Veterans Day -- Seeing President Carter, Princess Diana and an Old Army Photo of Me

I have celebrated Veterans Day in some pretty unusual and exciting ways. I got to see President Carter at the annual ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and in another year, I got to see Princess Diana (and Charles).

Click on my blog posts about President Carter and Princess Diana.

Those were fun Veterans days, described above. But for the more serious side, I offer this. I worked at the Veterans Administration (VA) in Washington, D.C. for about six years. Later, I was at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) a few blocks away from the VA and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I remember walking by the construction for the memorial, but once the names were inscribed, it took a good year before I could go back over there and see it. I just didn't want to see the names, especially the name of somebody I knew. The picture was taken in October, probably 1990. Below, is a picture of me. Please remember this day and what it means to you.

Me at Fort Belvoir, Virginia
(A little follow-up, I still have my fatigue pants, jacket and great leather boots.)

The Well Known Veterans I met through Work

"The Vietnam War" shown on the Public Broadcast Station (PBS) is a ten-part, 18-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. It was shown on tv in September, and because it was shown over 10 days, I missed a few episodes, but watched them a few days later on another PBS station. The Vietnam War was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 19, 2017 and I believe most large libraries will carry the DVDs.

The early history was very interesting, and from what I heard from friends, we all learned quite a bit. However, the era from about 1962-1975 interested me the most. It was during those years that I watched the battles play out almost every night on the news, marched in protest 1969, and heard on the radio, while I was in the service in Virginia, that Saigon fell.

Later years, I worked in two medical facilities; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Later, I worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, DC for about 6 years, I came in contact with many veterans, some as patients and others just working there, like me.

Among the veterans I worked under, one was the Administrator and the other a Deputy Administrator of the Department of Veterans Affairs, both of whom were on the "Vietnam War" show. I was fortunate to meet both of them, and got autographs, as shown below.

Everett Alvarez Jr.

The Wikipedia link (above) states, "Everett Alvarez Jr. (born December 23, 1937) is a former U.S. Navy Commander who endured one of the longest periods as a prisoner of war (POW) in American military history. Alvarez was the second U.S. pilot to be downed and detained during the Vietnam War and spent over eight years in captivity; making him the second longest-held American POW." He was the Deputy Administrator at the Department of Veterans Affairs for six years, from 1982-1988. (I worked there 2 of those years.)

Max Cleland (above and below)

Max was a captain in the Vietnam War, and a month before the end of his tour, he was badly injured, which later resulted in having his legs amputated above the knee and his right forearm. He was 25 years old.

Years later President Carter selected him to be the Administrator of the Department of Veterans Affairs from 1977-1981 (I worked there 3 of those years). He always had a smile, was quite personable, remembered everybody's name, and drove his own car to work!

I believe we were celebrating the day when the 15-cent Veterans Administration commemorative stamp was first placed on sale at Washington, DC, on July 21, 1980.

The third veteran, in The Vietnam War series, I saw in person was John Kerry. He and John McCain were shown in the series, but not interviewed. John Kerry often came to Lowell, his old hometown where he tried to get into politics. It was years later, he ran for both state senator, and then president, and I saw him when he campaigned in Lowell.

In addition to the three above veterans, I was very fortunate to see Omar Nelson Bradley, a former General of the Army and Administrator of the VA. He paid a visit to the VA headquarters, in a wheelchair when he was between age 85 to 88 years old.

Not a veteran, but I did see Mamie Eisenhower in the gift shop at the Walter Reed Hospital. I was luck to get a heads up, when I saw her chauffeured car with 5 stars on the license plate, parked in front of the side entrance. (Between 1977-79, she died in Dec. 1979.)

Another individual in The Vietnam War series was President Lyndon B.  Johnson. He was not a veteran, but I thought I'd show a few photos of his ranch, his tombstone, and me with a statue of him at the ranch (1975). A FindAGrave.com photo of his tombstone is HERE.

The above veterans mention are just a few of the many who served or who are still serving. It is because of them that we honor them on Veterans Day.

Two past posts:
A Prince and a Princess on Veterans Day ( Diana and Charles)

President Carter and Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day

29 Veterans Buried in Special Area in Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

In memory of those 29 soldiers who are buried in this site at the Lowell Cemetery.

Photos taken May 2014.

Lewis Magnant

Alonzo K. Preston

Nelson S. Iby

Lorenzo Richardson

Asa M. Cower

Adelbert Richardson

Alvin W. Stockwell

John McDonald

Rubin C. Hardy

George N. Leathers

John L. Lairdison

William S. Leichton

Henry H. Smith

Clinton Gilbert

David L. Ridley

John Wiley

William G. Knott

William C. McFarland

Russell Lemuel Crockett

William A. Kenney

Arthur Sylvanus Shaffer

James Francis O'Donoghue

Hovhannes Depoian

Lige Menchention

Gustaf W. Setterberg

Maynard A. Hutchinson

John B. Merrill

Lester Clow

Arakel Krikorian

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on Veterans Day. See My Photos!

The original date of this post, Thursday, November 12, 2009.

Every once and a while there is an article about Princess Diana, and I'm often reminded of when I saw her in person. Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of her tragic death. This post was written almost five years ago.

____________

November 11, 1985, three hours was a pretty exciting day. The three-hour wait to get a glimpse of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was worth the effort. I claimed my spot just about 7 AM on a rather nice sunny day in Springfield, Virginia, outside of Washington, DC. The sharpshooters and press were already in place at the mall parking lot, where the couple would soon be. They were going to open an exhibit of British merchandise (I think clothes) at J. C. Penney's. Once the motorcade arrived, everybody was so excited, esp. me, since I was at the barricade, and had a great view as they drove past me. The photos are the proof. Once inside the store, we all patiently waited to see what would happen when they left. Well, they both walk over to the crowds, and a lucky few got to shake their hands. There was a policeman in front of me much of the time, so I couldn't take all the pictures I wanted, he was just in the way. A pretty exciting day for Veterans Day.

