Carefree Truth #1066

"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer

Carefree Truth
Issue #1066, November 19, 2023

Good Afternoon Everyone! There is nowhere else I’d rather be on this beautiful Veterans Day. Welcome to Carefree and the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. Thank you for spending your Veterans Day afternoon with us. We appropriately kicked off our program with a short rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever". More than 125 years ago, this patriotic American march was written and composed by John Philip Sousa. We’ve all grown up with it. Today it is the official National March of the United States.

I’m John Crane, Mayor of Carefree, and welcome. Through the course of this afternoon, please enjoy the coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and bottled water served by the Carefree Kiwanis Club. The coffee is courtesy of the Carefree Coffee Roastery. The Black Mountain Foothills Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution donated cookies.

In addition, if you glance around the perimeter of the Pavilion, you will find several other organizations that provide services to vets. We have students and advisors to the Veterans Heritage Project. They are celebrating their 20th year of connecting students with veterans. And they are working hard to conduct their 3,000th veteran interview this year. We will learn more about them later in our program.

We have the Association of the US Army table, manned by Vietnam veteran and helicopter pilot Lt Col Vic Conner. Raise your hand, Vic.

Next to Vic, we have the Arizona Youth Leadership Council Phoenix Chapter headed by Vietnam veteran Col Dick Minor, US Army retired.

And we have the Institute for Healing of Memories table manned by Carefree resident, US Navy Veteran and veteran advocate, Mike Wold. Mike asked that I let you know that next Friday, November 17 through Sunday, they will have a workshop at the Spirit of the Desert here in Carefree to help veterans and first responders with emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds. Seats are available. Mike, raise your hand.

Scattered throughout the audience are members of the Cave Creek American Legion, Post 34. Last week the Post cleaned up each of the 41 veteran grave sites in the Cave Creek Memorial Cemetery here in Carefree and placed an American flag on each.

Speaking of the cemetery, our local chapter of the DAR will celebrate “National Wreaths Across America Day” Saturday, December 16 at 2 pm in the cemetery. A live wreath will be placed on each veteran’s grave site. You are encouraged to join them December 16 at 2 pm in the Cave Creek Memorial Cemetery. More information is available at their table along with an opportunity to donate.

Finally, a thank you goes out to our friends at APS for helping to sponsor today’s event.

Veterans Day is a day when we celebrate our veterans, those who have served and those who are serving. Those who gave their lives and those who came home and humbly live among us.

Recently the Air Force and Space Force announced you now have until you are 42 years old to sign up. That is a three-year rise in the age limit that was previously set at 39. Those of you itching to serve or return to service may still have a chance.

But why was the maximum age extended? The fact is that those who have served or are serving are an elite group. It is because in the United States, fewer and fewer qualify to serve. It is truly an honor to be here and stand before such a distinguished group of veterans and their spouses and families. And, it is a privilege to have you with us today.

Colors will be presented by Cave Creek Boy Scout Troop 603. Please rise for the Posting of Colors and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of our National Anthem.

Bernie Falchook, a World War II Army veteran, was very much looking forward to leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. While exercising two days ago, he broke his arm. He is very disappointed that he is unable to join us. His daughter, Jacky, told me her Dad said he “is sorry that he let us down.” That is exactly what a soldier of that generation would say. Although Bernie cannot be with us today, I would like to share the story of this remarkable, long-time Carefree resident and patriot.

Bernie served in the Pacific Theatre in two different combat zones in the Philippines. He was in the 41st Infantry Division and in the Signal Corps where he served as a Radio Operator. Bernie became an expert at using Morse Code to relay messages. He worked out of a tent right next to a Flame Throwers School which made it extremely hot! He also worked out of the back of a moving truck.

Later Bernie served in Japan with the Occupation Forces. He saw the devastation in Hiroshima after the atomic bomb was dropped and knows first-hand the terrors of war.

Following WWII, Bernie returned to his home in Brooklyn, New York. There he met the love of his life, Florence. Eventually they landed in Carefree, Arizona.

