For the first time in years, I'm not back home on the rez, with all of the Veteran's Day activities that go with it. Military service on most reservations is a very big deal. Modern trappings on old warrior tradition creates a higher level of respect for veterans than you see in many areas of the country.

Not being "home", has reminded me of some of my many extended family members-and all the "Uncles" and clan relatives who were Navajo Code Talkers-and whose numbers are dwindling more rapidly every year.

So, I wanted to just post a reminder to all of those forum members-to document whatever family history you can. Most of the remaining World War II vets are leaving us all too rapidly-and much information has already been lost. Please look around you, and see what you can do to help prevent even further loss. Korean War Vets, VN vets-all becoming fewer, and many dying younger as the result of "modern warfare". Just like phosgene gas killed so many WWI soldiers-Agent orange and other chemicals, disabilities and consequences are taking their toll.

Even simple things can be important. You as a vet-Can you identify all those people in the pictures you have from your service? Are they documented? (Hint, don't use ink on the back of photos-it can bleed through to the front-use pencil instead.) Does your family know your service history, so it can be carried on to other generations. For everyone-have you talked with your parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents-for their stories-and to help record those names/faces/places? How many boxes of old fading photos are kicking around with no identification? Do you know what those service stripes/medals/insignia mean? How much of that history is there for your descendants to readily understand?

Sharon