Thank a Veteran Today

I am very grateful for the men and women of our armed forces. Their service to America, and to the world, paid the price for our freedoms.

Revolutionary War Patriots

Since 2014, I’ve held membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a non-profit, non-political, women’s service organization. Within this blog, I’ve written about several of my patriot ancstors:

• Captain Joseph Haden
• Joseph’s father, John Haden
• Anthony Garnett
• Anthony’s son Robert Garnett
• Ensign Robert Bowmar
• Reuben Willis

There are several other Revolutionary War patriots about whom I should write:

• 2nd Lt. Hugh Allen and his father Malcom, of Botetourt County, VA
• Edmund Cobb, of Bedford County, VA
• Private James Flowers, of Buckingham County, VA
• Express Rider William Tompkins and his father Giles, of Albemarle County, VA

Other Veterans in my Lineage

• John S. Sinnet served in the War of 1812
• Horace Lydick served in the Spanish American War
• Ed Blees and Otto Norenberg served in World War II

Non-war Service

My father served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in the early 1950s. Because there was no declared war during his time of service, when he left the Air Force he was neither welcomed into the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) nor the American Legion.¹ In the fall of 2018, the American Legion passed a resolution changing membership criteria to be open to all U.S. military personnel who served on active duty during the hostile events that are not seen as a period of war. https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/membership/2018/october/american-legion-moves-to-open-up-membership-eligibility accessed November 11, 2025.

Dad believes in the principles of freedom and is a staunch promoter of America.

Lt. Kenneth O. Norenberg, USAF, 1955

Thank a veteran today!

SOURCES

• 1
  In the fall of 2018, the American Legion passed a resolution changing membership criteria to be open to all U.S. military personnel who served on active duty during the hostile events that are not seen as a period of war. https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/membership/2018/october/american-legion-moves-to-open-up-membership-eligibility accessed November 11, 2025.