Veterans, others take time to remember

Every Veteran's Day, Henry Dawson remembers the soldier who died in Korea so he wouldn't have to go.

Drafted by the Marines in 1952, Dawson, now 78, was told that the unit needed one soldier to go to California for a week and then move on to Korea. Dawson was “asked” if he wanted to go, but at the last minute an office clerk on the base offered to go in his place.

“He said he wanted to get out there and on to something new, so he volunteered to go in my place, and I let him,” said Dawson, of Cedar Rapids.

Less than two months later, that office clerk was killed in service.

“Here I am, still alive,” Dawson said. “This day reminds me of that every year, and I tell that story over and over.”

Veteran's Day, originally called Armistice Day, was started in 1919 to honor those who fought in World War I. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress identified the day as one to honor all American veterans of war.

Each year the observance of Veterans Day becomes more significant for Jesadae LaFella, 38, an Iraq war veteran.

“It's always been an important day, but I'd say it's even more important now,” said LaFella, of Cedar Rapids. “I see all these World War II veterans that are passing away, I don't think they got the respect we did, or the Vietnam veterans, especially. I feel a lot of shame for the way Americans treated the Vietnam veterans when they came home.”

LaFella spent 18 months in Iraq as part of a National Guard unit based in Dubuque. He's been home on medical discharge since July 2007, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments.

He encourages everyone to take time today to to remember the reason for Veteran's Day.

“Everyone has a choice in life and I stood up to the plate and I chose to go become a soldier for my country and do whatever I'm told to do,” he said. “I wish more kids would step up to the plate; it's a young man's game anymore. All this stuff they're doing, us old guys can't do it anymore.”