The Rambling Writer: Taking my Veteran Father on an Honor Flight
The Rambling Writer visited Washington, D.C., with her father and other WWII veterans.
NOTE: All opinions expressed in my blog posts are solely my own, and I do not pretend to represent any other members of Book View Cafe.
This year, Veterans Day struck me especially powerfully, given the way the current U.S. administration has insulted and abused military service members, apparently intent on ordering them to carry out what experts term illegal orders against our own citizens, immigrants, and possibly foreign citizens in their own territories. Many veterans organizations are warning about a looming Constitutional crisis, and advising military members of their rights and duties, such as when to disobey illegal orders: “Members of the US military are required under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to obey lawful orders, but also required under international standards and the U.S. Courts Martial Manual to disobey orders that are ‘manifestly unlawful’ – that is, so unlawful that any ordinary person would recognize them to be wrong.” (www.ucmjlaw.com) I feel for any service member caught up in the turmoil of these chaotic times and confusing loyalties.
Many people close to me have been veterans, and I value their service and their willingness to risk their lives, even when I don’t always support U.S. involvement in some conflicts. I saw the news this week that former President Obama had stepped up to thank veterans, even as the Orange One ensconced in the White House continued his abusive rants.
I remember when I accompanied my own veteran father on an Honor Flight in 2012, and here’s a revisit of my blog post from 2015:
This Memorial Day, I took my 92-year-old dad Neil Stamey, a World War II and Korean War veteran, to the Celebration of Flags at our local cemetery.
The occasion stirred memories of our 2012 trip with the Honor Flight group that offers free trips to our nation’s capital for veterans. This group was mostly World War II vets, visiting different war memorials.
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You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s latest novel from Book View Café is Pause, a First Place winner of the Chanticleer Somerset Award and an International Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection. “A must-read novel about friendship, love, and killer hot flashes.” (Mindy Klasky). It’s also a love letter to the stunning beauty of her native Pacific Northwest wild places. Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com
