Rev. Austin Miles
Glaring omission in Memorial Day services
FacebookTwitter
By Rev. Austin Miles
May 27, 2013


BRENTWOOD,California-Memorial Day-2013. It was not deliberate or intentional. This writer just became aware of it on this Memorial Day while preparing a funeral for tomorrow, May 28th.

That service will be for Helen Genevieve Mastraccio in Brentwood, California. Born into a privileged life, she was in St. Thomas University in Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada, left the University after a year and a half to put on working clothes and a helmet to work in a factory in Rome, New York where she lived.

World War II had broken out and heated up. Very young men were lined up at all recruiting offices to join the service, many lying about their age in order to do so.

Americans had to make sacrifices to assist the war effort, submitting to rationing of staples, sugar, metal, rubber tires, gasoline and nylons along with many others. And they did it willingly.

An intense inward patriotism was displayed in those days which is why it is called: "The Greatest Generation." Everybody was ready to help defend America. And that included a score of women.

Since most of the men were off to the front lines, there were very few qualified men available to work in the factories vital to the war effort. Ammunition, weapons, jeeps, tanks, battle ships, and airplanes had to be built and kept in supply.

It was the women who then lined up to perform this essential work to construct the equipment that would be needed in the war. The shipyards in Richmond, California introduced the term, "Rosie The Riveter," which became known and respected.

One of those, Helen Mastraccio, went to work for Rome (NY) Cable Corporation, working on cables and leads for airplanes used in the war, making her one of the first East Coast Rosie the Riveters.

Had it not been for these patriotic women who were not afraid to do manual work to supply our fighting men and women with secure equipment and transportation, the U.S. Military might not have been so successful.

It will be urged at the beginning of the next Memorial Day-2014, that flags be put on all graves of Rosie the Riveters who have passed away, and should be honored along with the men and women on the front lines. PBS TV that produces a stunning annual Memorial Day Concert and tribute in Washington, D.C. will be notified and encouraged to add this element to the future event.

This will begin a couple of months before the date so that families of a Rosie The Riveter can prepare to place a flag at the grave-site of their loved ones and take part in area Memorial Day observances and services.

Like those incredible men and women in the military, Each Rosie put her own hopes, dreams and desires on hold, pouring out her last full measure of devotion so that each American can fulfill their own. They too are heroes who should be held in the highest level of honor in our hearts. And their families should also be presented a flag at their funerals when they pass away.

May This Memorial Day Hold Special Signifcance for All Americans.

Rev. Austin Miles, a very active chaplain, is a veteran.



Photo Caption: Flag Raising at Iwo Jima 2/25/45

Photo Credit: Joseph Rosenthal


© Rev. Austin Miles

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

Rev. Austin Miles

Sadly, Rev. Austin Miles passed away on April 12, 2023, at age 89. His memorial service was held June 3, 2023. His obituary can be read here.

He has broken many major stories including the required study of Islam in the public schools, and reviews books, movies and concerts which brought him an award from University of California at Fullerton for Critical Review. He was a writer/researcher and technical consultant for the multi-award winning series "Ancient Secrets of The Bible," which debuted on CBS TV and has been in constant re-runs since.

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Rev. Austin Miles: Click here

More by this author

 

Stephen Stone
HAPPY EASTER: A message to all who love our country and want to help save it

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
FLASHBACK to 2020: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Pete Riehm
Getting harder and harder to argue with Trump’s success

Selwyn Duke
White “Ghetto Girl” reflects why MAGA won’t be easy

Tom DeWeese
Where are the Chicken Littles – the environmentalists, the climate-catastrophe, worriers??

Joan Swirsky
Tylenol and autism: More to the story

Steve A. Stone
The Slow Coup, Part 27

Stone Washington
Restoring federal control of Washington DC: Why Congress should uphold the Framers’ original intent and repeal Home Ru

Madeline Crabb
Compromise, collusion, corruption, and cowardice—Four Cs leading to America’s collapse

Cherie Zaslawsky
Charlie Kirk’s assassination: Whodunit?

Rev. Mark H. Creech
The false hope of socialism rises again in the shadow of Wall Street

Bruce Deitrick Price
For poetry lovers, for lovers of A.I.

Tom DeWeese
As the tyrants move to handcuff freedom, grab the keys!

Jerry Newcombe
'In the Presence of Greatness' What I saw at the Dr. James Dobson memorial service
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites