Veterans Day in Walnut Creek

President Obama boarded the USS Carl Vinson to honor the men in uniform by watching hoops. I drove my car from Kaiser Walnut Creek to the Lesher Center for Arts after having jumped many hoops for the doctor. I parked, ran inside and followed the band performing The Marines Anthem.

I was reminded of Scottish buglers playing and marching for the Beating the Retreat parade in New Delhi, held every year on January 29 outside the President’s palace to salute the forces. Horse and camel mounted troops lined up the north and south block of the Parliament to mark the silhouette that would be lit up in the end to my delight.

Here the hall was dark, warm and the mood upbeat. Audience clapped and cheered on. It was hard to see faces. What was easily seen was their caps.

I wanted to see what Veterans Day celebration was, the U.S. way.

Media in India poured in American soaps, TV series and wars. I had watched MASH for many years since age 12. I loved Alan Alda although I couldn't take my eyes off Klinger who amused me a lot with his cross-dressing and wild antics.  

America’s place in the history of world was highlighted here for me. Later it was the Kuwait Invasion and the Iraq war.  I had witnessed this from my home soil.

On the American soil, I was struck by the sheer size of Abraham Lincoln’s statue all of 19 ft, the stern sort of expression in his eyes and the white marble. It was the 1992 tour of the National Mall.

So when I met storyteller Pat Weller here who told me a story of a person who listened to Lincoln speak and get inspired, I was all ears. This person, she said, was none other than Don Fraser’s ancestor Ella. And who is Don Fraser? A war veteran, tall and strong standing right in front of me. He smiled as he posed for a picture and removed the cap. He put it back on like a sweet muffin when I asked him to.

Ella was a tomboy, stood on the horse when she got bored looking at the cows in the field, said Pat.  It was common for every one in the family to join the war, she added.

“My entire family fought for the country.” World War I, II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, we were everywhere. My adopted son is a Marine now.

Her story ran parallel to the theme of the 150th anniversary where stories and letters that were passed from generation to generation were shared. 

Jerry Whiting, historian and author who attended it said, “It was a wonderful concise presentation at the 150th anniversary.” People don’t know how important the Civil War was in the formation of our country.

A quote from Lincoln thus reads, “I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”

I am getting wiser day by day is fair to say. I don't want to stop. Do you?