November 9, 2022 Issue, Page 9 of 17

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2 November 9, 2022 A day to honor Gene Smith Gives all veterans Back to Other Veterans Gene Smith ‘The month of November is a special time for the nation's veterans. While Memorial Day honors fallen soldiers and service people, Veter- an’s Day, which takes place each November, is an opportunity to com- memorate the efforts of all who have been in the armed forces, with a special emphasis on living veterans. While people are encouraged to thank veterans throughout the year, Veteran's Day is a particularly aichopped a rm fo, Sm wag with heavy arilery,VFO"Wh77 days the No poignant time to show your appreciation for the men and women of sone ao to ep he cus toe Sunn bE UN enemy the military. Ie aon ite tetas Mets esc cna he Bane at Veteran's Day takes place on November 11 and marks an important 54 Bistesmentt ni Pade the | le the Nor : th Viena moment in history. On November 11, 1918, World War I, known at te aia He aah the time as "The Great War," unofficially ended when an armistice, iene si een88 C50, or temporary cessation of hostilities, took place between Germany Gesand eranbooes BFOUNA Who Ot remove f oe before r = and the Allied nations on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. World War I ended on paper when the Treaty of Se een fou 98 odie ase vt even ane OM BAY tha Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. In November 1919, President By Sheryl Ponce more respect for the soldiers on rules to warfare, in reality the only the benefits that they deserve and Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemora- the ground who dealt with death rule is to kill or be killed.” how to access them. He seems to tion of Armistice Day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Judy Haught wrote about Gene ona daily basis. “You don’t get involved in a civil have a passion about getting them Affairs. Smith, Jr. in her book, “Heroes Smith's military career and his war, and you don’t get in a hold- access to other veterans who have Armistice Day became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. in Our Midst.” She described his experiences in the Air Force have ing action because you get a lot of However, after subsequent wars, including World War II and the Ko- experienced loss through their career as an Air Force pilot during brought him a sense of pride and people killed unnecessarily,” she service to the US. His heroism for rean War, veterans’ service organizations lobbied for Armistice Day the Vietnam Civil War between opinion about the US involvement quoted Smith. to be revised so it would be more inclusive of all veterans. On June the North and South, He joined in other countries internal prob- Today, Smith is involved in the what he did while serving is testa- 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to strike American Legion 181. He works ment to his commitment in help- the 345th Tactical Airlift Squad- lems. Haught quoted him as say- the word "Armistice" from the holiday's name in favor of "Veterans." ing others today. ron in 1967 to fly the C-130 in ing, “While there are supposedly to inform other veterans about Since then, November 11 has been known as "Veterans Day" and has Vietnam on temporary duty. honored veterans of all wars. “In reality it was not temporary, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October for roughly seven years under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which sought but because he was technically stationed in Taiwan, the count of Raymond to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating certain national holidays on Mondays. But since November 11 bore 750,000 Americans in Vietnam did not include him. His job was Newell Dunn U.S. Army such significance, many states disapproved and continued to observe to haul whatever had to be hauled the holiday on November 11. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed whether it was wounded soldiers, legislation to return the observation of Veterans Day to November 11 food, or livestock,” Haught wrote beginning in 1978. Should the day fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the about Smith. Activity During WWII: federal government observes the holiday on the previous Friday or She told about the Tet Offensive Served on the Battlefield in, following Monday, respectively, according to History.com. Germany. He was decorated and Smith’s hardest mission of ‘The United States isn't the only country to celebrate its veterans. Can- for stringing communications ada, Great Britain, Australia, and France also commemorate the vet- his career, transporting fallen 325 S. Main, Elk City wire and relaying messages erans of World War I and II on or near November 11 as Remembrance soldiers out of the area, Smith's recollection of the duty gave him (580) 799-7186 under enemy fire in Europe Day or Remembrance Sunday. K KR K KR KK K In some of the toughest times KKK Ke Ke ® «x «K we have called on our veterans to serve. They have served with honor and grace and continue today. We would like to thank our veterans current and past for their endless sacrifices. Without you we would not be here today. Thank you! VETERANS DAY HONORING ALL WHO SERVED 2700 W. 3rd St, Elk City + 580-225-2288 Thank you for your s THRU TUBING 210 S. Main St, Elk City 580-225-0100 1501 E 20th St, Elk City, OK 73644 - 580-225-6977 www.elksupply.com