HAPPY AT 92

Yes, I’m happy! I’m 92 years old, live alone, near my son, Richard. He comes every day to dispense my pills and check on me. I live in a wonderful community of people who care about me. Life is good. I enjoy the Tyler paper. We started taking your paper about 1946 or 1947. Anyway, it has been an important part of my life.

— Dorothy Weathers, Troup

VETERANS DAY

I posted this on Memorial Day, and it is still as appropriate today (Veterans Day) as it was months ago: As I woke up this morning, all these thoughts came rushing through my head … My parents, brothers, sister, World War II, the soldiers. Yes, the soldiers, the American soldiers who gave their lives, limbs, their youth, to liberate my country, The Netherlands … This little blip on the map, these fine young soldiers cared enough to liberate my country from the tyranny of Hitler. I was not even born then, but I know if it had not been for their courage, their sacrifices, I might not be here, let alone speak Dutch. Growing up, we always were reminded of what the Americans had done for my country, and to this day they are held in high regard. I came to this country in the 1970s after marrying my American soldier. I did not come here to seek freedom. I had freedom. I came here because, well, I love my American soldier.

— Dinie Herbert

THANK YOU, VETS

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all the men and women who serve our country.

— Will Key, Tyler

APPRECIATING MILITARY

Thank you to all our Veterans, military and their families for serving, protecting and sacrificing so we may all live the lives we live! Thanks, Pops!

— Natalie Glover, of Flint, with Ronnie Glover and Ronnie Charles Glover

HITCHED

On Nov. 4, I got to marry the best man I could have ever dreamed I would meet! I’m the luckiest girl in the world! I love you all with my heart, Mr. Hammers.

—Brandy Carlisle Hammers, Tyler

THANKFUL

Thankful for our military. I could not do it nor be a wife of one. I’m not worthy. Thank you.

— Melanie Melton Thibodeaux, Tyler

PROUD

I am proud and grateful to have been born into a military family. Today (Veterans Day), I honor all of those who have served and do serve. I am proud to say the list is far too long for me to thank each one individually …. I will not even attempt to thank all of those whose service I know of specifically, dating back to long before the Civil War, even in foreign countries that were the birth of our nation. They know who they are. You know who you are. And I just want to say, with all my heart, I know you are why I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you!

— Debbie Lee Townsend, Hawkins

SACRIFICE

It occurs to me today as we’re so busy thanking veterans for “what they did over there,” many of us forget it is we for whom they gave up youth, health and, in some cases, life.

Their sacrifices put the burden on those who did not serve to be a people who elect governments, live lives and raise our kids to live lives worthy of that sacrifce.

Thank a veteran by making the most of the opportunities for which they sacrificed to make America better. It’s one heck of a challenge.

Do you accept?

— Larry Krantz, Bullard

VALOR

Grateful and awestruck by the great valor that rests on the shoulders of our veterans.

— K’Lin Noble, Tyler

SERVICE

Thanks to my late brother-in-law, A.T. Adams III, for his service to our country in Vietnam.

— Howard Thompson, Tyler

SALUTE

Thank you veterans! We salute you!

— Jimmy Arber, Tyler

HAPPY VET’S DAY

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you all for your sacrifice to this country. We shall never forget all you have given us and fought for.

— Marshall Hanna, Lindale native

FREEDOM

Happy Veteran’s Day! Thank you for your service and protecting our freedom!

— Holly Hightower, Whitehouse

BUDDY

One of the veterans I’m thankful for. I call him Buddy. Others call him Dr. Ferrell, daddy, etc. Thankful for him and the many others who put their lives on hold and sacrificed so much for something greater than themselves.

— Anna Clyde Malone, Tyler

SERVICE APPRECIATED

Happy Veterans Day. Thank you to all of those who are serving or have served, and to their families.

— Michael Kennedy, Bullard

GRATEFUL

I want to say that I am thankful and grateful to all of our veterans out there who have made our way of life possible.

