Speaking of Veterans

[username n/a]

NPR is reporting that on Monday, a Veteran of World War *1* passed away at the age of 108. According to the NPR report, this leaves only ONE known American WW1 Veteran alive, who is age 107. It is possible that a few more might surface but clearly, they're almost gone.

So keep this in mind over the next few months, and when Memorial Day rolls around, please take a moment to reflect upon those who we have lost - either by the simple attrition of time, or perhaps those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Our Veterans made us a free nation and have kept us a free nation - and some have given their service to help make or keep others free.

[The Golden Boy]

I read this today-

When you see History Channel programs about WWI, a few of those guys seem pretty spry, but they were filmed 15 years ago.

I seem to recall a Spanish American War vet... or qualified for the status dying not all that long ago.

Keep in mind, the last known Civil War veterans died in the late 50s.

The last Civil War widow died in either 1993 or 1999.

[SoComSurfing]

User, this might be the most intelligent post you've ever made. Well said.

[ROON]

Originally Posted by SoComSurfing

User, this might be the most intelligent post you've ever made. Well said.

It looks suspiciously non-unsername n/a-ish.

I suspect a cut-n-paste.

[SoComSurfing]

Originally Posted by ROON

It looks suspiciously non-unsername n/a-ish.

I suspect a cut-n-paste.

Upon reread, I'm going to agree with you.

[Vandelay]

I saw this in our local paper, both because the last veteran is a native of Missouri, and also because our city is home of the National World War I Museum. I've visited the museum before, it's excellent.

[Bard2dbone]

The best WWII museum I personally ever encountered was in New Orleans, at the site of the Higgins boat plant from the '40's. It started out to be just a D-day museum, because the Higgins boats were the landing craft used for the mass amphibious landings of WWII, but it had broadened in scope by the time I attended. I'm pretty sure it was destroyed by Katrina, but I hope they were able to rebuild.

[The Golden Boy]

It's such a difficult thing to picture the WWI time as "real."

The pictures you see are only black and white.

The footage you see is black and white, silent and they move all fast and jerky.

No one today can truly understand the horror of WWI. Nevermind the American experience- the 3-4 years prior to the Americans joining the war. All of us have been cold. All of us have been wet. Many of us have smelled death. Multiply what you know of that- and that's just the beginnings of the horror of WWI. It's not just being cold and wet- it's not being able to get away from it. It's not just the smell of death, it's knowing it's your buddy's dead body 25 meters out from your trench that's making that smell.

Again, a lot of what separates us from those people is the grainy, black and white images- it doesn't seem real.

Look at the pics from this site.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/object.html

Color, brilliant, vibrant...

Keep in mind these pics were taken before 1917







And this picture of the Emir of Bukhara was taken in 1911. That's before the Titanic was launched.

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

The best WWII museum I personally ever encountered was in New Orleans, at the site of the Higgins boat plant from the '40's. It started out to be just a D-day museum, because the Higgins boats were the landing craft used for the mass amphibious landings of WWII, but it had broadened in scope by the time I attended. I'm pretty sure it was destroyed by Katrina, but I hope they were able to rebuild.

They did indeed rebuild it, if it was destroyed at all. I played a gig in there last week. An awesome museum, very moving.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by ROON

It looks suspiciously non-unsername n/a-ish.

I suspect a cut-n-paste.

I agree, no mention of Iron Maiden!

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by Pacman

They did indeed rebuild it, if it was destroyed at all. I played a gig in there last week. An awesome museum, very moving.

I was just pretty sure that part of town was submerged. So It didn't look good for the museum. I'm glad that either I was wrong or they fixed it. That place should be viewed as a national treasure.

The Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War is pretty awesome too. Those are the best military museums I know of. I've attended several on-base military museums and none compare with either of those. That's a shame.

[Scarlet Fire]

The Battle of Passchendaele:



Hell on Earth, if I've ever seen it.

[username n/a]

Originally Posted by Scarlet Fire

The Battle of Passchendaele:



Hell on Earth, if I've ever seen it.

Did someone say Passchendaele

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c20-fm_WNew

[SsabKlataBass]

Photos of last veterans:
http://dersdesders.free.fr/combattant.html

[SoComSurfing]

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

The best WWII museum I personally ever encountered was in New Orleans, at the site of the Higgins boat plant from the '40's. It started out to be just a D-day museum, because the Higgins boats were the landing craft used for the mass amphibious landings of WWII, but it had broadened in scope by the time I attended. I'm pretty sure it was destroyed by Katrina, but I hope they were able to rebuild.

I agree. That is the most powerful exhibit I've ever seen. I've seen it bring to tears grown men whom I'd never seen that kind of emotional response from before. I don't think its possible to walk through there with dry eyes.

[syciprider]

Originally Posted by Vandelay

I saw this in our local paper, both because the last veteran is a native of Missouri, and also because our city is home of the National World War I Museum. I've visited the museum before, it's excellent.

I visited KC last spring 07 and yes, that Museum and Bryant's BBQ are the must experience places in that fine city.

[NOLA Bass]

The WWII museum in New Orleans was not destroyed, in fact it did not flood. My office was down the street and we were back in our offices a month after the storm.

To give everyone an idea of how good it is, my cousin visited a few years back. She lives in DC, so she is surrounded by many incredible museums. She said it was the best one she'd ever been to.

[NOLA Bass]

Originally Posted by syciprider

I visited KC last spring 07 and yes, that Museum and Bryant's BBQ are the must experience places in that fine city.

If I ever make my way to KC, I am definitely going to put the WWI Museum on my itinerary.