Memorial Day honors those who fell

Greetings! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day honors and remembers the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is a day to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

On the other hand, Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11 to recognize personnel who have served in the United States Armed Forces, both still living and those veterans who are deceased. It is a day to express gratitude for their service, sacrifices and contributions. So, Memorial Day focuses on honoring those who have died in service, Veterans Day acknowledges the service and sacrifices of all veterans past and present.

Armed Forces Day is a holiday we celebrate to honor and recognize the men and women serving in our country’s armed forces. There are six branches of forces. Can you name them? Most can name five but forget the newest branch, which is...? Drum roll please. Space Force.

President Trump started Space Force during his first presidency to give both offensive and defensive capabilities from all high tech capabilities which keep magnifying at a rapid pace. Space Force is the Star Wars of our military! The other five branches are Army (go Army, beat Navy), Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Armed Forces Day is observed on the third Saturday in May. This holiday is designated to showcase our military and the many contributions of military personnel and their families. Overall, Armed Forces Day is to express respect for those serving in the United States Military.

Since 1973, the U.S. Military has been an all volunteer force. This means no one is serving against their will like, say, those prior to 1973 who were drafted.

Those of us who are old enough can remember the draft lottery where ping pong balls would come out with a date on the ball. That then was your draft number, coinciding with your birth date. So, if your birth date ping pong ball was say the ninth ball drawn, you were in the ninth round of the draft. The number of rounds the draft went was dependent on the need for soldiers; at that time, needed during the Vietnam Conflict. The Army and Marine Corps were the only branches who drafted. If your draft notice came in the mail, it read,

“From President of the United States

Greeting: you are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States.”

This was for you to mandatorily go on active duty for two years. This was for males only. Females were not drafted.

What happened a lot is joining another branch of the military so you would not be drafted. Usually voluntarily enlisting was a three- or four-year commitment, but in a lot of cases you could pick your MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) and usually where you would be stationed.

Being drafted meant that for two years you went into the Army or Marine Corps to whatever needs they deemed necessary. Most became infantrymen.

My father, Charles Goodwin, was drafted in WWII only to fail his physical because of broken eardrums. He was drafted a second time during the Korean Conflict. My mom tells the story of my dad getting his second draft notice. They were married then. He kissed her goodbye at the bus station in Watertown to head to the Military processing station in Sioux Falls with a premonition he would be on the bus going back to Watertown in a couple of days after he failed his physical.

Well, it didn’t work out that way because we drew down our military so badly after WWII. So they took my father. Yep, as a U.S. Army infantryman. He served in the Korean Conflict earning the prestigious Combat Infantry Badge.

I’d like to end with a salute to all our veterans past, present, and future, and also to our citizens of this great country that give our military unwavering support. God bless the United States of America.