fellow awardees and organizers

Today my son Nigel and I went to a ceremony honoring veterans of World War I and all veterans.  It was also a Welcome Home for me and four other Vietnam-era veterans who received lapel pins and sincere thanks from other veterans and members of the Harrisburg community.  


Harrisburg Police Honor Guard

The entire ceremony was in three parts and lasted nearly three hours.  We first gathered in the Midtown Arts Center and heard talks and proclamations honoring the service of veterans and firefighters.  I was one of the speakers.  I began by telling the audience that I was invited to speak to save time. I enlisted and re-enlisted for four different wars over a forty-year period, so I could speak about wars I signed up for between 1972 and 2016.   
After an hour at Midtown Arts we walked four blocks to the Susquehanna River.  There was a band and the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle group along with two horse-drawn carriages.

At the river more people spoke about World War I while we crowded around the statue of a soldier from that war.  The Harrisburg Marathon route passed in front of the statue, so we had to be careful crossing the street not to impede the runners.


After a wreath ceremony we walked back to Harrisburg Arts where five of us received pins for service during the Vietnam War. We were also welcomed home.

Along with me there was a Navy Veteran and three members of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Group.  My son and I left immediately after the ceremony hoping to catch the finish of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Brazil.  I should have written down the names of my fellow awardees, but I assumed everything would be on line.  I was wrong.  If I am able to get the names in the future I will update this post.

The emcee for the ceremony was Brigadier General Wilbur Wolf who invited me to speak. I finally met Wilbur's wife Amy at this ceremony. We talked a lot about kids and college.

Bishop Nathan Baxter offered the prayers at the beginning and end of the ceremony.  Some of his incredible career is here.

Suzanne Sheaffer, a Gold Star Mother, was one of the organizers as was Lenwood Sloan. Rick Kearns read poetry and other writings for the ceremony.

Command Chief Master Sergeant Regina Stoltzfus spoke at the monument.

Leader Yasin Sharif gave a prayer of reconciliation at the memorial site.

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