Veterans Day, 2004

November 11, 2004. The eleventh second of the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour on the eleventh day, was when the great war ended. That morning, at five a.m. the allied forces went on attack - never mind that they ALL knew the war would end in seven hours - the armistice had already been signed and everybody, including all of the soldiers who leaped over the trenches knew that. Yet the battles raged on until 11:00. During those last 6 hours of that war more than 10,000 troops were killed - more than were later lost in the D-day invasion of Normandy.
Monuments are erected to the great generals, they should all document the great stupidity of believing that war can ever do anything positive. But still, now 86 years and 16 American wars later, old American men with large American bellies, still stand once a year with large American tears in their eyes dreaming of the glory that once was them. This year the Franklin VFW hosted a picnic for Vietnam Veterans. Being a member of that group, not the VFW, but Vietnam Veterans, I grabbed my camcorder and headed down there. I found a lot of cars in the parking lot, but no people. I wandered around on a perfect day, clear blue sky, soft warm (65°) breezes, bright sunlight slanting across the green lawns. It was a perfect dayfor a picnic - even better for making pictures of an autumn picnic. I found out all the people were inside the building. I went inside and there indeed was a picnic. Tables sat under cigarette smoke so thick I had to leave. I am allergic to that gas, and it was so thick that I was even concerned about my camera. Went home, changed clothes and showered. no photos.
What a waste - what a perfect day to host the town to a picnic to honor the veterans of that great war that proved the foolishness of the “Domino Theory” which stated that if Vietnam fell, then Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Korea, Japan, Hawaii and California would also quickly follow. Some say those great wounds can never heal - but the truth of the matter is that the healing will come only after war is renounced and all those who lead their nations into war are punished as criminals to mankind.

© John Womack, 2006. All rights reserved,