ROGERS: Honoring Our Military Heroes

Some of America’s youngest war heroes were eager to join the military, stopping at nothing to serve their country, even when they were underage. More than 200,000 veterans are believed to have joined the U.S. military during World War II, before they turned 18 years old. In fact, one of the youngest casualties of war on D-Day was 16-year-old Virgil Mounts from Pike County, who signed up with Uncle Sam when he was only 15, using his older brother’s driver’s license as a decoy. He courageously shipped out to storm the beaches of Normandy for the cause of freedom, where he paid the ultimate sacrifice before he was even old enough to vote. A patriotism of that magnitude should never be forgotten.As we celebrate Veterans Day this year, let us remember how many of our war heroes answered the call of duty before they could drive a car, cast a ballot, or buy a gun.

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