WIESBADEN, Germany - Young and old, white and black, Sailor and Soldier -- no matter their background, all veterans share a common bond that cannot be broken.?
Such was David Cain's experience when greeting World War II veterans at Frankfurt Airport, a story he retold during U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden's Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 7 at Memorial Park.
"Though I was more than half a century their junior, I felt at ease among these members of the greatest generation," said Cain, post commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 27. "We laughed and joked about how this plane ride was significantly better than the last one, and how the cool damp weather wasn't any different the first time around as if I had shared those experiences. Perhaps my comfort around them was due to their grandfatherly stature or their jet lag, but I believe it reflects the bond among veterans."
More than 20 million veterans live in America, said Col. Mary Martin, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, during her speech. Others are prisoners of war or missing in action while families await their safe return, or simply their remains so they can gain closure, she said.
"Freedom truly is not free. Some people get to go about their daily lives, some of them not doing much of anything, and don't think about those paying the ultimate sacrifice," she said. "When someone comes up and tells you 'Thank you for your service,' don't be afraid to tell them our story. We have a great history."
VFW Post 27, "Watch on the Rhein," boasts almost 3,000 members, the largest VFW chapter in the world, according to officials.
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