On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, we celebrated Veteran’s Day. It is the day we honor all those who have served or currently serve in the U.S. Military. It is a day we set aside to say, “Thank you for your service.” Veteran’s Day is one of those days I take a moment to thank those who put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms I have today. I have family members and friends who have served, and I am forever grateful to them for their serve.
November also holds a special place in my heart. It was November 7, 2021, when Frogman and WWII Veteran and hero Harold T. Hall Jr. was buried at sea in Fort Pierce, Florida. He was my mother in law’s father, My wife’s grandfather and my children’s great grandfather. This was the first military funeral I have ever attended. His ashes were swum out to sea by three retired Navy Seals. Harold Hall was one of the original Navy Seals and if you get an opportunity to visit the WW II section of the Navy Seals museum, you will see a video of him talking about the Battle of Saipan where he was injured looking for access to the island for our ships. I cannot imagine the things that he saw during the war. I just know it was an honor to know him.
If I am going to be honest, it was a rocky road when I first met Harold and Lu Hall. They both had values and beliefs, and I know that they did not feel I was the right person for their granddaughter. We didn’t see eye to eye on many things which caused roadblocks in our ability to build a relationship. Where they were fixed in their beliefs, I was still trying to find my way, so neither of us were very patient nor open-minded. It made the holiday get together and trips to their Cape house tense.
If there was anything the 3 of us had in common, it was our stubbornness and our inability to meet in the middle and talk. It made it hard for my wife and children. Unfortunately, when you are caught in the tug of war of who is right then no one is willing to give grace and meet in the middle to talk. We were both wandering in the wilderness, lost. We didn’t understand that if we just worked together, we would find our way out.
Our journey through the wilderness came to an end just 4 years before nanna Lu died. I do not know who started the conversation, but it happened. We discovered that we had more in common than we thought. I got to know the people and we became family. I have been blessed to get to know them, and I think they would say the same thing about me.
I am a much better person because of that relationship. It was a great lesson in what honoring dignity can do. When I think of Nana Lu and Grandpa Hally, I smile because for me it was all worth it to get here.
There are only 60,000+ WW II vets still alive in the U.S. If you know one thank them for their service and take some time to talk with them. Soon this generation will be gone but never forgotten.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 