A prayer for veterans

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November 10, 2009

By ANDY GOODELL

UNIVERSITY PARK — It’s a symbol of solidarity with his fellow veterans.

Just in time for Veterans Day this Wednesday, Jim Hall of University Park had a steel silhouette of a praying soldier placed in his front yard. Resting appropriately beneath the American flag, the silhouette has a lot of meaning to the 64-year-old Vietnam veteran.

It’s his way of offering a prayer of support to all veterans, he said.

“The most important thing we can give veterans is prayer,” said Hall. “We pray for them more because they’re undersold every day.”

Hall served in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion on active duty in 1967 and 1968. He spent an additional four years with the Navy after that, eventually earning the rank of Second Class Petty Officer.

“We would build runways and things like that,” said Hall. “Sometimes we’d get there before the Marines.”

He acknowledged there are differences between veterans of World War II, his generation, and those soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, The silhouette display is meant to honor veterans of all wars involving American soldiers despite generational differences, said Hall.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for the guys going in today,” said Hall.

As president of the Sorden Cemetery Board, located near Webster, Hall offered his perspective just why the men and women who fought and died for these United States in all wars deserve respect.

“What would have happened if we had lost some of those early wars like the War of 1812 or the Civil War or even World War II?” asked Hall. “What would our country look like today? When you walk around the cemetery and see who these veterans are, my thoughts are that each did their part for our country. Some paid the ultimate price — their life.”

Like many veterans, Hall has not had the chance to see the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. He went on to say that he was glad to see Iowa-based companies like Hy-Vee and Casey’s General Store putting up the money to send veterans to D.C. on Honor Flights to see this and other memorials.

“I might have to drive out there this next summer,” said Hall.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com

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