Observations©

By Donald S. Conkey

Date: November 1, 2007 - # 944 - Saluting our Veterans in Cherokee County – (816)

Were you among the nearly 100 who attended the “Salute to Our Veterans” last weekend in Canton? Those who attended witnessed a stirring program of high quality, a program that brought tears to many, and a program that vividly focused on the cost of preserving America’s individual and collective liberties that millions have fought and died for since 1775 – maintained by being prepared and everlasting vigilance.

            Sponsored by the Cherokee County Republican Women, and initiated by their president Lori Pesta, the program was supported by a variety of county businesses, as evidenced by the growing list of program advertisers. This second annual Salute to Our Veterans sponsored by the CCRW was in the making since its 2006 program was held at the Woodstock High School. Congratulations women, you did a superb job, and the veterans of Cherokee County thank you for thinking of them.

This CCRW event was the first of several events leading up to Veteran’s Day on November 11, a national holiday. And these local events take on even greater significance now that Cherokee County is among the nation’s elite counties, those few privileged to host a veteran’s cemetery.  

These cemeteries loom larger in the lives of all veterans as their sands of life begins to trickle down a little faster inside their individual hour-glasses-of-life. I was reminded of this inevitable event this week while posting the death of a cousin, a World War II veteran. He was buried in the Riverside California National Cemetery. This reminded me of my father-in-law, a 35 year veteran of three major wars, whose final resting place is in the Salt Lake City veteran’s cemetery; and of my father, a World War I veteran, who was honored by the American Legion during his funeral in 1996. Now our family’s veterans, me, a son, two grandsons and a granddaughter have a prepared military resting place close by at Sutallee.          

             What we celebrate today as Veteran’s Day was established first as a day of remembrance by President Woodrow Wilson on November 11, 1919, one year following the signing of the Armistice ending World War I, the war to end all wars. The world’s hoped for peace never materialized.  Known as Armistice Day it became a federal holiday in 1938 by an act of Congress. In 1954, because the three major wars hadn’t ended all wars, there were now many more “veterans,” so Congress changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day. 

While pondering today’s lack of peace we must always remember the price of peace. History is replete with the wars that have destroyed untold millions of lives from the beginning of time. In 1832 a western New York religious leader wrote about a coming forth of wars that would plague the world, beginning with America’s Civil War. This war still haunts millions and it still burns deep in the hearts of many Americans. And that war’s rebel flag has become a symbol of hatred and cultural divisions difficult to heal. 

That man’s words read:  “... beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls; ... the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations beginning at this place.” Were his words prophetic? Possibly! The world has known no real peace since the Civil War. And with the events going on today world peace is certainly not “just around the corner.”

Matthew’s words in 24:7 speak of our day. They read: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers’ places.”  Sound familiar? It should. It’s happening now — all around the world. Droughts lead to famines, pestilences, and the raging wild fires we witnessed in California recently. Right here in Cherokee County numerous monuments remind us of that terrible war that pitted brother against brother. The ‘Trail of Tears’ began here in Cherokee County. In addition to being powerful reminders of man’s cruelty to man they should also be a reminder of God’s prophesies of what was to be — and what is to be!

How grateful we are for those veterans who went to war. How grateful we are for those who stayed home to build the war machinery and to grow the food to feed the world. We who lived through World War II remember well where we were when Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan – nation against nation. And today most remember where they were when the Twin Towers were destroyed by terrorists on 9-11-01 – kingdom against kingdom. Neither are pleasant memories.

Will the world yet know peace? Yes — but not until the Prince of Peace comes.  Personal peace can be found today but only within one’s heart when one is prepared to meet God face to face. Thanks to all veterans, of all wars, especially to those who paid the full price.