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Norfolk Naval Base Commissary 2007 |
How she managed to not only put food on the table but
develop into a gourmet cook remains a mystery.
She continues to shop at Commissaries to this day.
The idea of a commissary in the United States started as
early as 1825 and by 1867 both Officers and Enlisted could purchase groceries
for themselves and their families at cost.
The operation was in response to two factors, first from earliest times
there were always opportunistic civilian merchants who took advantage of the
military stationed in remote areas and second, the variances and vagaries of
the cost of groceries in areas where the military was stationed, with no choice
in the matter.
In 1899 the first foreign shore commissary was opened in the
Philippines, the country were Mary and I had our first contact with an overseas
commissary. The different in off-shore
operation was essentially a rationing of the goods available. While a commissary in a large base in CONUS
may stock over 11,000 items, we were restricted to about a tenth of that when
we were there in 1963 and not too much more when we returned in 1983. I do remember on our first tour that one of
the items at Christmas time were Christmas trees, a welcome connection to
families left at home.
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DeCA Logo |

So I was surprised and hugely disappointed to hear that one
of the items in the discussion of how to trim the DoD budget, now that some
choice can be made in savings rather than the across-the-board cuts of the Sequester,
was to triple the surcharge, close several commissaries, or possible eliminate
the system, forcing military families on to the economy!
This is not only greatly short-sighted and a huge betrayal of
trust, it is also one more indication that Congress does not understand the
motivation that supports an all-volunteer force. Of course why should that be a surprise when
we now have less than 15% of our politicians who have ever served: and that
includes many who were drafted.
I am hopeful that when the members of Congress return from
their holiday they may reflect of the ludic racy of making a change in a policy
set when many of their states were wilderness being protected by the soldiers-in-arms
with those who they are now disenfranchising of promised and expected
life-style elements.
Recently Bill Cosby was interviewed on NPR and covered how
war has changed, in his characteristic, humorous, but thoughtful way. In my next Post I’ll take off from his
reflections with some of my own thoughts and observations. It should be fun. Please come join me.