The word, “departure” has many significant meanings. Hundreds of millions of people, worldwide “depart” every minute of every day. Some people depart from their homes to attend school classes; some to go to their place of employment; some go to visit someone at home, at a hospital, convalescent home or a cemetery. Suicide notes and funeral eulogies are also known as final departures.
Many words and phrases are expressions of “departure.” In all languages similar to Goodbye,”see you, adios, adieu, aufwiedershen, tata, take care,” etc. In the military services, and many businesses require people to transfer or “depart” to different locations.
Travel agencies constantly set their “time of departure” for their passengers. People retire from their employment also means a sort of departure.
An undesirable departure for the two Veterans Organizations from the City of Seal Beach has already occurred. The following information is not too generally known. The Seal Beach American Legion Post 857, and the Veterans Foreign Wars Post 4048, will NO longer be based in the city of Seal Beach. Both Posts have merged into OTHER Posts in other cities; due primarily to losses of membership and attendance at meetings.
So many of our comrades have died, or are physically or mentally unable to attend any event, or are homebound, and/or hospitalized etc. Some are unable to drive, or must need to care for their spouse.
As a result of our DEPARTURE, we will not be organizing and conducting the annual MEMORIAL DAY nor the VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES; nor will we be conducting the FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY at the local elementary schools; nor will any of our remaining buddies enjoy the recognition, the applause, and enthusiasm openly expressed for all Veterans by the viewers at the annual CHRISTMAS PARADE.
This is also true of the Ladies Auxiliary who will no longer conduct their usual fundraising events that contribute to the holiday food and gift-giving to needy families.
We will leave the 36” x 32” bronze MILITARY VETERANS PLAQUE that is mounted on the Seal Beach Pier that we donated to the city on MEMORIAL DAY, 2004. I remember all the helpful assistance I received from the City Councill members in authorizing the placement of the Plaque; and the construction crew who donated their time, effort, and building materials in the creation of the concrete pedestal the Plaque rests on.
I am truly appreciative to all the people and organizations that contributed their time and money for the payment of the construction and shipping costs of the Plaque; and especially the S.B. Lions club who arranged to receive partial proceeds from a professional ice hockey game in the Long Beach arena.
In a personal way, I must state my own DEPARTURE from our lovely home in Rossmoor in which my wife of 66 years lived in for over 55 years. We became “empty nesters” when our children grew up and departed from our spacious abode. We moved to Rowntree Gardens, a beautiful “assisted living,” two room apartment in Stanton, California
Bill Thomas of Rowntree Gardens, Stanton, California is a Veteran of World War II, and Past Commander of VFW Post 4048, and American Legion Post 857. Contact Bill atvvbthomasvets@gmail.com.
