World War II veteran Ed Kaslin hobbled on crutches, seemingly oblivious to the raw pain from the surgery he had on both knees less than a week ago.
A colleague of his with the Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311 slowly but determinedly pushed his walker to one of the chairs arranged in the parking lot of the Manteca Public Library.
Rodney McCleary played Taps with one hand, his injured left arm hanging on his side on a sling.
Their discomfort was put aside as they joined other veterans, their families and friends, and dozens of area residents at the Library Park Thursday to honor the military men and women who have served, and are serving their country here and in far-flung corners of the world.
“There is honor in serving,” said Charles “Chuck” Palmer in the message he delivered as the main speaker of this year’s Veterans Day observance.
“Our service men and women are responding to a nation that has asked them to pay the price of our freedoms. Let them never forget,” said the father of Marine Cpl Charles Palmer III who was killed in Iraq.
His son paid that heavy price on May 5, 2007. His voice choking, he relived that fateful day when a Marine Corps van pulled up in front of his home bringing the awful news that any parent of a service man or woman hopes never to hear.
“All of your parental instincts kick in and you know that this is not going to be good,” he said.
“Our son, Marine Cpl Charles Olen Palmer II had been killed during a combat mission trying to open up and secure a supply line from Ramada to Baghdad. His unit came under fire from a nearby village, and during the firefight, the enemy set off an IED (improvised explosive device) killing our son (and his MSgt Kenny Mack. The driver suffered burns over 90 percent of his body,” Palmer said, recalling the tragic words that they received that day.
But, he added, “What happened to my son was not unique, special, or a one-time incident. It is what we call war.”
It’s a story that “probably brings up many memories for some of you, possibly all of you,” he said.
Several of those in the audience knew what he was talking about. They were the Gold Star Mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of their country. In recognition of their great sacrifice, they were presented with red roses during the ceremony. Blue Star Mothers, those who have sons and daughters in the military currently serving, were also recognized.
In his speech, Palmer shared a vignette that showed how his son had impacted others’ lives.
“His crew called my son ‘Old Man.’ Because of a break of service, he was a little older than most of them. They will tell you that Charles was definitely ‘old school.’ I remember my son telling me, ‘Dad, I got in trouble for ironing my uniform. They don’t iron them anymore, what’s with that?’” Palmer recalled.
A colleague of his with the Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311 slowly but determinedly pushed his walker to one of the chairs arranged in the parking lot of the Manteca Public Library.
Rodney McCleary played Taps with one hand, his injured left arm hanging on his side on a sling.
Their discomfort was put aside as they joined other veterans, their families and friends, and dozens of area residents at the Library Park Thursday to honor the military men and women who have served, and are serving their country here and in far-flung corners of the world.
“There is honor in serving,” said Charles “Chuck” Palmer in the message he delivered as the main speaker of this year’s Veterans Day observance.
“Our service men and women are responding to a nation that has asked them to pay the price of our freedoms. Let them never forget,” said the father of Marine Cpl Charles Palmer III who was killed in Iraq.
His son paid that heavy price on May 5, 2007. His voice choking, he relived that fateful day when a Marine Corps van pulled up in front of his home bringing the awful news that any parent of a service man or woman hopes never to hear.
“All of your parental instincts kick in and you know that this is not going to be good,” he said.
“Our son, Marine Cpl Charles Olen Palmer II had been killed during a combat mission trying to open up and secure a supply line from Ramada to Baghdad. His unit came under fire from a nearby village, and during the firefight, the enemy set off an IED (improvised explosive device) killing our son (and his MSgt Kenny Mack. The driver suffered burns over 90 percent of his body,” Palmer said, recalling the tragic words that they received that day.
But, he added, “What happened to my son was not unique, special, or a one-time incident. It is what we call war.”
It’s a story that “probably brings up many memories for some of you, possibly all of you,” he said.
Several of those in the audience knew what he was talking about. They were the Gold Star Mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of their country. In recognition of their great sacrifice, they were presented with red roses during the ceremony. Blue Star Mothers, those who have sons and daughters in the military currently serving, were also recognized.
In his speech, Palmer shared a vignette that showed how his son had impacted others’ lives.
“His crew called my son ‘Old Man.’ Because of a break of service, he was a little older than most of them. They will tell you that Charles was definitely ‘old school.’ I remember my son telling me, ‘Dad, I got in trouble for ironing my uniform. They don’t iron them anymore, what’s with that?’” Palmer recalled.