Once in Arizona, Bernie established an industrial cleaning chemical business with his first warehouse being right here in Carefree. Later the business moved to the Scottsdale Airpark.

Bernie resided in Carefree for over 50 years, raised a family, and loved every minute of his life on Black Mountain. Many of you may know and remember Bernie. Please keep Bernie in your prayers. And although Bernie is not here, please give him a big round of applause.

Please remain standing for the singing of our National Anthem by Carefree residents 8th grade student Keira Kolander and freshman Olivia Nicosia.

Please be seated.
That was wonderful. Please give a special round of applause to Olivia and Keira

And, well done to the Cave Creek Boy Scout Color Guard. Thank you so much for joining us. It means a lot to have you here.

It is now my pleasure to introduce our Master of Ceremonies, Preston Westmoreland. This is the third year Preston has joined us. He always adds interesting stories and a bit of entertainment and he always has a smile. Preston is a Carefree resident and former US Marine.

As a radio talk show host, he always tried to honor and showcase the military and veterans. He has many great stories related to that.

He was inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame and won the Marconi award, radio's "Oscar", for best large market radio personality in the United States.

Please welcome Preston Westmoreland!
https://vimeo.com/884628353?share=copy

The first speaker was U.S. Air Force Capt. Lizzy Satran, all sign "Cosmic".
https://vimeo.com/884665734?share=copy

Next up was the Carolyn Eynon Singers along with the Main Event Band.
https://vimeo.com/884673515?share=copy

The second speaker was Army veteran and journalist Tom Rhoades.
https://vimeo.com/884850596?share=copy

Last, but not least, was Keynote Speaker Army E5 Sgt. Mack Johnson, who served in Korea during the war, earning the badge of "Imjin Scout", named for a river in Korea, running patrols in the DMZ. He ran out of time, with more to tell, but noted that he would remain in the audience if anyone wanted to hear more about the defense of the DMZ.
https://vimeo.com/884882254?share=copy

The Carolyn Eynon Singers along with the Main Event Band played the theme songs for the various branches of the service, and the audience members of each branch rose when their theme song was played.

John Crane returned to the podium to close the program.

Preston, well done. I am so glad you joined us. And thank you to all our speakers including Mack Johnson, Tom Rhoades, and Capt. Lizzy Satran for spending your Veterans Day with us and sharing your thoughts and perspective. It is an honor to have all of you here. And it was a real treat to have the Carolyn Eynon Singers along with the Main Event Band joining us in our celebration of veterans.

As a matter of tradition, we appropriately close our program with the Last Post and the playing of Taps. We have all heard the Last Post trumpet call but may not know the origins of this tradition in military life.

British Army tradition has given us two bugle calls, called the First and Second Post. The first post, done in the morning, marks the start of the inspection of the camp and quarters. The "Last Post" call or 2nd Post was used in British army camps to signal the end of day when the duty officer returned from his tour of the camp and quarters. At the end of the day, when he had inspected all the sentry posts around the camp, a call was played at each of them to signify that all was well in the garrison.

The Last Post call had another function at the close of a day of battle. It signaled to those who were still outside the garrison walls, either fighting, wounded, or separated from their comrades that the fighting was done, and to follow the sound of the call to find safety and rest.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the use of the "Last Post" was carried to various countries of the British Empire and beyond. In all these countries, including the United States, it is now incorporated into military funerals. It is played as a final farewell, symbolizing the fact that the duty of the soldier is over and that they can rest in peace. We will now close with the traditional playing of TAPS. But first, I would like to share the words behind this music.

We will now close with the traditional playing of TAPS. But first, I would like to share the words behind this music.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hill,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night. Must thou go,
When the day and the night
Need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,
’Neath the sun, ’Neath the stars,
’Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.

TAPS was played.

Thank you for spending your Veterans Day afternoon with us. I’m glad we could spend it together. We look forward to seeing you all next year.
https://vimeo.com/884998892?share=copy

Below is a link containing still photographs taken during the event.
https://aneyeonyouproduction.com/111123-veterans-day-celebration.html

All the videos and stills were done by Herbert Hitchon.

Lyn and Herbert Hitchon

Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted

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