VETERAN'S DAY 2009 : REMEMBERING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY.........

As we honor in remembrance the men and women who have served, and are serving, in the United States Miltary on this Veteran's Day 2009, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, make it a somber commemoration and the despicable tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas last Thursday makes this an even more poignant day. My deceased father, Troy Doil Powers, served in the Seabees during World War II. My late oldest brother, Harry George Feusi, served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, from 1965-69, including service on the USS Enterprise, the Presidential crisis command ship. Harry was one of only two sailors on board the Enterprise who had access to the Presidential quarters and were responsible for maintaining them. My brother Gerald Marshall Feusi, was in the Army during the latter years of the 1960's and also served in Vietnam. Their military service has been replicated by generations of Americans, living and dead. From our Revolutionary War in the 18th Century to the War on Terror today in the 21st Century, service in the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard, has been one of the constants of American society. Overnight watching the BBC World News and CNN this morning, I learned that the last three British World War I veterans died this year. If there are any left in the United States they are a scant trace, as they would now be well into their 100's circa 109, or more. There are 2.27 million World War II veterans surviving in our country; 2.6 million Korean War veterans; and 7.6 million Vietnam and Gulf War veterans alive. That is nearly twelve and a half million living American veterans, not counting those of the current Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. My CSU-Sacramento classmate friend Teri Tenenbaum Currier, has her husband, Brigadier General Don Currier, currrently redeployed in Baghdad, on one of his multiple tours of duty in Iraq the past six years, with her college age son, Brett , due to deploy in January. My Sacramento State Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brother Rob Paoletti, is also serving in Iraq, and is serving as an area chief of police operations. To all of American vets and those throughout the world who have served the causes of liberty, freedom, peace, God Bless You and Thank You, for defending our democracy and the safety and security of our nation and the world.........Peace + Prayers in Jesus the Lord of All Creation, Fr. Troy