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Last Saturday dawned partly sunny with frozen fog. At least that's what it looked like as I made my way along W.Va. 88 through Oglebay Park to my destination in South Wheeling. The date was Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
As an invited guest to the annual P.A.P. Club's Veterans Day breakfast, I was humbled to be seated among the veterans of all ages inside the club. There is no better host for this event than Ed Gorczyca whose brothers all served in World War II and came home.
Ed embraces his Polish heritage with passion and the same goes for his respect for the men and women in uniform. He laments that fewer veterans attend the breakfast as the various ranks continue to lose members to their final resting places. Veterans of more recent conflicts and military efforts don't seem to want to be involved in veterans organizations or events at the same rate as older soldiers.
That doesn't stop Ed and a host of wonderful volunteers from extending their thanks via the breakfast. Some of the veterans brought along photos from war and service time. Others proudly wore their uniforms as they would go on to take part in the American Legion Veterans Day service at WesBanco Arena later that morning.
After breakfast, I went to the civic center where the service was set for 11 a.m. As the time drew near to begin, it was painfully obvious how few members of the public were on hand. Fewer than 50 people -- including those military personnel involved in the service -- were present.
I realize Saturday mornings are busy times especially for young families, but this was just one hour out of the year when our local veterans are appreciated on a personal level. The Ohio Valley has a long and honorable history of providing our country with service men and women.
It is only fitting that we thank them on Nov. 11 and every day. Everything from the readings to the music to the words offered by guest speaker Brenda Miller were on point. As an American whose own father served and was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, I can tell you that there is something special about those who served and those who continue to proudly wear the uniform.
I don't know about you, but I am worried about our country and the state of affairs around the world. I worry for all the military who can be called at a moment's notice to a foreign land to help maintain freedom for all. And I worry that those red, white and blue stripes are fading in the eyes of a divided America.
So today and every day, I thank our veterans and current military for all they do to help us sleep easier under that flag.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.