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What is the similarity of Poppy, Remembrance, Veterans and Armistice days? Each of these is celebrated on November 11 to recognize and honor war veterans in countries throughout the world. But are they related? I recently became curious about the origins of Veterans Day after discovering a reference to Armistice Day in my mother’s diary. She mentioned the November 11 holiday in two separate 1941 and 42 entries. In the fall of 1942, my dad was in basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and she wanted to tell him about her Armistice Day activities. When I read her comments, I […]

A small, non-descript package greeted me last week when I opened my mail box. Partially hidden among bulging weekly ads and other junk mail, its contents were a mystery. Was it an unsolicited medical device typically marketed to seniors over the phone or a late birthday present from a friend? I knew I had not ordered such an item, and it was much too late to be a birthday gift. So I was curious about what was inside the small, padded brown envelope with a return address of TACOM, PO Box 57997, Philadelphia, PA, as the only clue. As I […]

The instructions said to meet at 109 East Palace in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There were few details about this place except that was where the journey would begin. This small nondescript office was off the beaten path, and many walked right past it. Yet a steady stream of scientists, engineers and army officials converged there briefly to begin their secret work on Project Y. Seventy-four years later, it was still easy to walk past this unassuming Santa Fe style doorway. I know that to be true as I walked past that door many times over the past three years. […]

Our curiosity about the World War II story has not diminished even after seventy-two years. Books are still being published by renowned authors and by newcomers who often have a personal story to tell. Movies, such as Dunkirk and Hacksaw Ridge, realistically portray this mega drama that was played out on a global stage with a colorful cast of characters, a tragic loss of life, and a shocking victory. While I applaud each effort to preserve these stories and our history, I wanted to know more about the people behind the scenes, and I found my inspiration this summer. He […]