Lynn English Class of '65

As we approach Veterans Day, I came across the following most of which is from the US Census Bureau and thought it might be of interest to many of you.

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation and a remembrance ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

Veterans

18.8 million The number of military veterans in the United States in 2015.

1.6 million The number of female veterans in the United States in 2015.

11.6% The percentage of veterans in 2015 who were black. Additionally, 78.3 percent were non-Hispanic white, 1.5 percent were Asian, 0.7 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2 percent were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.3 percent were Some Other Race. (The numbers for blacks, non-Hispanic whites, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and Some Other Race cover only those reporting a single race.)

6.4% The percentage of veterans in 2015 who were Hispanic.

9.3 million The number of veterans age 65 and older in 2015. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than age 35.

When They Served

6.8 million The number of Vietnam Era veterans in 2015. Moreover, there were 5.6 million who served during the Gulf War (representing service from August 1990 to present); 930,000 who served in World War II; 1.8 million who served in the Korean War; and 4.3 million who served in peacetime only http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B21002

The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during three wartime periods:

• 61,997 served during the Vietnam Era and both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later).
• 29,331 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.

The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during two wartime periods:

• 1,085,142 served during both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later)
• 288,341 served during the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001) and the Vietnam Era.
• 152,416 served during the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
• 65,704 served during World War II and the Korean War.

Where They Live

3  The number of states with 1.0 million or more veterans in 2015. These states were California (1.6 million), Texas (1.5 million) and Florida (1.5 million).

Education

27.7% The percentage of veterans 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2015. In comparison, 30.8 percent of nonveterans had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Income

$38,978 The annual median income of male veterans in 2015, compared with $34,168 for male nonveterans. Source: 2015 American Community Survey http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B21004

$32,446 The annual median income of female veterans in 2015, compared with $22,505 for female nonveterans.

On the Job

7.2 million The number of veterans 18 to 64 years old in the labor force in 2015. Of those veterans, 6.8 million were employed

Service-Connected Disabilities

3.9 million The number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2015. Of this number, 1.2 million had a rating of 70.0 percent or higher. A “service-connected” disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0.0 to 100.0 percent, and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.

Voting

11.5 million The number of veterans who voted in the 2014 congressional election. In that election, 54.0 percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 41.0 percent of nonveterans. These rates reflect the citizen population. Source: Reported Voting and Registration, by Sex, Veteran Status, and Age: November 2014, Table 13

Business Owners

405,235 The number of all U.S. employer firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised 7.5 percent of the nation’s 5.4 million employer businesses.

I found this article on the Washington Post site, and thought it interesting.

Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day. Why? According to the Department of Veterans Affairs:

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served — not only those who died — have sacrificed and done their duty.

Veterans Day and Memorial Day have different histories.

The first official observance of Memorial Day was May 28, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs:

After World War I, the holiday was extended to all soldiers who had fallen in all American wars.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Veterans Day has its origins in the early 20th century. In November 1919, one year after the armistice ending World War I went into effect, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. …

In 1938, Congress approved a bill that made Nov. 11 an annual legal holiday known as “Armistice Day” that would honor the cause of world peace, but it was primarily used to honor World War I veterans. In 1954, after World War II, the law was amended, the word “Armistice” was changed to “Veterans” and Nov. 11 became a day to honor veterans of all American wars.

The complete article can be viewed on the Washing Post web site: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/

I asked Dave Emerton, one of our Vets from the Class of 1965 to make a comment on what Veterans’ Day meant to him.  He replied:

“I am a veteran of the Vietnam War.   I served with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from February, 1967, to March, 1968.  I am extremely proud to have served my country even when many citizens of this country turned away from this war.

As I get older, my appreciation of all the Veterans who served our country in time of need only grows.  Each year when I go to Pine Grove Cemetery to flag the graves of my father, brother and uncles who served our country in time of war, I think of all the hardships and sacrifices they made to keep our country safe and to allow their children and grandchildren to grow and prosper in this great country.

