It seems to me that Veterans Day is becoming a more celebrated day in the last few years. I noticed several television commercials and print advertisements offering Veterans Day deals, particularly restaurants with discounts and free items for veterans.

Veterans Day is Nov. 11, the date in 1911 of the end of World War I. The official end of the war was signed by President Woodrow at exactly 11:00 a.m. So, the month, day and time are 11-11-11 – very special.

Many of my friends and high school classmates either joined or were drafted into military service, mostly around the time of the Vietnam war. My military service came from my enlistment in the Indiana National Guard. My signing date was to have been Nov. 22, 1963, but it was delayed due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on that date.

The six years I served in the Indiana National Guard were very good. I was assigned to a unit responsible for the care and maintenance of all the military aircraft of the Indiana National Guard. I made several new friends and was honored to serve with several guys that I grew up with or who were schoolmates.

This year, I attended the Veterans Day program at South Grove Intermediate School in Beech Grove. For about 12 years, I drove a school bus for Beech Grove City Schools and one of my routes was with South Grove students. Also, Stuart and I do a weekly reading program at two Beech Grove schools and South Grove is one of them. We have been a part of that program for several years.

Stuart did not accompany me to South Grove for the Veterans Day program, but I told him afterward about the very special program that I attended.

Several students took part in the program. The 5th Veterans Day choir performed several special songs, including “Hooray for the USA” and “America the Beautiful.” Teachers Kelly Agee and Beth Walker led the singing of ‘God Bless America.” Walker also sang The National Anthem. Beech Grove High School student Seth Rumler played “Taps.” Some students read narratives poems. Boy Scout Troop 108 presented the American flag and closed the ceremony. South Grove teachers and retired veterans Tamara Truman (SSG, retired) and Melinda Case (SPC) were the guest speakers.

At one point of the program, veterans were asked to stand and be recognized. I was proud to stand for the U.S. Army and the Indiana National Guard along with many veterans at the ceremony. Afterward, we were asked to stand in the hallway so that the South Grove students could shake our hands or give us a high five. Many of the students asked me, “Where is Stuart?”

It was also an honor for Stuart that they asked about him.

The last few months have been filled with peaks and valleys.

On July Fourth, my wife, Lyn, injured her leg and hip while on a mission trip in Ecuador. She is scheduled for knee surgery on Nov. 19, and I am sure she will have several weeks of recovery and physical therapy. She has had her peaks and valleys but has endured.

Also, we have had most of the inside walls and ceilings painted in our house with lots of stuff taken down and put back up. There are some electrical projects and a need for a new hot-water heater. We celebrate when projects, big or small, are finished.

After Lyn returned from Ecuador, I continued doing the chores for our nine chicken girls which seemed to confuse them. Thankfully, she now shows up riding an electric scooter. Three chickens, Ameraucana breed, were adopted in March. They are multi-colored and very beautiful. In the last few weeks, they have matured and started laying eggs with some producing light blue eggs instead of the normal light green eggs. The other chicken girls lay brown eggs, so my thought is that next Easter, I won’t have to color any eggs.

Our therapy dog, Stuart had his 15th birthday in September. His 15 years figure to be around 100 years in “dog years.” For a couple of years, he’s taken a few more naps daily. If either Lyn or me begin to take an afternoon nap, Stuart does his best version of a “high five” as he joins us. He seems to know when Lyn is hurting and is trying his best to make her feel better.

Oh, we are working on a new schedule due to the end of Daylight Savings time. Stuart keeps asking for his dinner on that schedule, but we are adjusting.

Stuart continues to be very busy. We continue to visit two nursing homes on Tuesday mornings. We have gained many friends who are residents and we enjoy meeting members of their families and the tremendous staff workers at both locations. Thursdays are big days for us. We visit two elementary schools in Beech Grove. Stuart loves it when the students arrive in the room and read stories to him.

Last week, my high school class, Southport High School Class of 1960, lost another member, Robert (Bob) Hohn. We did not attend the same grade school but had known each other for 65 years.

I was able to visit the funeral home Friday and visited with Bob’s widow, Linda, and one of his daughters. It was heartening to see quite a few of our classmates present, too. The Class of 1960 is so awesome.
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Bob often attended our monthly class breakfast Wednesday, so we were able to tell members who had not heard of his passing Monday. During the visitation Friday, Bob’s daughter assured us that she would attend one of our future breakfasts to hear some great “Bob Hohn” stories.