One sad statistic that keeps making the news recently is how many World War II veterans leave us each year... and each day. The most recent statistics provided by the Veterans Administration (VA) tell us that an estimated 642 World War II veterans pass away each and every day.

It is likely that we have already heard firsthand from our World War II veterans most of the stories from that dreadful war and that we may not hear many more new ones as these heroes are leaving us at an alarming rate of 800 to 1,000 each and every day.

While Millie and John had been an ocean apart serving their country each in his and her own way, John felt a connection registering in his mind, tugging at his heart and rekindling his emotions.

The army would not even allow the U.S. flag to be put on fallen coffins of the WASP corps. Millie, however, said she harbors no ill will or bitterness towards the government and considered herself to be "one of the luckiest women in the United States to have had the opportunity."

As the embassy dignitaries solemnly approached me to officially present my father's medal, my eyes immediately filled with tears. They caringly placed one of his country's highest honors into the palm of my shaking hand. It was a profound and overwhelming moment that was decades in the making.

For the 18th time in his life, Bill Lowery of Dexter Township cast his ballot for U.S. president on Tuesday. "I haven't missed an election since I'...

My goal is to shake 10,000 hands in 100 days. For anyone who will take 30 seconds to talk to me, I'll offer a self-addressed, pre-stamped postcard with instructions to share a single memory -- "a story you don't want to be forgotten" and mail it back to me.

On the eve of this most recent Veterans Day, I had the privilege of accompanying World War II veteran John Tschirhart to a reception hosted by the Texas Veterans Land Board at the Capitol Visitors Center, in Austin, Texas.

Read about the 2011 Tribute at The Cleburne Times-Review. ...