It's always on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that we remember the heroes.
And so it was Wednesday — on that day and hour — that Andrew Pendleton recalled when he was a little boy.
"It was about 80 years ago now," said Pendleton, who was the featured speaker at a special Veterans Day program at Mitchell Community College Wednesday morning. "I remember seeing a group of old, gray men with long beards shuffling along in a parade. They were veterans of a war that had been fought 65 years earlier. I don't know if it was Flag Day or Armistice Day, but they were some of the last men who fought in that war — the Civil War."
Pendleton said he now finds himself in a similar position.
"Now I'm old and grey and shuffling," he said. "And I'm talking about a war that happened 65 years ago."
Pendleton said he recalled that the nation was divided in the years just prior to entering World War II.
"One side said we should back Great Britain and give them all the tools they need," Pendleton said. "The other side were isolationists who said we were separated by two oceans and we should let them all fight their own wars."
Pendleton said the nation's politics and philosophies crystallized into one on a single winter day.
"We were divided until Dec. 7, 1941," Pendleton said, alluding the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor. "And in a flash were once again became the United (emphasizing the word and its meaning) States of America."
Again, Pendleton returned to the present and said the nation is once again divided. And he said he believes the matter is worse than ever.
"There are again two groups," he said. "And they are so polarized that it seems very doubtful that any progress can be made. But folks, we have to get over this."
Pendleton, a Statesville architect, also said the nation needs to take better care of the men and women who have served in the military, particularly those who were involved in combat missions.
"I read where the veterans lead the nation in suicide and mental problems and homelessness," he said. "We need to stop that."
Pendleton did not dwell long on his own impressive service in World War II, in which he flew 27 combat missions and was awarded a number of medals and citations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (three times) and the European Service Medal with 10 battle stars.
Wednesday's event, which attracted about 75 audience members, was originally slated to be held outside on the Campus Circle, but the inclement weather moved it into Shearer Hall.
Among those attending was Woody Woodard, a local community organizer and an Air Force veteran who served three tours of duty in Vietnam.
"When they wanted me to go for a fourth tour," Woodard said, "I knew it was time to get out."
Woodard said Veterans Day is important because "it officially recognizes those people who served this place we call home."
Alan Eisele was also at the Mitchell College event and was in the Army during the Vietnam War, but was stationed in Germany during his hitch.
"But those guys who did fight, like Dale Wilson (who was named the National Disabled American Veteran earlier this year), those guys are my heroes," Eisele said. "But Veterans Day give us an opportunity to honor all of those who served, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice."
And so we remember them.
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