100 years On?
100 Years ago today “The War To End All Wars” began. WWI as my father always referred to it holds no romanticism for me for several reasons. First is the craziness of such a thing happening, A World War, for gosh sake and secondly is the fact it certainly didn’t end all wars as we were back in the war machine saddle after about 20 years with the same lineup card. It also played hell on my grandfather’s disposition for the rest of his life.
Two of my favorite pictures of my paternal grandfather are from that war. I have one of him throwing a baseball with a few of his army buddies and one with him mounted on a horse. You know folks didn’t smile in a lot of photographs in those days, and he was no exception but he looked strong and proud in both features. I still have his trunk that he shipped out with and his flag from his funeral. I also have a hole in my heart for what that war did to him, what all wars do to all men and women. 
100 years on and it sometimes feels like the same powder keg. I am grateful to those who protect our freedom, I admire them more and more. The Cost is High whether you are fighting on foreign soil or on you own.
Last week I was at a burial service for one of our residents a veteran of the 2nd World War. He was buried in the Lincoln National Cemetery just outside Elmwood Illinois. It was an honor to be there among so many who gave so much.
Kevin Kirkpatrick is Director of Community Relations at Elmwood Terrace in the Western Chicago Suburb of Aurora Illinois.
