While wondering what will be the next article for me to write, (and I had already written one about Memorial Day) I began thinking about Flag Day in June, Independence Day in July, and about World War II, etc.
Then I began remembering how GREAT our country has been while I’ve been alive to live through much of it. Starting in 1923, I was too young to know anything about the ROARING TWENTIES, except the funeral of my older brother, Tommy. He was five, I was three. The most I remember was the big hole in the ground and a big box was lowered into the hole. There were many flowers, and many people crying.
And it was in 1930, I began learning how to play the violin at my Mother’s “earnest request” while I really wanted to be playing baseball. I became as good a violinist to play in two school orchestras. In our English class, I won in many “spelling bees.” My prizes included a Webster’s dictionary, and a few Nestle’s chocolate candy bars.
Many investors lost heavily in the 1929 STOCK MARKET CRASH. Many people, at different levels of personal wealth, committed suicide. Of course, most of the people in the world struggled through the “GREAT DEPRESSION.” There was much sadness and sorrow as millions of people struggled through their heavy losses of jobs, homes, and numerous other meaningful values to them.
Our family of six fared fairly well due to the cash and the home-grown fruits and vegetables Dad received as payment for the 25¢ haircuts and 15¢ shaves in his barber shop. Mom contributed greatly with the cash and the cans of chili she was paid while working from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. in a chili and bean factory
AMERICA went on. People did as good as they could, or as good as they had determined they would. Almost all people helped each other in many ways and deeds.
WORLD WAR II began in Europe. The British and the French were two of our friendliest nations and considered to be our allies. They needed war materiel and equipment, food supplies, etc. to defend their nations and to protect their people.
Many hundreds of thousands of people in America, including the multitude of women who came in off the farms and nearby areas, and their homes to begin working in the ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY. The workers in automobile factories began manufacturing all parts of fighter and bomber planes. Thousands of large and small factories built armored tanks, various types of ammunition, and many other kinds of war materiel.
Other workers made bandages, parachutes, military clothing, and everything else that was needed to win the wars against HITLER, MUSSOLINI, AND TOJO.
War bonds were sold to help pay for the tremendous costs expected due to high expenses of the war.
AMERICA WAS UNITED as never before. Many people volunteered as workers in the AMERICAN RED CROSS, and other vital organizations. Many “show-business people” applied their talents as musicians and comedians; many actors and actresses danced with military personnel at the USO, UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATION. My brother, Jim danced with the beautiful actress Donna Reed.
Multi-millions of young men and women entered the UNITED STATES armed forces to beome the trained combat units on land, sea, and in the air. The Army, Navy, and Air Force placed many of their personnel on active duty as essential services in communications, transportation, food supplies, munition suppliers, clothing and bedding needs.
Also included were the men and women doctors and nurses and associated medical and dental personnel. War needs are numerous and costly.
Peacetime is also costly not only to maintain adequate military requirements, train our children with high value education, keep our economy growing, our people prospering, elect the best people suited to grow and govern our national honor and prosperity, etc.
BUT our “untied” United States NEEDS to be the UNITED STATES of AMERICA as it has been over the past centuries, ESPECIALLY as we lived during the years of “THE GREATEST GENERATION” that developed during the 1940’s and through all the years after WORLD WAR II… until the recent 20 to 30 years. We had more respect and appreciation of each other, other people and situations then, than now.
AMERICA, let’s “grow up” and UNITE as the GREATEST COUNTRY in the WORLD.
Let’s ALWAYS remember “UNITED AS ONE, DIVIDED WE FALL.”
Bill Thomas of Rowntree Gardens, Stanton is a Veteran of World War II, and Past Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4048, and American Legion Post 857. Contact Bill at vvbthomasvets@gmail.com
