11 November 2023 - Veteran's Day

 In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day now called Veteran's Day and also called Remembrance Day.  It started on Saturday, November 11, 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War. It became a federal holiday in 1938. My Dad's ship was a LCI aka Landing Craft Infantry also used for close-in support for fire support of landing operations and as it is with many war veterans they don't say much about what happened but he did have a watch that was damaged by shrapnel and also watched a Navy friend on the ship get hit and killed and May this day be forever rooted in our hearts as a day to respect and honor the great, brave patriots who gave their lives for this nation! Happy Veteran’s Day to all!

Ross' father Pete was in the Army in Nancy France starting 14 August 1942 four months after getting married in April 1942 Ross was born in February 1943 while he was stationed in France so it was a while before he got to meet his first child.  Pete had finished law school, was 33 years old and would be drafted so he joined the Army JAG (Judge Advocate's General Branch) or military justice branch and was stationed at a military base in Nancy France.

My brother Kent was also in the Navy and part of the time on a submarine in the late 1960s.  My youngest brother Brian was in the Navy for 20 years and at one point on a ship that docked in Oman during the Persian Gulf War.

Preston West Jones and Ross when Ross was a little over a year old and the first time they met face to face.

My dad home on a military leave on the farm.  My dad met my mom when she was a teacher in the little country school I attended until 5th grade and he was on leave and went to pick up his young 1st cousin to surprise her.  This is the school:

At one point my Dad was stationed in San Diego so he and the Navy buddies could easily visit Tijuana for a little party time I am sure.

My brother Kent:

My baby brother Brian who was just 4 years old when I graduated from high school!!!

And yes it is November and I am lucky enough with the weather to still walk outside even though a couple times a few little "flakes" fell on me;.

Yes this is 4:45 and it's daylight savings time so it's pitch dark by 5:15pm!

And I still spend 20 or so minutes a day working on my diamond dot art and the little beads are very tiny and I've done enough to call it my "travel wall".  It's a good hobby to keep your mind and fingers sharp!!!  That and travelling the world!

This is the famous Collosseum in Rome, Italy.

And this is the Parliament in Budapest, Hungary on the River Danube.