As we pause today to remember that morning, 80 years ago, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, I can’t help but think of all who fought and died in the years that followed. I don’t believe I have ever met anyone who didn’t have a father or grandfather sent oversees during WWII, or served themselves. I personally had three grandfathers take part in that war. As a child, I remember thinking how strong they all were. They were tough as nails, in my eyes, almost appearing to be invincible. As I grew older, and began to realize what all they had been through, my respect and admiration for each of them grew even larger.

Cecil A. Swayze was my paternal grandfather. He left his wife and two young sons at home to join the U.S. Army in 1943. He became a scout for the Army, one of the most dangerous positions to have. He worked his way up to Sergeant and served under General George Patton, beginning in Africa and eventually fighting in The Battle of the Bulge. Like many others did after they returned home, he joined the National Guard and became a Captain. Due to his lack of a high school diploma, he was unable to advance any further though. During his years at war, he received the Silver Star, the United States Armed Forces’ third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. Although he had stories of near-death experiences while oversees, he went on to have two more children after the war ended and died at the age of 85.

William Fred Harrell was my maternal step-grandfather, but to me he was simply Papaw Fred. He was known to his Army buddies as “Slim” or “Shanks”, due to his long, thin legs. Fred was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army 96th Infantry Division. Serving under General Simon Buckner, during the “Operation Iceberg” Invasion of Okinawa, his division was credited with the most enemies killed of any U.S. Army Division during WWII. This earned them The U.S. Presidential Unit Citation, given to only three WWII divisions, for extraordinary heroism. Fred was also the recipient of several other awards, including two Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge and the WWII Victory Medal. Fred spent the next 70+ years of his life working hard, hunting and enjoying visits with his family and many friends. Fred lived to be 96 years old.

John B. Harrison was my step-grandfather. He served in a Signal Corps unit in the U.S. Army during WWII, laying communication lines ahead of the front line. I don’t know a lot about my grandfather’s time during the war. It’s not something he spoke about, and my 95 year old grandmother doesn’t remember very many of the details. I do know that, despite the war, he lived a good long life, passing away from cancer at the age of 82, with his family by his side.

As with many families across the U.S., the conversation of war and what these men had endured during those years was sort of a taboo topic in my family. I was always curious to know their stories, but too afraid of upsetting someone if I asked the questions. My Papaw Fred once told me, as we prepared to celebrate Independence Day, “I’ve seen enough fireworks to last me a lifetime”. Since that day, I’ve struggled to fully enjoy fireworks myself, knowing that they are a huge trigger for so many of our service men and women. The few stories that I have heard about my grandfather’s experiences are enough to give you nightmares. It’s like something out of a fictional story, too horrific to possibly be true. However, they aren’t fictional stories conjured up in someone’s warped mind. They are the memories of our loved ones. The memories that have haunted their days and nights for many years. The war may have ended for us, but it was only the beginning for them. There is a reason why these men were so strong. They had to be. They didn’t have any other choice.

I hope that you will take a moment today to stop and remember. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the families who lost their fathers, husbands and sons. Remember our veterans that gave so much for our freedom. They are truly a generation of men to be honored and respected.

Part of the 96th Infantry Division, Okinawa, 1945 (Fred Harrell, bottom left)

By Natalie Smith

I struggle to find the right words today. I lost this friend to cancer this week. I served with him and was honored to do so. I can’t think of another person that I’ve ever known that cared about people more than SSG James Day. As an NCO, he not only knew my name, but the names of my kids as well. He didn’t just know their names, he knew their goals and dreams and encouraged them throughout their lives into adulthood. He then knew their kids names.

And so, it was not a surprise to me today when I looked at his Facebook page. There are literally hundreds of tributes to this man from both former students and their parents. He changed lives, befriended everyone, and was a light to all. He will be so missed. RIP SSG James Day.

Guest Blog submitted by Elizabeth Dennison

Memorial Day is an important United States holiday, recognizing the greatest of sacrifices – the laying down of one’s life to protect the lives of fellow countrymen. Our tradition of giving honor to love ones, who died while in the service of our country, by visiting their graves, holding parades and gathering with families and friends begin right after the Civil War. First called “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day became an official holiday in 1967.

This year will be no different in the respect shown to fallen heroes. As we take the time this year to pay respect to the memory of fallen servicemen and women, let’s not forget the estimated 200,000 veterans who transition back to civilian life each month. For the many of these veterans who have a desire to continue another time-honored tradition– veterans who become entrepreneurs–VetFran can help.

This program has a strong interest in helping these brave men and women realize the American Dream of owning their own business. One of those options, of course, is Five Star Painting.

Veteran Transition: Become a Business Owner

Data supports the theory that veterans in the past have had a keen interest in owning their own business. According to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, an astounding 49.7 percent of the veteran who served in World War II went on to own or operate a business, and about 40 percent of the Korean War veterans also became business owners. Many of these men and women took advantage of benefits for veterans, which included low-interest rate loans, to power the American economy, create job and generate wealth.

The best businesses for veterans coming home these wars cut across a variety of industries, including:
Construction
Retail
Insurance
Real Estate

However, this trend has seen a change. In stark contrast to WWII and Korean War veterans, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that of the 3.6 million men and women who served in the U.S. military since September 11, 2001, only 4.5 percent of them have started a business. History shows that importance of offering benefits for veterans to encourage business ownership. The VetFran program aims at empowering these brave individuals with support and opportunity.

Best Businesses for Veterans: Home Services Sector

With so many options for launching a business, the choices for veterans are nearly unlimited. However, included the home services industry among the sector that provide the best businesses for veterans. Depending on the source, the U.S. market for home services total $400-$800 billion a year. For decades, homes services remained the domain of wealthy homeowners, especially cleaning, lawn maintenance and landscaping. With more women in the workplace creating dual-income households, traditional home services are no longer considered only for wealthy households. Some of the best opportunities for the best businesses for veterans in this category include:

HVAC – According to the one industry report, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning field will grow by 3.1 percent, especially as people move to moreenergy-efficient systems.
Plumbing Services – Has an annual growth rate of 4.4 percent.
Gardening & Landscaping – These services include mowing, chemical lawn care, flower-planting, pruning and more. Many franchisees offset the seasonality of the business by offering with snow removal and other exterior services.
Painting & Decorating – Offer painting services to both residential and commercial customers.
Cleaning Services – Cleaning services have become a necessity or even a convenience for many homeowners.
Handyman Services – Many homeowners are hiring out small tasks formerly relegated to the DIY list, from hanging TVs to installing fireplace mantels.

In addition, the unprecedented number of Baby Boomers deciding “age in place” has created a boom in renovations. There are countless business opportunities for home services to help them make their home age with them. Remodeling projects include making bathrooms and kitchens more accessible and user-friendly for older homeowners and people with disability and mobility challenges. Many of them may also want to update their home’s look after becoming empty nesters. Stripping sports-themed or princess-decor wallpaper and repainting can transform a child’s former bedroom into a newly reclaimed guest bedroom.

Helping Veterans Transition to Successful Business Owners

Since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, VetFran has striven to mitigate the financial barriers that keep veterans from becoming business owners. Since our inception more than 6,300 veterans have become business owners with the assistance of our program. In addition, more than 374 veteran franchise owners have received discounts awards of more than $2.1 million dollars. CLICK HERE to learn more about Dwyer Group opportunities supported by this unique program, and aimed at supporting veterans in their dreams of entrepreneurship.

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