HONORING OUR VETERANS TODAY AND EVERYDAY!

November 11, 2026
At Sea Aboard the Island Princess
Day 37/50
73F, cloudy

 

Today is Veterans Day and I really want to remember our U.S. military veterans and the sacrifices they made for our country.  I am especially proud of my mother, Alma F. Hall Phillips who served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II.

1st Lieutenant Alma F. Hall, R.N.

U.S. Army Nurse Corps

I am also so proud of my dear husband, Tim "TK" who served in the U.S. Navy for four years as a Boiler Tender on the U.S.S. Columbus, a guided missile cruise, with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from 1968-1972.  Without the Boiler Tenders the ship did not sail. 

BT TK Koenig, U.S. Navy

And, of course, I am proud of my favorite brother who served in the U.S. Army. I don't have his military photo handy, but this is one of my favorites--the two of us with a Ford Tri-Motor we were flying in.

Brother Bill with his favorite sister

There are many more veterans in my family, from the American Revolution, War of 1812, the American Civil War, World War I and II, the Korean War, and through present times, and I am grateful for all of them. We have so many friends who have served in the U.S. military, too.  All are honored--

As I have reflected in a book I am writing about my great uncle, Archie Harvey, who served in World War I, I think of the millions of American men and women whose stories we will never know—soldiers, nurses, sailors, and civilians who endured terror, loss, and sacrifice without ever leaving a record. So many families never learned what their loved ones faced. So many acts of courage slipped quietly into oblivion.  We must remember our veterans, we must honor every individual who has served our country with dignity and courage.  May we honor their sacrifices. May we value their commitment, their integrity, their patriotism, and their bravery.

Today the crew of the Island Princess did a tremendous job of honoring all veterans, whether American, Canadian, British, Australian, or others. A ceremony was held in the Princess Theater, complete with the American National Anthem sung by Mary Garner, a cruise passenger, the Canadian National Anthem, Amazing Grace, the poem In Flanders Field  was read, messages from the Captain, the Armed Forces Salute, Wreath Laying and Taps, and finally, Reveille.  At 11 a.m. the entire ship was silent. 

 

It is impossible to know  how many veterans are on board, but I would say there is a significant number.  A group photo was taken and I am anxious to see that.

This sign was featured on 

most of the ship's sign boards.

The stage was set

A dentist who served on the U.S.S. Gualcanal

took this photo for us