PORT TOWNSEND— While it’s not unusual for a young man to follow his father into the armed services, the less common path of a woman following her mother into the military was celebrated Monday.
Rita Beebe and her daughter, Marie McMichael, were the featured speakers at the Veterans Day commemoration at the American Legion hall, speaking of their joint service and how it has defined their family.
“The veteran of today comes in all shapes, sizes and backgrounds,” Beebe said.
“But we all have the same love of country, devotion to duty and honor for their fellow servicemen.”
About 250 people attended the event, which included patriotic music, prayer and a buffet lunch.
“I learned discipline, the value of being able to count on someone and being a person that others can count on,” McMichael said of her time in the service.
“I got to know and work with people all over the world, people I never would have met had I never joined, and I am proud of the person that I became in the military.”
Beebe said her family boasts a military lineage extending to the Civil War; all but two of her eight siblings were in the service and three of her children have served.
This family experience helped McMichael prepare for the Army, such as advising her to “never volunteer for anything” in the service.
Another bit of advice was that if she was ever caught taking a catnap, the best strategy was to keep her eyes closed, nod her head and say “amen.”
The two women compared their gender-related service experiences.
When Beebe enlisted during the Vietnam era, women were “associate members” of the military.
McMichael’s day had a more equitable division of labor.
“I can imagine that my experience in boot camp were similar to yours,” McMichael said.
“It was awful.”
Two of those present were World War II veterans, Bob Yarr of Oak Bay and Gunner Bersos of Cape George.
Both served in the Navy in the Pacific at around the same time but did not know each other until they moved to Jefferson County.
“I was just a kid when I joined, and it was a great growing-up experience,” Yarr said.
“With all the experiences and the benefits the service was very important to me.”
“You learn a lot, people depend on you when they get in a bad situation and you remember all of that,” Bersos said.
“At a ceremony like this, I always think of the people who didn’t make it back — but it’s always nice to be honored.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
