Remembering Memorial Day.....

This day always hits home-and brings memories of my sweet Dad flowing through my heart, and I start to miss him all over again.  I need him to give me advice, help me find that tough side to me so I can keep the battle going with this Pain-but I pause and almost feel as if he is telling me "Sister, I am in a better place now!  You just make sure to give all those who served their country a good word of praise!" He would add that he wasn't anybody important, it was his job to protect our country so we could hold tightly to  Freedom!


Well sweet Dad-I will do my best but there is no way I can leave you out-after all, I learned the true importance of standing tall for your country-teaching me to be proud of my right to vote-then watching you as a Flag was being raised, seeing your eyes fill with tears and learning so much from you.  As I watch various factual stories about WWII-one thought hits me like no other-They were all just young Men-some still teenagers, but they stood tall and proud in their uniforms-ready to take on whatever task lay in front of them.  My Dad had a Draft Number of Three-as he said "Well Sister, with a number like that-I knew it was my time to go."  I can see him telling me this story-as his eyes began to take a long walk back to a place I could never begin to understand.  His two brothers were also going-each one serving in a different area of the world-I wonder how many times they gave thought if any of them would come back home.  Praise God, all of them made it back.

When I see photos of young men with eyes that look hollow-as if the deepest part of them had been ripped out by the trauma of war, some called it Shell Shock, and all knew the men would never be the same again.
I also have seen photos of the women who stood tall and served, many as nurses, having to witness young soldiers ripped apart-yet they offered comfort, a soft voice, telling them to "hang in there soldier, all will be okay."

Now we have young men and women-all stepping forward to continue the task of protecting our Freedom-this time there are no "Greeting Letters from Uncle Sam"-but they are volunteering without any hesitation and stand just as tall.  I am sure many of them have Grandfathers who served, perhaps Dads who served in Vietnam-a conflict that brought soldiers a "double type of wound" as many were not shown the respect they so deserved when they returned home.

I watch  young veterans learning how to adjust to  legs being gone, fighting through Pain so they can walk again-working with the same courage those long ago Soldiers had. I am moved to tears as I watch these amazing men and women.  We should take a moment on Memorial Day-to say a silent word of Thanks! I never want to forget all the conflicts of War this country has faced, countless lives lost in the battles, parents opening their door, seeing a Uniformed Officer standing there and  knowing-their worst nightmare has arrived- there is no way to brace for the impact of the words "we regret to inform you that your son/daughter was killed in the line of duty!"Their Pain has arrived and it will always hurt.


War brings a very different kind of Pain that never goes away and lives are forever changed.  I ask God to please watch over the ones who have paid the ultimate price, console their loved ones and please bring those still serving back home, safe to their families.  God bless you all on this Memorial Day.  Martha

Hope I said the "right words" Daddy- I miss you so much-please give Mom a hug.  Love, Sister.