The original Photo is below.

Another time, maybe in 1993, I was two blocks from where I worked and had heard that Prince Charles was going to visit the Octagon House in Washington, DC. at lunch, I went over with a few co-workers and waited a good hour, but he did show up. A quick wave to us, and he went inside. No press, and very little security. But it got better...I left work at 4:00 and walked by the House, thinking that just maybe I'd see him, and I did, with no wait at all. He must have been right on my schedule because as I walked by, he came out of the House. There were only a handful of people, and he waved and said, "hi." I'll always remember his lovely lavender shirt.

Princess Diana's parents. Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althrop and Frances Ruth Roche on their wedding day at Westminster Abbey - 1954.

Veterans Day in my Past

This is my fourth post for Veteran's Day. Instead of writing something new, I'll share my past posts. And, since I am a veteran, don't miss my last post to see me in uniform.

Previous posts for Veteran's Day were:

Princess Diana and Charles on Veterans Day.

President Carter at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Me in Uniform

Missing for 68 Years, Finally Laid to Rest

The Sunday I read about WWII Air Force 2nd Lt. Martin Patrick Murray being finally laid to rest, after missing almost 68 years, I knew he would be my topic for Veteran's Day, 2011.  The local paper had a large article about his burial on April 16, 2011 and the following day, my husband and I went to St. Patrick's Cemetery in Lowell, Massachusetts, but couldn't locate where he was buried. Today, the cemetery provided me with the exact location, and of course I took the photo. Amazingly, nobody had taken a photo for Find A Grave, although there was an entry for him. It appears that the contributor obtained her information from one of the many newspapers that carried the story.

From the Boston Globe
From The Boston Channel
From WCVB Channel

From The Lowell Sun newspaper, his obituary:


Martin Patrick Murray

WWII Army Air Corps. Aviator
lost in The South Pacific over 67 years ago

MOROBE PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA -- Martin Patrick Murray, 22, of Lowell, passed away on October 28, 1944. He was the co-pilot of a B-24D Liberator aircraft that was lost in the South Pacific while on a reconnoissance mission during World War II.

Born March 13, 1922, in Lowell, he was the son of the late Martin A. and the late Katherine M. (Clancy) Murray, and he was educated in the local schools. He grew up in South Lowell, on Cosgrove Street and was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart Parish.

He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in March of 1942, and quickly rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. On October 27, 1943, he and his crew were on a reconnoissance mission of the shipping lanes in the Bismarck Sea. Shortly before losing radio contact, the crew was told to abort the mission due to poor weather conditions. The crew was never heard from again, and despite numerous search efforts, ultimately the 12 crewmen were placed in the status of presumed dead.

In August of 2003 it was reported to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command that the wreckage of a WWII era aircraft was found in the Morobe Province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. After unsuccessful attempts to reach the site in 2003 and 2004, the site was reached in 2005 and identified as the B-24D Liberator that was lost with Second Lieutenant Murray and crew. After recovering what was possible, the site was excavated in early 2007. It was then that the remains of Second Lieutenant Murray and the 11 other men were finally recovered, and then identified by the Armed Services DNA Identification Laboratory.

When he passed away in 1944, he was survived by his parents, and his three sisters, Mary Claire Murray, of Lowell, Catherine S. Murray of Lowell, and Eileen M. and her husband, Henry S. Trembley of Boston.

During the 64 years that he was missing, all of his immediate family have passed away, currently he is survived by many cousins in the New England area.

AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST, 2ND LT. MURRAY'S CALLING HOURS AND FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD PRIVATELY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 16 AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL, 978-458-6816. YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE FAMILY FOR HIS BURIAL WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS INCLUDING A MILITARY AIRCRAFT FLYOVER AT ST. PATRICK CEMETERY BETWEEN 10:15 AND 11 A.M. PLEASE VISIT US AT MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM TO SEND THE FAMILY AN E-CONDOLENCE AT ANY TIME.
Published in Lowell Sun from April 14 to April 15, 2011

Previous posts for Veterans Day were:
Princess Diana and Charles on Veteran's Day.
President Carter at Arlington National Cemetery on Veteran's Day.
The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial and Me in Uniform.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on Veterans Day, See My Photos!

November 11, 1985 was a pretty exciting day. The three hour wait to get a glimpse of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was worth the effort. I claimed my spot just about 7 AM on a rather nice sunny day in Springfield, Virginia, outside of Washington, DC. The sharpshooters and press were already in place at the mall parking lot, where the couple would soon be. They were going to open an exhibit of British merchandise (I think clothes) at J. C. Penney's. Once the motorcade arrived, everybody was so excited, esp. me, since I was at the barricade, and had a great view as they drove past me. The photos are the proof. Once they were inside, we all patiently waited to see what would happen when they left. Well, they did both walk over to the crowds, and a lucky few got to shake their hands. There was a policeman in front of me much of the time, so I couldn't take pictures of him. Pretty exciting day for a Veterans Day.

The Princess is in the white suit, standing at the barricade directly in the middle.

Another time, maybe in 1993, I was two blocks from where I worked, and had heard that Prince Charles was going to visit the Octagon House in Washington, DC. So at lunch, I went over with a few co-workers and waited a good hour before he showed up. He gave a quick wave to us, and went inside. No press, and very little security. But it got better...I left work at 4:00 and walked by the House, thinking that just maybe I'd see him again, and I did, with no wait at all. He must have been right on my schedule, because as I walked by, he came out of the House. There were only a handful of people, and he waved and said, "hi." I'll always remember his lovely lavender shirt.