Photo by John Richards
For many of us, tomorrow is Veteran's Day, also known as Remembrance Day. It is a time to remember those who serve, and those who gave their lives in service to their country.
The picture above is of my friend George and his beloved dog Hummel. George will be 99 years old this December and he's also a WWII veteran!! He fought in the Pacific theater during the war and was in the thick of the action during the time he served! Like so many from his generation, he is humble about his role, and speaks of his heroic actions as though they were nothing very special at all!
George is an amazing man, who has led an equally amazing life! He still drives, gardens, and spends time training his dog in obedience each day. A year ago, George and his dog Hummel participated in an obedience competition where Hummel received the highest obedience designation that a dog can achieve.
George is a true American hero, and this Veteran's Day I hope we will all take a moment to honor the men and women who have served, and those who continue to serve! Many in my family have served their country with pride, and I know the sacrifices can be so very great!
Posts
Hi Kat, What a wonderful tribute to our veterans! My dad also served in WWII in the Pacific on destoyer escorts. Good for George that he stays acive. Happy early birthday to him!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Sherry
wonderful to here about George He sounds so very special and to Sherry my dad was on a destroyer in the Pacific so its possible that your dad escorted mine thru the dangerous waters so i owe him thanks for getting the destroyers safely to their destinations
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Kat~ and a BIG thank you to George!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Kat! Please tell George how much I appreciate his service to our country. God Bless him and the many men and women who have served our nation and have kept us safe.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
Lovely post. My Uncle William also served in the Pacific Theater in heavy action. He was on the USS Hancock and because a friend wanted to swap shifts with him my uncle's life was saved when the ship took a direct hit. His friend did not survive. Uncle Bill passed away two years ago, he was a wonderful man and his birthday was also in December, we were grateful to have him for almost 90 years! Please give George a pat on the back, a thank you and a little smooch from me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, thank you for sharing George with us. What a wonderful man. Have a wonderful Veterans Day. Terri
ReplyDeleteNot many of his kind left, either in age or sense of duty. Say hello and thanks to him from me, a grateful Brit.
ReplyDeleteHi Kat - this is a wonderful post - I really enjoyed reading about George. My dad was in the Pacific as well, a sailor in the Navy on the Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was hit by two Japanese planes. My dad was in the water for hours before being rescued - he was sent home for two weeks and was not permitted to discuss the incident as it had not been reported in the news until he was back at sea. Can you imagine going through all of that and not being able to talk about it or tell anyone about it? Today, CNN would be on the spot with footage while the attack was happening - what a different world. Ciao, bella!
ReplyDeleteLovely post Kat. What an amazing man. I have several family members who have served in the military with great pride. I think it's wonderful that he is still so active and his little dog is adorable. Thank George for me, and congratulate Hummel on his UD - give him an extra treat :) Kat
ReplyDeleteGeorge is amazing and
ReplyDeleteHummel looks just so
sweet! Imagine, 99 years.
And the things that George
has seen. I bet he's NOT
the grumpy sort, either...
Thanks for sharing his story;
one of a very special
generation who we can never
honor or appreciate enough!
xx Suzanne
Thank you George. You represent who were are all thinking about today. You look wonderful and that photo os beautiful with your gorgeous dog. Forever grateful and awed.
ReplyDeleteA huge hug to George, and one for Hummel too! Thank you George for your service to our country...you are a true hero! and congratulations to Hummel for winning such a wonderful award! What a smart dog!!! (now I don't say that just because I raise Dachshunds!).
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Doni!
George sounds like a wonderful man Kat. Thank you for the nice tribute to all veterans.
ReplyDelete-Rene
i just had supper with my great aunt last night she was 98 in Oct and just amazing how and what she can still do and remember.....so hats off to George in all aspects of his amazing journey!!!
ReplyDeleteGeorge sounds facinating! I sometimes find people who say that they don't want to live to be as old as he is ... fearing that this time in their life would be idle. George proves that life, no matter how long it lasts, is exactly what we make of it ... and it is a lesson we all must heed. Fielding an Agility Champion at age 98??? Congratulations, George and Hummel! I know how much work went into this amazing accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tribute Kat, George does sound like a wonderful American. My FIL passed away at 96 last year and also served our country in WWII. My husband served in VietNam and our family is very proud of him too.
ReplyDeleteA big thank you to George and to all those who serve our country to insure our freedom.
Lovely post Kat! My grandfather served in the Navy right before Pearl Harbor, my Uncle Bill served in the air force during the Korean War and my Uncle John served in the Army during the Korean War and was POW. Do not forget them!!
ReplyDeleteAll those ordinary, elderly men, holding the stories of their heroic youth. We are so lucky just to have been born in our two countries - free and at peace because of their efforts,
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful Kat! What an extraordinarily man and friend you have! He looks so happy! God bless him and all the men and woman that served and are still serving as well as the families that love them! What wonderful stories he must tell you. Thank you so much for introducing him to us. Hummel is just adorable!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute!! We are so lucky that George and so many others fought for the freedoms we enjoy. I also recently met a man from Vietnam who was in the South Vietnamese Army, fighting along with the U.S. soldiers in the war against the North Vietnamese, and he endured 10 years as a POW!! I can't even imagine what he went through or how anyone could survive that for 10 long years, but he was just very matter of fact about it all.
ReplyDeleteThank you George for your service and Kat for this post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute Kat. Thank you George for your service to our country. And happy soon to be birthday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this beautiful tribute to one of our wonderful American treasures. And thank you George for your service. xo ~Lili
ReplyDeleteLovely post! Thank you to GEORGE and to all veterans!!! YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!
ReplyDelete