Guilford Thanks Those Who Served Past And Present

Ron Whiteman, a veteran and chaplain for the VFW Post 7666 in Guilford, woke up Monday morning, on Memorial Day, with the number 55,000 in his head and this thought in his heart: 

There were more than 55,000 American service men and women who died during the Vietnam War, where he served. "Say they had two parents each," he said. "That's 110,000 parents. Then they had four grandparents each. Then they had brothers, and sisters and aunts and cousins. When you think about it, there were millions affected by those who died in that war. It affects us all, even to this day." 

In particular, Whiteman often thinks of a young man who was killed next to him by a sniper in a firefight, and the men who didn't make it off Omaha Beach on D-Day during World War II. "We have to think of those who died, so the rest of us could make it to the objective," he said. "These men did what they had to do, and they gave their lives. There's a lot of pain involved in war."

Still, if you thank Whiteman for his service, like many other veterans, he will respond that it was an honor to serve. 

"It was an honor then and it's a joy now to support the men and woman who are still serving," said Whiteman, who also is a member of the American Legion Post 48 in Guilford. 

David Rock, a U.S. Navy veteran sitting next to Whiteman Monday morning in Guilford, agreed. He was waiting with his wife Cathy and Carol Whiteman, for the parade to start. He added though, that he served before the Vietnam War on an aircraft carrier. He said he was older than Whiteman. "I got shirts older than him," he said. 

Regardless of age, rank, branch, conflict, war, stateside, or abroad, Whiteman said Memorial Day, and the parade, was about every man and woman who served, is serving, or supports those who do.