Historian Duane Smith tells the story of how he fell in love with the Chicago Cubs. Returning from the Pacific where he had been imprisoned by the Japanese for most of World War II, Duane’s father took him to a Chicago Cubs game. The family lived near Chicago, and the expedition was one of his father’s efforts to connect with his son, who had been an infant when his father left to serve in the military in the Philippines and war broke out.
The Cubs lost that day, Duane says, and proceeded to lose the next dozen or so games. That was when he realized that the Cubs needed some support, Duane says with a laugh today.
Smith’s front porch normally sports a Cubs’ flag during summers and falls for that support, and it did last week. The flag, well, it looked used.
What a World Series it was this year. The Cubs got off to a strong start, then fell back, recovered, and in the 10th inning of the seventh game made victory theirs. Fifty million television viewers watched that final game, twice the average number during the previous six games. Most of the country – excluding those who supported Cleveland – joined in the cheering. Longtime Cub fans breathed a sigh of relief, as 108 years of frustration was gone.
In sports, not everyone can win all the time, but it should not require a century.
For Duane, his love of the Cubs and baseball began because his father was a veteran.
Durangoans will honor their veterans on Friday with a Veterans Day parade that begins at 11 a.m. and travels, as usual, on Main Avenue from College Drive north to 12th Street. Look for a marching band this year, and as to flag etiquette, remember to stand, remove your hat and place your right hand over your heart as the color guard passes.
Both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will have open houses Friday beginning at noon, and the VFW will have a band and dance at 7 p.m.
The number of military men and women at risk of harm today are far fewer than two or three years ago. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan involve Americans for the most part only as trainers and advisers, and as pilots. But there still are and will be American casualties, as there have been in the Iraqi army’s effort to retake Mosul from ISIS.
Wherever American troops are in deployments around the world, in peaceful locations and those not so peaceful, they are handling equipment and in environments which can be hazardous. Even training can be dangerous. They may be away from friends and loved ones for extended periods of time, while even the military routine during domestic assignments can be stressful on those around them.
Returning from a tour in a combat role may bring special challenges, which military and civilian doctors are struggling to recognize and treat.
Veterans deserve to hear thanks more than one day a year, but be sure to say it on Friday.
One of those veterans may have taken a young son to a baseball game.
