Bill OBoyle: Time to wear our red, white and blue
Jul. 3—WILKES-BARRE — This is the time to display our American flags — to show our true patriotism.
It's time to wear our red, white and blue.
It's time to pause and remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us and to say thank you to those who served, defended and returned — many returning less than when they left for war.
Now is when we say thank you, as we should every day, to all veterans.
Now is when we celebrate the United States of America.
Now is when our patriotism is worn on our sleeves and remains forever in our hearts.
We all grew up learning to honor and respect America and its veterans. We attended those parades, ceremonies and events that were and still are, so deserving.
We flew our flags. We smiled when we saw those uniforms and those units marching down Main Street and we never once thought that anything or anyone could ever take it all away.
Our veterans can never get all the respect they deserve, so we have to keep trying. When you meet a veteran, thank him or her for their service. It means everything to them.
Back in the day, July 4th was a celebration that went beyond the backyard barbecues. As good as those hot dog and hamburgs were, not to mention the macaroni salad, baked beans and apple pie, patriotism never played second fiddle.
We were always reminded of how important it was to remember all veterans of all wars and what they did to preserve our freedoms.
I can remember my dad playing cards at the American Legion. Around the table were men just like him — all veterans who fought in battles and who were, without exaggeration, heroes. These men and women who were fortunate enough to return home, built our communities. They went to work, they joined organizations, they did all they could to improve their communities — the communities that they risked their lives for in far-off countries.
This is reality. We never realized it as kids, but these veterans were the people who we owed everything to. And they did it without hesitation They went to war, they engaged the enemy and they won. Far too many gave the ultimate sacrifice, but given the chance to do it again, they would go and fight for all of us.
In 2015, I sat on the porch with Edgar Roberts and I listened as he reflected on his time as a U.S. Army medic in World War II and his good fortune to land in a country that provided him with hope, opportunity and love.
And what a life it was for Mr. Roberts, who died in 2016,
Born in Wales, Roberts arrived in America at the age of 3 in 1924, and 91 years later he vividly recalled phases of his life that made him patriotic and proud.
After Kingston High School, Roberts said all of his buddies were going off to war, so he wanted to serve his country too. When he arrived at the draft board, Roberts was told he couldn't join the U.S. military because he was still a British subject.
That didn't deter Roberts. He kept coming back to the draft board daily. He became such a thorn in the side of the recruiters, they found a way to draft him. All he had to do was fill out a form, sign it and away he would go.
"I wanted to serve my country," Roberts said. "I felt like a slacker."
Roberts became a combat medic, rising to the rank of Sergeant First Class. While in the service, Roberts became a U.S. citizen. It was a proud moment for him.
Sgt. Roberts knew he could be sent off to Europe to battle. He knew his blood could be spilled like the blood of so many others. Roberts would have been up to the challenge.
"Sometimes people who are born here take it for granted," he said. "I've always known the value of living in this country."
Roberts had a simple philosophy: If you love your country and benefit from it, then you should be willing to spill your blood defending it.
"This is my country," he told me.
Roberts did get to see war up close. He was at the Battle of the Bulge. He remembered that long, cold winter sleeping on the ground. He remembered U.S. troops pushing the Germans back.
Roberts remembered seeing a lot of spilled blood, despite not having a weapon and never having to shoot anybody.
And Roberts knew freedom was never free. He remembered Jackie Brace, a high school pal that he used to run around with. Jackie Brace went to war and never came back. Roberts remembered him every day.
"I think about Jackie a lot," he said. "Jackie never had a car. He never had a house. He didn't have a girlfriend. He never married and he never had any children. I have all of that. What's to complain about?"
To honor Jackie and all veterans, Roberts for many years would go to Jackie's grave. He would clean up the weeds around his tombstone and make Jackie's final resting place look presentable.
"He got killed in Iwo Jima," Roberts said. "It's the least I could do."
True patriotism at its absolute best.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
