Rhode Island has the best support network among their veterans I have ever seen.”

Lt. Col. Christopher Hoover

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month a century ago, a “war to end all wars” ceased to exist, putting a halt to a fight that had engulfed the entire globe. One hundred years later, Americans still celebrate that pivotal moment in history, together with the sacrifices service members have made in every battle since.

In a ceremony marked with gratitude and anguish, love and loss, the Rhode Island Veterans’ Home — led by Administrator Gen. Rick Baccus (Ret.), with the help of the Town of Bristol, Bristol Veterans Council, Naval Station Newport, Bristol Train of Artillery, Columban Fathers, Rhode Island Veterans’ Home Chaplaincy Team and Mt. Hope High School Band — commemorated the 100 year anniversary of Veterans’ Day as they honored all of the men and women who have fought for America’s freedom.

Preserving a legacy

As a member of the Marine Corps since 1996, keynote speaker Lt. Col. Christopher Hoover is no stranger to a life in the military. He has been stationed throughout the world and across the country, from Japan to Maryland, earning his Master of Law degree and picking up notable honors such as the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal along the way. Since settling in as the executive officer for the Naval Justice School in Newport last summer, though, he’s come to appreciate the tight-knit community of service members who populate the state.

“Rhode Island has the best support network among their veterans I have ever seen,” he said.

It’s a network, however, that is expected to decline over the upcoming decades, not only in Rhode Island, but across the country as well — threatening the memories of all who, like Lt. Col. Hoover, chose a life committed to protecting the freedoms of others. The time to begin preserving those legacies is now, he urged, referencing a quote from British author Terry Pratchett:

“No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.”

It’s a message Lt. Col. Hoover has taken to heart. With a rich family history of servicemen and women, he’s made it a point to share their experiences with his own children. They will grow up knowing that as one of their great-grandfathers saw the flag being raised on Mount Suribachi while serving off the coast of Iwo Jima, the other was serving on the USS Elizabeth Stanton. They’ll be aware that both Lt. Col. Hoover’s parents served in the Marines, and that even his father-in-law was a bubblehead for the Navy. He encouraged everyone in the audience to do the same for their beloved veterans, whether they are still alive today or not.

“We truly honor someone’s sacrifice to their country by not letting the ripples of their sacrifice die.”

The lasting effects of war

For some of the 193 military members currently living at the Veterans’ Home, it was a message that hit close to home. Ninety-five-year-old East Providence native George Amaral was one of five brothers who served in the Navy during World War II, including the famed invasion of Normandy. The experiences they once shared, however, are long gone; as the only surviving member of his family left, the loneliness Mr. Amaral can feel, at times, is all-consuming.

“I keep calling for them, but they just don’t listen to me. I cry, and I cry …” he said through choked-back tears.

As a Purple Heart recipient from his time serving with the Third Armored Division, fellow World War II veteran and Pawtucket native Roland Duffany wouldn’t wish what he went through on anybody. While stationed in Germany, the tank he was driving was suddenly bazooka-ed; his hair was burnt off, and shrapnel lodged itself all over his face and body. The episode nearly cost him his arm, but the nurses at the hospital were able to patch him up and send him promptly back out for combat.

“It’s pretty hard to be sent back to the front line after you’ve been knocked out like that,” he admitted.

Luckily for Mr. Duffany, just as he was re-entering the conflict, the war ended, finishing his one-and-a-half-year stint overseas. Today, all he can do is pray that the sacrifices he made all those years ago weren’t in vain, as news of violent acts across the country become more and more frequent.

“I said to myself, ‘I put my life on the line, why can’t they straighten this country out?’ ” Mr. Duffany said.

“We fought for this country, and it’s not safe to walk the streets.”

Expressions of gratitude

Though the ceremony inevitably stirred up painful memories and had its fair share of somber moments — from the Bristol Veterans Council’s U.S. Wars Memorium to the Bristol Train of Artillery’s Presentation of Colors and Rifle Salute — the local community made sure to let their veterans know just how much they’ve appreciated what each and every service member has done throughout their lifetime as part of the military.

Town Administrator Steven Contente spoke about how his wife was teaching their young children that very morning about the true meaning of Veterans’ Day and how it pertains to them. Town Council Vice Chairman Timothy Sweeney perhaps spoke for everyone as he looked at each veteran and simply expressed his gratitude in its purest form.

“Thank you. From the bottom of my heart — and from my colleagues’ hearts — for making this nation so great.”