Let’s Remember to
Honor Our Veterans By Tim Morris
LIFESTYLE Even though the 4th is not Veterans Day, it’s still important to remember those who fought and died for our independence. When I started working in aging, I met so many WWII veterans. I was so proud to just sit and talk to them. They would only talk about things that humored them, not what happened. One veteran, named Herb, was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. Herb said he was 125 pounds soaking wet, giving out orders to guys twice his size. He once ordered Private Schwartz to dig a hole, and as Herb tells it, Schwartz was 8 feet tall and 400 pounds, or so it seemed to Herb. Schwartz looked at him with a shovel in his hands and
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Woodstock Family Life | JULY 2016
told Herb he was not digging a hole, and if he wanted one, he had to dig it. Herb said he never said a word; he just took the shovel and started digging. He put the shovel in the ground twice and looked beside him. Schwartz had joined him in digging that hole. While digging that hole, Schwartz told Herb he was the kind of leader with whom he’d gladly fight. Herb never flinched; he wanted to prove no job was too big for him. Though Herb was scared, he never showed his fear. As the years pass, we have less and less of those veterans to tell their stories. At the Canton Senior Center, we’re proud to have three WWII veterans, Jack, Jack and Larry, to share their stories. They’re truly part of the greatest generation. We can learn so much from them. We cherish every day we have them in our presence. The Canton Senior Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. We would love to have any veteran over the age 60 to come out and join us. We have activities, and we serve lunch every day. Come by, have a cup of coffee, and introduce yourself to Jack, Jack and Larry. L
Tim Morris is the Director of Cherokee County Senior Services. 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-479-7438. CherokeeGa.com/ Senior-Services