Veterans Day - The Past, Present And Future

Inter-agency cooperation has always taken place. Not every department has the resources during critical events to respond at the necessary levels. Agencies also depend on intelligence to solve crimes. While we thankfully have not had riots or mayhem, we have had acts of antisemitism.

Recently, we had a repeated incident of graffiti on a sidewalk along Northeast 12th Avenue. Our Police Department has been working with the Broward Sheriff’s Office for additional surveillance technology and Crime Stoppers to put up a 5,000-dollar reward for information that can help solve and find the perpetrator. If you have a tip to report, call: 954-493-8477 (TIPS).

This past Sunday, 85 years ago marked Kristallnacht when properties owned by Jews in Germany were targeted & attacked. Windows were shattered in businesses and homes; Buildings were painted with swastikas and other antisemitic markings. I could not stop thinking on Tuesday what my father would be thinking as a World War II Army Airforce gunner and radar operator would have to say about what is going on in the world now. He, like many soldiers, enlisted and gave patriotically to defend Europe and the world against the Nazis. The armed forces united fought and won. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice.

My Dad never spoke about the war when I was younger. Every Veterans Day I would call him, tell him I love him and thanked him for his service. He was incredibly involved in the VFW and always active. When he would come down to stay, he and I would celebrate along with the many retired soldiers who have regretfully passed. We would have the service and then go to the American Legion. The Legion is open and always looking for volunteers and donations. They are located at the corner of Southeast 1st Avenue and Southeast 3rd Street. Check them out on Facebook.

Over the years, my dad would be my wingman and on occasion escort me to events. One event years ago was at the South Broward Chabad. At the event, he met a Holocaust survivor. They struck up a conversation and she found out he was a WWII Veteran. She got a tear in her eye and hugged him and thanked him for serving and saving her. Our armed forces liberated the many Jews in death camps.

While he was not on the ground, he did bomb Italy and Germany. He felt a sense of guilt from dropping bombs on his parents' home country of Italy. He also held overwhelming sadness from watching so many die. Her simple sincere thank you was like a watershed moment for my dad. Her thanks helped him heal. It gave him different lenses to look at his actions and the war. What it meant to fight and save people from tyranny.

He began sharing his war stories. I found out he received two Purple Hearts. On his first mission his plane was shot down. He survived and went on to fly over fifty-four missions until bailing out and injuring his back. One of his crew members would not jump. He stayed to try and get him to jump which he never did. My Dad had to leave him and jump at an extremely low level. He was flown to Miami and recovered at the Biltmore which was used as a military hospital. I also found out he had saved all his records and military items in a suitcase in our attic. To this day, I have his original bomber jacket, glasses, cap and metal on display.

I miss my dad every day and wonder what he would think of today’s unrest. The growing antisemitism attacks on soldiers and law enforcement. I am fairly sure he would be appalled and angry. He would also be upset over the level of entitlement with younger people and their ignorance of history. The sacrifices so many have made. The wars that were fought over hate and antisemitism.

He used to have a saying, “you cannot fix stupid,” I agree to a certain extent. Some people have been simply indoctrinated by lies and misinformation and may never change, but it is imperative even more to correct misinformation. Speak up and stand up against the lies and antisemitic tropes with true facts. Facts about Israel’s history of invasions.

First by Babylonians attacking King Solomon and the Jewish Kingdom of Judea. The Jewish homeland is now called Israel. The reinvasion and destruction of the second temple by the Romans. The holocaust and Jews being repatriated back to their homeland which was the Zionist Movement. What followed the next years of the Arab/Israeli Wars in 1948. While Israel has seen peace Accords, they have been under constant attack and the last attack which was on October 7th was an unprovoked, planned and executed war, the worst since the Holocaust.

The propaganda and lies purported by the Arabs are meant to create a conspiracy theory against Great Britain and the Jews. Anti Zionism was created by the Arabs and then spread and taught as hate of all Jews even though they are the indigenous people of Israel and Jerusalem. The first, second and now the third temple are all on Temple Mount. While Jews, Christians and Muslims all live together, terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah only want to see the full destruction of the Jews. This is the true definition of genocide. They will fight even if it means killing their own.

I always pray for peace even more so as we have a very fragile peace now. Please help to be part of the solution. Correct misinformation and state the facts! Defend those that are being attacked, bullied or threatened! Report incidents right away to the police and do not wait!!

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!