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Vets worry nation will forget
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK © St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 2000 BUSHNELL -- For the first time in a decade, Vern Roudebush of Spring Hill commemorated Veterans Day at Florida National Cemetery alone. "Most of my friends, the group I was with, are gone," said Roudebush, 83, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. "Now my wife is gone. She's buried up the hill. She was in the Women's Army Corps. . . . She was always in the parade carrying the flag." Even his memories of the wars have grown hazy; they happened so long ago. It's up to the nation not to forget, said Roudebush and many other veterans who gathered in Bushnell on Saturday for the national holiday once known as Armistice Day, established in 1938 to recognize the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. "Veterans, we're losing them at something like 1,000 a day. Someone has got to remember," said Chuck Sarges of Spring Hill, 65, a Marine who served from 1954 to 1957. "I can show no other honor than to be here for these people." More than 300 people collected at Florida National Cemetery under a cloudless blue sky for just that purpose. The cemetery's Joint Veterans Committee made special note of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, often considered the forgotten war. "I think they'd rather forget it because of the way it turned out," said Louis Keeney of Bushnell and New York, a 68-year-old Army veteran who served 21/2 years in Korea. "I guess you could almost liken it to Vietnam, the attitudes of people, I guess. There weren't any parades out in the streets when we came back." Any downturn in Americans' patriotism can be tied to the wars in Korea and Vietnam, said Ken Balsley of Tampa, who served 28 years in the Air Force before retiring in 1976. He fought in both. "The World War II situation was so much different than what it was in Vietnam and Korea," Balsley said. "The American public was behind the government in World War II because they could see the reason for it." But Forrest Jackman of Spring Hill, who fought as a Marine in Korea, earning the Purple Heart and Silver Star, said he thinks upcoming generations probably are aware and respectful of those who served. His 6-year-old grandson woke up Saturday and told his mother, "Mommy, this is Grandpop's day," Jackman, 71, said. "That floored me," he said. "Nobody even mentioned it to him. So I do know that the youth will remember us." Robert Stewart, 8, certainly did. He joined his mother and grandmother in a weekend drive from Miami to Bushnell specifically to recognize his father, Leyton Stewart, who fought in the Korean War and died a year ago. Robert came to the cemetery dressed in camouflage fatigues. He said he wanted to take part in the special event and visit his father's grave. "This is very important for all of us," said Cherrie Skerritt, Robert's mother. The ceremony began promptly at 11 a.m. with the presentation of colors and the singing of the national anthem. As he welcomed the crowd, cemetery director Ron Pemberton reminded the veterans to "teach the young folks." "If we don't, we're not going to have a program like this in 20 years," he cautioned. Harl Wigfall, staff sergeant for the Army National Guard in Dade City, sang a heartfelt rendition of God Bless the U.S.A. that drew the crowd to its feet, many teary eyed, to cheer and sing along. After a handful of speakers and songs came the cannon salute to veterans. The blasts set off several car alarms, causing titters among the audience. But their giggles faded to somber silence and sadness as two cornets played taps. Roudebush of Spring Hill stood ramrod straight, hand shaking as he saluted, and cried behind his sunglasses. "For you, Ruthie," he said, voice trembling. "You are my darling." The people around Roudebush hugged him after the pastor gave the benediction. Roudebush then headed to his wife's grave, where he had placed a rose and two American flags. Others went to their cars, and yet others went to talk with Wigfall. They thanked him for his song and asked about the cannon he stood beside. "These are the people we really need to be proud of," said Wigfall, 32. "It's a very important day."
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