Veterans Day
©Bert Gildart: Each year at this time I’ve posted a blog about Veterans Day, done so in part to acknowledge the incredible contributions made by U.S. veterans to our country.
My father was certainly part of that legacy for he was stationed at Schofield (Pearl Harbor) when it was bombed (December 7, 1941) and he later fought at Guadalcanal. He was a 1937 West Point graduate and in 1942 — the time at which he fought in the Pacific – he was a captain, entitled to a driver. The driver was in a fox hole with Dad and the man lost his life when curiosity prompted him to stand and survey his surroundings.
Dad remained in the Army and eventually logged in 30 years of service, retiring as a brigadier general.
Certainly I’m proud of my dad’s military career and it seems appropriate to honor his service just as I’ve done in previous years, and that is to post my thoughts on West Point, his Alma mater. Dad and I weren’t always on the same page, though my views have changed as I have aged.
NEW SUBJECT: Several have asked why I have not posted in almost a month and to put it bluntly, I simply needed a rest. For over six years I’ve posted virtually every week and sometimes seven times a week. Also as many of you know, Janie has been recovering from very extensive surgery for cancer and that has limited our travels.
We have, however, put the time to good use. We’ve fixed gutters, cleaned and organized the garage, cleaned out the Airstream and prepared it for upcoming traveling. We’ve organized the house, and made literally dozens of trips to the dump – all with the intent of downsizing. That may not sound like much, but it has become a round-the-clock obsession.
Korean War Memorial; Changing of Guard at Arlington National Cemetery; World War II Memorial
Now after five months of reorganizing our lives, it appears as though we will soon be getting a green light from the oncologist and intend to resume our Airstream travels sometime in December, probably after Christmas.
Rested, I’ll have no trouble filling this site, for I’ve plotted out a series of blogs which I believe will interest those who love to travel. Please start checking back in.
BEFORE CLOSING here are a few other links that pay homage to our veterans: Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Memorial Day.
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AIRSTREAM TRAVELS THIS TIME LAST YEAR:
BOOKS THAT WILL HELP WITH YOUR TRAVELS:
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
November 12th, 2013 at 7:27 am
Good to see you two back in the swing of things. We have missed you both and are especially glad to hear Janie is improving to the point of resuming travel. We look forward to your wanderings.
It is amazing to me as to how my parents became wiser as I grew older. I wonder sometimes if our kids will notice the same phenomena, but not so yet so far as I can see. I guess I will have to age a bit more first!
Hats off again to all our vets and those who serve today. We all owe so much to those of you who are first to step up. Thank you …..
November 19th, 2013 at 9:34 am
Thanks, Tom & Sandi, and Janie and I both agree with your thoughts. In some of our upcoming travels we hope to visit old military posts, particularly those at which we once lived. That list includes Fort Monroe, Virginia (now a national park administered area); Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville; and, of course, West Point, where both our sets of parents are now buried.