James “Jim” Karantonis is a Veteran of the United States Army, having served from 1966 to 1969 as a medic and psych specialist. For him, the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument offers an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women who served our nation during war.

He sees the memorial as, “A location where young and old may learn about our nation’s difficult times, not the glamorized Hollywood version, but from Veterans’ own stories of their experiences.”

He explains how only a small percentage of Veterans saw actual combat, “But we were all affected: nurses, mechanics, cooks, secretaries, pilots bringing the wounded home, drivers, communication specialists and on and on — those stationed in Vietnam, Korea and Germany; those in hospitals at home and abroad. We were all affected, including our families — parents, wives, husbands and children — and yes, absolutely, those in combat.” Mr. Karantonis looks forward to the monument becoming a location where future generations walk by and are compelled to stop, learn, reflect and become part of our Veteran community.