11 November, 2010

Apple Pie and Veteran's Day

American cemetery
Florence, Italy
Photo: Casey Klahn



Today, my children are enjoying a day off from school for Veteran's Day. Yesterday, I was invited to attend an assembly at the school in honor of veterans. It is a good thing to have a community memory of the military service that some have provided. I came home with an apple pie, given to each vet who left the ceremony. That was nice.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

A powerful image. The sacrifices made by our vets and current troops are unimaginable to me. Thank you for your service!

SamArtDog said...

I thought of you today.

What a horribly beautiful picture.

Put some ice cream on that pie.

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks for the kind thoughts, you two.

The evening after I took this photo at the American Cemetery in Florence, we ascended to a hilltop restaurant and had an Italian meal & vino, and were treated to accordion and Dean Martin-esque singing and a Tuscan sunset. One of the veterans sang Lily Marlene.

I never think of myself on Veteran's Day, but I do think of my late father's WW II service.

Don Coker said...

Casey, thanks for sharing that beautiful piece by the West Point Cadet Glee Club. Very powerful and moving.

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks for coming out and recognizing that, Don. It is certainly a beautiful piece.

Susan Liles said...

Thanks for the post and beautiful song. God bless all the vets and those now serving!

Casey Klahn said...

Amen.

I ate that ice cream last night, Sam!

Celeste Bergin said...

mens voices all together..always stirring.
The older I get the more I realize how many men and women died so I can sit here in comfort. It wrenches me! Thanks for the beautiful post.

Nika said...

Great image, so abstractly beautiful and disturbing at the same time. Freedom is not free, indeed. Thanks for your service, Casey. Enjoy your pie!

Anonymous said...

Hi Casey, My maternal grandmother was a WWI Army nurse; grandpa served with Black Jack Pershing. Dad's dad was a submariner in WWI (!). I think of them on Veterans Day. And, the graves outside of Verdun. So beautifully, powerfully tragic.

Dad and my father in law served in WWII as did my maternal grandfather and several uncles.

My husband in Vietnam and well, me, I did my duty in Saudi Arabia in the Army. Like you, I mostly think of my family and those still serving.

Where and when did you serve?

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks, too, for posting at your blog, Celeste.

Hi, Nika. Glad you looked and commented.

Hey, Peggy! Fellow veteran and artist. I remember our father's generation when everyone was a veteran, and now it is less than 10% of the population.

I was a captain in the NG. I joined in 1975 there on the harbor, and was in the infantry. No war service, and my late father was happy about that.

Ruth Armitage said...

Hi Casey,
I spent Veteran's Day with a dear artist friend who served in WWII... James Kirk. Heard stories of how he lost his leg, life on board ship, etc. Thanks for the song and your service. Great post :)

Anonymous said...

Bless you Casey. Your paintings are as lovely as your heart. May His Color bring you thanksgiving and favor. Marcia

Jean Spitzer said...

We've started watching Band of Brothers, on Netflix. Worth renting, if you haven't seen it.

Beautiful photo.

Casey Klahn said...

Hi, Ruth. That is the greatest treasure of Veteran's day - spending time with the old vets. I always ask 1 or 2 questions: What was your job? Where did you go? This gets 100% success starting a conversation with a veteran.

Casey Klahn said...

Bless you, Marcia. Your kindness is appreciated.

Casey Klahn said...

Hey, Jean. Did you get to the last one? The interviews with the real veterans are the best part.

Not unlike my dad's experiences in North Italy.

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