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Memorial Day 2024
Hello 50th Company Classmates:
Okay, I have a confession to make. Ever since coming home from Vietnam on Memorial Day, 1971 I have never looked forward to or liked the Memorial Day holiday. Please let me try to briefly explain.
For the past twenty years, or so, my ex-business partner and his wife have been hosting a BBQ on Memorial Day for basically about the same twenty people. All these friends except for one navy Vietnam corpsman have never served in the military. What has always irked me is that the first thing people say to each other is, “Happy Memorial Day”. How in the heck can a day that is supposed to be dedicated to the memory of thousands and thousands of soldiers who have given their all in war be happy? The “civilians” just don’t get it and look at the official holiday as a day off from work and getting together with friends.
More personally, while I profoundly feel sad for the soldiers who gave their lives, I have never been able to get over the guilt of being glad that I wasn’t in their ranks. To me, May 30, 1971 was the first day of the rest of my life since for me and a lot of you, our war ended on that day or close to it. I keep thinking that it should be “Happy Birthday” and not “Happy Memorial Day”. I thought that over the years it would become easier to reconcile the conundrum but it has not. I suspect a lot of you feel the same.
In conclusion, I recommend that you do as the ex-corpsman and I do. Find another veteran who has lived through times of war, look each other in the eye and quietly give a little toast to our fallen comrades. So, to all of you, I virtually say, “to our fallen comrades – and to life!”
Lou Lallo
Vietnam Veterans Day 2024
Hello 50th Company:
Did you know that March 29 is officially designated as Vietnam Veteran's Day? I have to confess that until last year I didn't know that there was such a thing. Kind of says something about the public's appreciation for the disruption in life that we all experienced in those days. Personally, I think the official name of the day should be Vietnam ERA Veteran's Day. No matter where we served we still turned our lives over to the "green machine" to do with us as they wanted. If you are like me, you probably haven't had many non-military people recognize or understand your sacrifices during those stressful years. It is up to us to recognize each other's service. So, to all of you, it has been my distinct honor and privilege to go through those times with you. Thank you for your service!
Lou Lallo
Happy Anniversary 1 August 2023
Hello 50th Company:
Amazing how the years keep rolling by. By my count, today (August 1) marks 54 years since we threw our hats in the air and started down our journeys with the lifelong lessons that we taught each other in OCS. I often have wondered if at that time I had realized just how much our six months of training had changed me. In all honesty, probably not. Looking back on it, however, those six months changed me for the rest of my life -- for the Better! I have heard these same sentiments from many of you over the past 5 years.
So, Happy Anniversary to all of you and thank you for principles that you helped instill in me.
Lou Lallo
Veterans Day 2023
Once again, we are observing my favorite holiday. For me, Veterans Day has a special meaning. First, the country gets to thank all soldiers, living and departed, for their service and sacrifices. I love the way some of our classmates participate in the ceremonies. Even more importantly to me, it is a day when veterans get to salute each other, knowingly look into each other’s eyes, and silently share thoughts of our own service to country.
At our Kansas City reunion, Brian Flora gave a short presentation to remind us of what the late 1960s were like. Not many of us truly understood the war; we didn’t want to go; and we darn sure weren't looking to get ourselves injured or killed. But we still stepped up and did our duty!
It seems like tumultuous times and conflict in the world have become the new normal, and we are going through yet another very tense and scary period. Your experience and insights can help the younger generations get through it. If you haven’t already done so, do your kids and grandkids a favor and tell them what it was like back in the day when you became of age. Reassure them and tell them to stay strong.
I salute you all and thank you for your service.
Happy Veterans Day!
Sincerely, Lou Lallo
50th Company classmate Brian Flora lives in Oak Park, Illinois, a large town of 50,000 inhabitants that is no longer home to anything resembling a veteran’s organization that could put on Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies. For the past several years, Brian has stepped up on these occasions and organized traditional events to salute our veterans and thank them (and their families) for the sacrifices they have made in service to our country. On November 11, 2022, Oak Park’s Veterans Day ceremony was held in the ballroom of a local not-for-profit. It began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, to commemorate the armistice which ended the First World War. Officers from the Oak Park Police Honor Guard posted the Colors. Brian was the emcee and introduced Illinois Senate President and the Oak Park Mayor, who gave welcoming remarks. Uniformed Chaplain Kerstin Hedlund (U.S. Army Reserves) delivered the invocation and benediction. Brian’s remarks examined the origins and meaning of Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, and generally recognized and honored all of our veterans, especially those who lost their lives in service to our country. The History Singers, a local musical duo, led the group patriotic songs, including the Medley of Service Songs. (The medley included the local premiere of the new Space Force Anthem.) As wreaths were laid, a bugler in a WWI uniform played Taps. Our veterans were remembered and recognized.
