11.11.11 A VETERAN'S DAY BIRTHDAY

I was born in Philadelphia, Pa. at Germantown General Hospital on Armistice Day, November 11, 1946.  This year, when I typed in: “65 is the new . . .” Google produced entries that began with 55 and went down to 40!  So it appears there is no rest for the ‘wicked’—or is it ‘weary’? 

Fittingly, I am the son of veterans, my Dad a radar man on the “Chester T. O’Brien” a destroyer escort in the Pacific and my Mother in the Naval Reserves in WW II.  I am the brother of two veterans, Patricia, a Captain in the Army Nurse Corps and Mary, a Lieutenant in the Women’s Army Corps.   I am named after my Dad’s brother Cpl. John Anthony Casey, who died on Iwo Jima on April 4^th, 1945.  He was 23 when he died, a machine gunner with the 25^th Marines, Fourth Marine Division.  So Veterans Day occupies a prominent place in my consciousness, especially as we hear so much about returning service men and women.  A cousin on my Mother’s side, Michael Atzert, is on active duty in a war zone; his parents, my cousin Mary Margaret and her husband Walter are also veterans, as is Jim Coyle, a cousin of my generation who served in Vietnam.  [My brother Bill, nine years younger than I, grew up with siblings at one time or another in some sort of uniform.  He resisted the urge to don one.]

On November 11, 2011 I led Morning Prayer and we listened to the hymn “I Vow To Thee My Country” and then I read from the last letter that my namesake, Jack Casey wrote to his Mother before his death.  In it he said: “Aboard this ship we are fortunate in having a Catholic Chaplain, and I am thus afforded the opportunity of going to daily Mass.  So far this week I went to Confession and Communion, and I intend receiving tomorrow.  Naturally I remember you all in my prayers at home, and I know you do likewise.  And don’t think I don’t need your prayers, as at this particular time they are most helpful.  And in your intentions, just ask God as I do, that I may be, in all conflicts, a good Christian, and a good Marine, and Mom Casey’s boy.”  The entire letter is a beautiful reflection on duty, service, family and Faith—Jack’s high school graduation photograph was an icon, always on my Dad’s dresser and Dad wore his high school ring until he died.

Br. Bob and I then listened to the hymn again and after a time of reflection prayed for our family members and friends who were veterans or who are serving, as well as birthdays and other intentions—then we went out to the second floor balcony and put the flag out.

I spent the morning visiting a school that is part of the “Discovery Walk” program of the School Leadership Center here in New Orleans.  I worked with two schools last year—it was a pilot for the Archdiocese and I was most impressed with the process—now there are more than 30 Archdiocesan schools involved—I agreed to take on two more—then another and on 11/11/11 agreed to take on number 6—one that I really want to work with.  So the day was a happy one for me.

I spoke to my siblings on the phone and spoke to some others when I remembered to turn it back on after several hours visiting classrooms and being in conference with administrators.  And we did the New Orleans thing at night--we went out to dinner!

Bob in back of John, Sr. Jackie and Sr. Monica--post dessert!

Bob and I [Br. Charles was at a province meeting in Florida] invited Sr. Monica Gundler, SC and Sr. Jackie Schmitz, CSJ to dinner at Dante’s Kitchen to celebrate my 65^th.    After a wonderful meal Bob said: “And it was great having Jackie and Monica—not only was the food great, we had fun too!”  Ditto.  [He could not have meant that dinner with me would be a bit tedious--but perhaps. . .]  All in all, 11/11/11 turned out to be a very good day.