I want to remember my grandfather, Earl Carlos, who served in World War II, and give a shout out to my younger brother, Andy Mazzei, who is serving overseas.

— Dayna Mazzei Worchel, Longview

THANK YOU ALL

Thank you to all of our many veterans and all of the men and women serving today. My dad’s father, Paul Roehr Sr., served in the 6th Balloon Corp in World War I, and they mainly went aloft in large kite balloons, tethered to the ground by a thin quarter-inch cable and observed and photographed movements of enemy troops. My grandfather’s balloon was shot down behind enemy lines over France, and he was mustard-gassed, causing him to lose a lung. He spent over a year in a Red Cross hospital in France, in an iron lung, eventually returning home to settle in Dallas. He became a banker, working for the Federal Reserve. He died young, at 52, of lung-related disease. I never got to know him. I wish I had! My father, Paul Roehr Jr., served in the Navy, in the Submarine Corp, in WWII. He never spoke of his time in the Pacific, though late in his life, he began attending the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. chapter meetings and began talking about his time during the war, being in a submarine, hundreds of feet below the surface, and listening to the slow tick tick tick of depth charges as they sunk down from the enemy destroyers on the surface, sliding closely past the submarine, not knowing if impact was imminent, to land on the ocean floor below. They spent months at sea, mostly underneath the surface, patrolling for enemy ships (and torpedoing, many times successfully). He also served as a gunner on a large battleship but preferred the relative serenity and quietness of his submarine experience to the blasting and concussive noise of the battleship experience. In that characteristic, we are alike.

— Daphne Roehr Hatcher, Pine Mills

THANKING GOD

Happy Veterans Day to my son, Joshua Bailey, and all the other men and women out there who (have sacrificed) so much for us! I thank God each and every day for you. May He bless and keep you in His care, always!

— Susan Travis, Tyler

REMINDER

I hope today (Veterans Day) will be a reminder of the sacrifices many military families will be making this upcoming holiday season. For many, there will be an empty chair at the Thanksgiving dinner table and Christmas presents left to open once they get home. May we take time to thank those in uniform and encourage their families during this tough time. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all who have served, especially my husband, Matthew.

— Brooke Langston Ranshaw, Troup

THANK YOU

Thank you, uncle Jack.

— Sabor A Pasion, Palestine

EVERY NAME

An interesting thing crossed my mind today. As a small child I remember my grandfather’s brother, Nelson, had a grandson who died in Vietnam. I remember how sad it was. Even though I did not understand everything, I understood how deep the loss was. It was not until much later when I took my grandfather to the state fair. Without any thought, I said, “Hey do you want to go see the veterans wall?” He walked over and began to look for the name. He found his great nephew’s Robert Nelson Newman name on the wall.

My strong Navy veteran grandfather turned around and said, “I want to sit down for a minute.” We walked over and took a seat on the concrete bench facing the memorial.

He said, “I didn’t know it would hit me like that.” Seeing his name on the wall, well, it just took me back to that day and the pain. You have to know my grandfather was a WWII vet and rarely spoke of things like that, but for just a moment I saw him like I had not before. It reminded me that every name on every wall means something to someone. It is felt deeply and allows those who come after to have brief glimpse of what true sacrifice looks like. Thank you for that sweet young man and his sacrifice today.

— Susan Seaberry Wells, Tyler

GREAT ROOMIE

Super thankful for my wonderful roommate, Starla Edwards.

— Margo Fritz, Tyler

NURSE WEEK

This week the world celebrates Perioperative Nurse Week, and here at Mercy Ships, we recognize and honor perioperative nurses for their important role and commitment to safe patient care. Thank you to all who volunteer with us and who help us with our mission to bring hope and healing!

— Mercy Ships

ONGOING EFFORTS

Thankful for the ongoing efforts of those dedicated to our great community – Anna Clyde Malone and Jennifer Wilhite Watkins.

— Bill Campbell, Tyler

Want to give someone a Shout Out? Send them to yes@tylerpaper.com.