There were once great reunions of Revolutionary War soldiers and memorial services for Civil War soldiers. I can remember as a kid my grandfather's unspoken presence as a WW I soldier.
The annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance program and breakfast at the York Expo Center drew about 100 people in 2005. Sixty-three veterans attended the event in 2006, and about 48 last year.
For the 67th notch of the annual event today, roughly 25 stood and saluted the flag.
When the speaker called all veterans of Pearl Harbor and Battle of the Bulge, Billie Houseman, of York, stood alone.
Perhaps the richest experience in life is to be lucky enough to witness the last moment of something repeated for decades; the irony being that you don't know it has passed until it is too late to experience ever again.
thanks for your service bill. a great guy and a good friend who i've interviewed. thanks for defnding freedom and doing your part to defeat the nazis !