Veteran discusses serving her country and sacrifice
(Photo by Frank Speziale)
NORWICH – A doctor and veteran of the United States Army spoke at yesterday’s Veterans Day service in Norwich, citing duty, honor, and country as the most noble developments of mankind.
The service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday in Norwich’s East Park. It was organized by Norwich’s VFW, and attended by multiple other veteran based organizations.
The keynote speaker, M.D. and U.S. Army Veteran Fern Thomas, spoke about the hardship and sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make in the name of serving their country.
“Duty, honor, country. These three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points,” said Thomas as she recited a speech from General Douglas MacArthur. “The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training: sacrifice.”
“In battle and in the face of danger and death, he disposes those divine attributes which his maker gave when he created man in his own image. No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of the divine help which alone can sustain him.”
Thomas said after hearing those words, serving her country, and graduating in the fifth class women could participate in at West Point; she never forgot the concept of duty, honor, or country.
“Of those 1200 new cadets, 120 were women and of them, about 20 were black females; by the time the photos came out during the freshman academic school year, there were 13 of us,” she said. “I have never forgotten those words: duty, honor, country. I have tried to use them to exemplify all that I have done, both in the military, and subsequent to leaving the military life, for it still pertains to this day.”
According to Thomas, it was the combination of those noble concepts that lead to the eventual success of the United States at the end of World War II.
She said that every year at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, we remember a historic event: during 1919, Germany and the Allied Forces signed a 1918 agreement to cease World War I hostilities.
“This day was proclaimed Armistice Day by President Woodrow Wilson, later changed to Veteran's Day by President Eisenhower,” said Thomas. “It is a day which celebrates all who have served in the Armed Forces, in war or in peace time, whether they have passed on or still live today.”
“So, as we go on with our busy day-to-day lives, please remember that the freedoms we enjoy today were bought with a price, with great sacrifice,” Thomas added. “Show that we honor our friends and comrades who have served and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces, and thank them for their duty, for their honor, and their service to their country.”
The service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday in Norwich’s East Park. It was organized by Norwich’s VFW, and attended by multiple other veteran based organizations.
The keynote speaker, M.D. and U.S. Army Veteran Fern Thomas, spoke about the hardship and sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make in the name of serving their country.
“Duty, honor, country. These three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points,” said Thomas as she recited a speech from General Douglas MacArthur. “The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training: sacrifice.”
“In battle and in the face of danger and death, he disposes those divine attributes which his maker gave when he created man in his own image. No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of the divine help which alone can sustain him.”
Thomas said after hearing those words, serving her country, and graduating in the fifth class women could participate in at West Point; she never forgot the concept of duty, honor, or country.
“Of those 1200 new cadets, 120 were women and of them, about 20 were black females; by the time the photos came out during the freshman academic school year, there were 13 of us,” she said. “I have never forgotten those words: duty, honor, country. I have tried to use them to exemplify all that I have done, both in the military, and subsequent to leaving the military life, for it still pertains to this day.”
According to Thomas, it was the combination of those noble concepts that lead to the eventual success of the United States at the end of World War II.
She said that every year at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, we remember a historic event: during 1919, Germany and the Allied Forces signed a 1918 agreement to cease World War I hostilities.
“This day was proclaimed Armistice Day by President Woodrow Wilson, later changed to Veteran's Day by President Eisenhower,” said Thomas. “It is a day which celebrates all who have served in the Armed Forces, in war or in peace time, whether they have passed on or still live today.”
“So, as we go on with our busy day-to-day lives, please remember that the freedoms we enjoy today were bought with a price, with great sacrifice,” Thomas added. “Show that we honor our friends and comrades who have served and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces, and thank them for their duty, for their honor, and their service to their country.”
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