Honoring All Veterans of All Wars

After I got home from the service in 1965, I was appalled by how non-Veterans in the United States viewed the men and women who had given not only their time, but often their lives while serving their country. I attributed this to a lack of understanding of our country's history and in the late 1990s, I started "Honoring All Veterans of All Wars" to teach our young people about the incredible sacrifices that have been made on their behalf. By understanding our history and the dedication of our country's veterans, I feel that today's youth will gain an appreciation and respect for not only those who have given so much in the building of our nation, but also for all the people, animals, and land that make up this great country.

Judy and I have dedicated this corner to All Veterans of All Wars and use it to explain to the young people that war doesn't actually have anything to do with the smart bombs and tracer bullets they see on television. It's about their grandfathers and grandmothers, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors who have given their lives and limbs to protect and defend the freedom we enjoy today. We play a tape for them and explain the symbolism of "The Missing Man Table";

• The table is round to show our everlasting concern for our missing men and women and its smallness symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors.
• The tablecloth is white to symbolize the purity of their motives when answering their call to duty.
• The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and friends who keep faith while awaiting the return of our missing brothers.
• The vase is tied with a red ribbon, a symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing and the red ribbons worn on the lapels of those who aren't here.
• The slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.
• The pinch of salt symbolizes the countless tears shed by their families as they wait.
• The inverted glass symbolizes their inability to share a toast with us.
• The candle reminds us of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to light their way home.
• The chair is empty because they are still missing.

At the end of my explanation of this corner, I ask everyone to go within their families and seek out the Veterans, and, if Uncle Fred, Aunt Mary, Grandpa, Dad, or whoever was a Veteran, to shake their hand and just say, "Thank-you for the freedom I have!"

In this growing corner, we have a plaque with the names of several Veterans on it that honors those Veterans no longer with us. My father, uncle, and a couple of very good friends are on this plaque and this helps keep their memory alive. If anyone would like to have their relatives or friends on the plaque, we'll be glad to add them. We don't charge for doing this, but as we're completely supported by donations, we gratefully accept any donation you'd care to make.

These names also appear on each side of the two-wheel drive truck we use in national competitions. This truck, called "USA's Answer to Terrorism - The War Eagle", has been featured at many car and truck shows in addition to the two-wheel drive pulling competitions we enter. These Veterans' names are carried with us in our "battle to compete" and in our enduring efforts to remember those who are no longer with us.

On our trucks, we have a flying eagle that denotes "Pulling for MIAs-POWs & Freedom". Wherever we go throughout the country, we constantly have Veterans thanking us for doing this. I have to remind them, "No, you don't understand, we do this to thank you!" Whether it's here in our display area at our motor sports complex or at an event we attend, many, many, many times, those people leave with tears of gratitude in their eyes simply because someone took the time to remember.