Harry C. McSherry, who died in 1978, was a longtime editor/writer for the Delaware State News, dating back to its days as a weekly. This column, under his “Seen and Heard” logo, was originally published Nov. 11, 1954.
Today is Veteran’s Day and undoubtedly many a gray-haired veteran today has permitted his mind to wander back through the years to just where he was 36 years ago.
What he was doing when the fighting stopped and what his reactions were when the fog began to lift and he suddenly realized that perhaps after all there was some truth to the stories that he had been hearing to the effect that this war was over.
We are referring of course to the veterans located somewhere in or near the front lines in France when World War I was halted on November 11, 1918.
To those veterans this date became Armistice Day and regardless of the desires of groups to have it changed to Veterans Day, in order perhaps that these organizations may have something more to offer to the veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict to the thinning ranks of the old timers of the World War I era, November 11th will still be Armistice Day, particularly for those veterans who were overseas at the time since they went through some unforgettable incidents.
However, November 11th is and has become the date on which we pay tribute to the veterans of all wars and by various means let them know that we appreciate the service that they, in their time, rendered to our nation.
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When the veterans of World War I returned to their homes in this country, they still had the visions of the long rows of white crosses in the cemeteries throughout France and other countries in Europe. They also still had ringing in their minds the many statements varying in degrees, ... all indicating that they had completed a war that was to end all wars.
It listened well and sounded good but how empty were those statements of real facts and actions for just 23 years later our country became involved in the greatest war in the history of the world and it was promptly tagged World War II.
Like the veterans of World War I, many of the veterans of World War II made sacrifices in their personal affairs and in their ... life’s work from which they have never fully recovered economically, although others who remained at home despite being of service age made considerable progress in acquiring this world’s goods.
We often wonder what the feelings of this latter group might be on Armistice or Veterans Day.
When the veterans of World War II started their trek home from the four points of the compass, they too were under the impression that they had completed the job and it would not be necessary for our young men in the future to don a uniform.
Yet within four years we had troops in Korea fighting a war that might be classed just as tough as the previous ones.
Certainly on this Veterans Day of 1954 ... can we not consider that international difficulties can be settled around the conference table without the sacrifice of our young men? It would seem that three experiences within the short space of about 33 years would have taught us that war is costly in human life.
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We can also vividly recall when the former Armistice Day was observed with some proper ceremonies in the Dover area. While this is being written before 11 a.m. today, we believe that the whistle at Richardson and Robbins plant will blow at 11 a.m. since it has done each year since the first Armistice Day.
We can recall how a bugler would appear on the steps of the statehouse at 11 a.m. on Armistice Day to sound taps in memory of the war dead from this state.
We can recall when business would come to a standstill at 11 a.m. on Armistice Day as a tribute to those who had fought for this nation.
We can recall the many interesting gatherings of veterans that were held here on the evening of Armistice Day and we can remember many other forms of tribute made on Armistice Day.
All of which causes us to wonder, is it really safe for Americans to forget?
