Perspectives
by ED CHERRYHOLMES
Last week Frank Beltes died. You say, who was Frank Beltes? He was the last soldier from World War I. He passed from this life at the age of 110. He was emblematic of a way of life that is disappearing.
When Frank was born, the 19th century was saying goodbye and the 20th century was only a few years old. During his lifetime, the airplane took its first flight, the automobile went from being a luxury to being a necessity, and the United States went to the moon. The USA became involved with European nations and could no longer be an isolationist country. In 1917 when Frank was only 16 years old World War I broke out. He lied about his age and enlisted in the “war to end all wars.”
Frank lived through the depression in the 30s. When World War II began at Pearl Harbor he tried to enlist. This time he was too old. In his lifetime more was accomplished than had been accomplished in the previous 2,000 years. One can only guess what this 21st century will bring. The world witnessed all sorts of problems during the last century. We can only hope that some of the things that confound us will be better by 2100. Hopefully cancer will be no more than what a common cold is today.
However, wars are a reality. We must do something about a peaceful co-existence, our environment and the energy resources that are being depleted at an alarming rate.
My wife’s great-great niece was born in September 2010. Kaylee could live to an age as old as Frank. No one can say what shape the world will be in by the time she would reach 110, but change is coming and that is the only thing that we can count on for certain.
Now, every soldier is gone who fought in WWI to make the world a safe place for democracy. Things will never be the same. Frank Beltes represents the passing of the old and a welcoming of the new. In 1917 we sent thousands to respond to the call in France with the words: “Lafayette, we are here!” Now, with a new century we can look at all we have done and say, “Lafayette we came and kept our word and now it is time to go home.”