This nation now has over 21 million veterans.  From World War II to Afghanistan, these men and women have given up a number of years of their lives to serve our country.  Every one of us knows a friend, relative or neighbor who has proudly served in our military.  This November, thank a veteran for his/her service.  They will appreciate it.”

I thank Dave for his heartfelt comments on what Veterans Day means to him.  I do hope each of us can share his feelings in some small measure.  To Dave and to all the other veteran members of the class of 1965, and for that matter, to all veterans: Thank you for your service and welcome home.

The members of the ROTC group at LEHS have invited members of the class of 1965, especially veterans, to join them at an exhibition at the LEHS gym in the Paul Cavanagh Field House at 6:45 PM on Tuesday, November 10.  Cake and refreshments will be served and admission is free.

I do hope all our classmates take a few moments to say thank you to all the vets especially our classmates who sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today.  Please click on the word “comment” below and add your personal message to our vets.

If you are a member of the class of 1965 and are a vet and don’t see your name below, please click HERE and send me a message and I will add it as soon as I see your message.  If you know of a vet who served our country and was a member of the class of 1965 who is not listed below, please let me know.

Lynn English High School’s Class of 1965 Veterans include:

Donald Baillie Naval Reserves

William Berkson  Army

Frederick Bollen Army

Robert Bonin Marine Reserves

Richard Bowlby Navy Reserves

Kevin Buchanan  Army

Richard Burke Army

Howard Burnett Army National Guard

Tom Cahill  Army

Roger Caldwell Navy

Richard Callahan Navy

James Cogen Marines

Anthony Colangelo  Army Reserve

John Collier Army

Harry Corson  Army

Ralph Cronin  Army

Don Cyr  Navy

Tom Devine  Marines

John Donovan  Army

Brian Doucette Navy

Donald Ellis  Air Force

David Emerton Marines

Tom Fabrizio Air Force

Bruce Fisher  National Guard

Lawrence Flanagan Air Force (died while serving in Texas)

Arthur William “Bill” Fogarty Army

Ronald Gerstenhaber Air Force

Thomas Gillis  Navy

John Gotimer Navy

Reverand Arlyne Grant Army Reserves

Norman Grant Marines (killed in action in Vietnam)

Donald Hamel  Navy

Mark Hammond Coast Guard

Robert Hartshorn Navy

Robert Johanson Army

Jim Lampes Mass Army National Guard

Allan Leavitt  Army

Peter Lelecas  Air Force

Lester Libby Army Reserves

Wayne Livermore  Army

Richard Lorette  Navy

John MacDonald Air Force

John Martin  Air Force

John McCarthy  Army

Walter Mehm Navy

James Middleton  Army

Robert Muller Army

Haig Nalbandian Air Force

Paul Nardone Air Force

Ralph Nelson  Army

William Nelson  Army Reserve

Robert Newhall Army

Stephen Noone  Army Reserve

Kevin O’Connor  Air Force

Richard Olson  Navy

John O’Neil Air Force

Albert Paradis Army

John Pension Navy

Leland Perry Army

Edward Pettipas  Navy

Bruce Phillips Navy

James Prendergast NH Army National Guard

James Prunier Air Force and Army National Guard

Robert Reed Army

John Reppucci Navy

Michael Rodgers Army

Anna-Marie (Ruth) Frederick  Air Force

David Santos Navy

Charles Sarcia Army Aviation

Donald Scanlon Air force-National Gard-Marines

David Schulze Air Force

Michael Schulze Navy

John Sewell  Navy

Frank Simone  Air Force

John Sonia  Navy

Christo Stratos Navy

John Sturgis Army National Guard

Robert Tibbetts Army

John Warwick Army

Douglas Waters Army

Bradley Wentworth Army

Joe Whalen  Army

Paul Yacovitch Army

Francis York Navy