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| My Father Frank M. Guess |
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| My Brother Francis M. Guess |
Three men, two generations
serving their country through
two World Wars.
One giving his life.
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| My Uncle Sgt. John Guess Jr. |
The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an armstice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said
"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."
Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
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Sgt. John Guess, Jr. was seriously wounded on September 28, 1918, during an encounter that resulted in the capture of four machine-gun nests and three prisoners near Eclisfontaine, France. For his extraordinary heroism Sgt. Guess was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
My Uncle died in Base Hospital 61, France on November 7, 1918, just four days before armistice was declared. Two years later his body was returned home to his final resting place at Savannah Pioneer Cemetery in the town of his birth, Rosemead, California.
John with Little Sonny on his final trip home before leaving for Europe
I get the impression that vets are receiving their due from the public this year. I see a lot of respect in people's eyes as they look at the military men and women at events and parades. Vets deserve our respect and it's nice to see people showing their gratitude for what they do (or did).
ReplyDeleteAs a result, a lot of vets are feeling good this Veteran's Day -- and that's terrific. (And your grandfather's such a hunk. I always have to say that when you post photos of him. What a handsome man!)
Thanks Keith, (actually my Uncle, not grandfather - He was my father's older brother) - Yes, he was quite handsome, tall and people just loved him and he loved people. It was rumored that he was smitten with the woman who would be the principal of my grammar school. I'm not sure that was true but it makes a good story, also it got me very well taken care of when I was a kid in school.
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