vETERANS dAYThe view from the top of the upright piano.

Friday at Pittsburgh Carrick High School, students read more than 65 names of Armed Forces alumni who served and died for their country.         WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq. Afghanistan.

Jeremiah played Taps from the back of the auditorium.  Our Spanish teacher played the piano while another teacher sang God Bless America. There were family members who told stories about their service member who passed.  It was a poignant ceremony.  The students did a wonderful job, reading not only their names but where the member had served, their decorations and where they died.

A couple of alums who were  Korean War Veterans spoke as well.    I photographed the event and was deeply touched.

Signed into Law May 26, 1954

Veterans Day.  More than a day off from school.   A day in November to honor all veterans- men and women in the military who have served.  And the correct spelling  “the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling ”  according to an article  “Apostrophe Sparks Veterans Day Conundrum”.  I had to look it up.  WWII, on the left my father’s brother Alan Ray Hendricks who “observed his 28th bday by flying a bombing mission  over Japanese-held Koror Island in a 7th AAF Liberator on which he is a gunner”.(old yellowed newspaper clipping)  Received the Distinguished Flying Cross.       Who do you know who has served? Scan and email a photo of a veteran you know , along with name and service and I will post a gallery of veterans.  Suzanne sent me her father-in-law and father and that sparked the idea.  rutheh@gmail.com

Hendricks Family Photo I Found in a Box- Alan, Harold, Floyd, Mary Alta, Roy