Veterans Day - My Family

I thought I'd take a moment to salute those members of my family who served in the Military in honor of Veterans day.  I find it strange that really only the Federal Government recognizes today as a holiday (my kids are in school and my wife is at work.  Since I work for the Department of the Army, I am off today).  For most of the country, this is just another day in November, but I think it's an important day to remember - especially when we have people in harms way in two different theaters.  According to Woodrow Wilson as quoted on the VA's Veterans Day History page:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

I think his sentiment was appropriate just after World War 1, and it's appropriate now.   

 

 

Sidney Cone (1847-1934) Seated front row middle
7th Kansas Cavalry (1864-1865)

One of my maternal great great grandfathers.  This photo was at a meeting  of the Grand Army of the Republic post number 82 in Colorado Springs, CO., on October 10, 1926. 

Franklin Earl Zaring (1899-1964)
US Navy (1918-1919)

This is my troubled maternal grandfather.  He served for a year in the Navy during WW 1, however I can't find any personal records with details.  He served again in the Navy for about a year and a half during WW 2.

Domenic Agazio (1915-2001)
5th Platoon (Radar), 562 Signal Air Warning Company, US Army (1941-1945)

Domenic was my father's oldest brother.  He was drafted before Pearl Harbor and served for the duration of the war.  He served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.

 

Louie Agazio (1921-1972) on the right
799th Military Police Battalion, US Army (1942-1945)

This is my father.  He served in Australia, and the Philippines during WW 2.   Unfortunately he died before I was old enough to really ask him questions about his experiences.
 

Mary J. Zaring (1920-1971)
US Navy (1944-1946)

This is my mother.  She spent most of her time at the Naval Air Station in San Diego, CA.  She was a Chaplin's assistant and I'm not quite sure what she actually did.

Timothy C. Agazio (I was born and am not quite dead yet)
Various units in the US Army (1984-2004)

As you can probably guess, these are not photos of me, but at least I was the one who took them.  They were both taken during my time in Somalia (1992-1993).  The top photo is one of my favorites.  If you can't read the cardboard sign on the "head" it reads "COLONELS CAPTAINS (USN) VIP'S GENERAL OFFICER USE ONLY"...this head was truly only for high ranking butts.  I was only an Army Captain at the time so my butt didn't have high enough rank to use this one.

The bottom photo I took of the first President Bush in early January 1993.  He deployed us to Somalia after he lost the election to Clinton and made the effort to come visit us before he left office.  He gave a short speech and then waded into the crowd of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen to sign autographs, pose for photos and shake hands.  Unfortunately, I wasn't close enough to shake his hand or get a photo taken with him, so I had to settle for holding my camera above my head and snapping a few photos and this was the best one.  A friend of mine got his autograph and gave me a photo copy of it.  I've always admired the first President Bush for coming to visit us when he was a lame duck, and he really didn't have to.

 

Like most people, I have quite a few veteran ancestors who served in peace, war, or both - only wish I had more photos of them.

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