READ TODAY'S STORIES AND E-EDITION SUBSCRIBE |  CONTACT US |  SIGN IN

Print story only Print story with comments Email Twitter Facebook Pinterest
In remembrance
Published: 11/12/2012 11:11 AM
Last Modified: 11/12/2012 11:52 AM

By whatever name one uses -- Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day -- Nov. 11 is special day in which people around the world pay tribute to the men and women who served their countries in times of war and peace.

I have been very lucky -- all of my many close family members and friends who served in the military came home. And I know that is something very rare.

When my father-in-law, who served in the Navy during World War II, died three years ago, his funeral was attended by an honor guard, complete with an 21-shot salute. My wife had requested only that a flag be placed on his coffin, so she was surprised when the honor guard was present at the grave site. She was told that the passing of any military personnel was considered worthy of such a solemn and moving ceremony.

It makes one wish that this country showed similar respect to the men and women of the armed forces in the time between their official service to their country and their deaths.




Reader Comments



To post comments on tulsaworld.com, you must be an active Tulsa World print or digital subscriber and signed into your account.

ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.


Subscribe to this blog


Archive

 
James D. Watts Jr's Blog Archive:

2/2013  1/2013  12/2012  11/2012  10/2012  9/2012  
8/2012  7/2012  6/2012  5/2012  4/2012  3/2012  
2/2012  1/2012  12/2011  11/2011  10/2011  9/2011  
8/2011  7/2011  6/2011  5/2011  4/2011  3/2011  
2/2011  1/2011  12/2010  11/2010  10/2010  9/2010  
8/2010  7/2010  6/2010  5/2010  4/2010  3/2010  
2/2010  1/2010  12/2009  11/2009  10/2009  9/2009  
8/2009  7/2009  6/2009  5/2009  4/2009  3/2009  
2/2009  1/2009  12/2008  11/2008  10/2008  9/2008  
8/2008  7/2008  6/2008  5/2008  4/2008  








Home | Contact Us | Search | Subscribe | Customer Service | About | Advertise | Privacy
Copyright © 2013, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.