Saturday, November 11, 2006

Veterans Day

Veteran' Day has always been a special day to me. Sure, when I was young the day off of school and the big parade in town was probably all I cared about.
Growing up changes a lot of things.
When I think of Veteran's now (not the day, but the group of people) the first image that springs to mind is my grandfathers tattoo. The anchor tattooed on his forearm in a far flung place called Iwo Jima was a lifelong reminder of his service to this country. I think of my dad, the one who raised me. He wasn't a very nice fellow, far from it, but he served his country in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corp. I think of my uncle Jim, who went to that same Asian nation, returning forever changed. I think of Duck's Grandfather, sitting in his bunker with that u-boat in his sights. There's my best friend's father, spending an entire career in service with the Army. My mom's brother Rick, keeping the Navy's F14's ship-shape at Miramar and in the Persian gulf. My grandfather's brother Tom, who's ship was shot out from underneath him, losing many of his friends in the unforgiving southern pacific sea. Many an ex boyfriend sailed the seas and hit the beaches in places most of us have never heard of. Indiana's dad, even, spent his time inside an M1A1.
So, Veteran's day is a celebration of all of those who have served or are serving our country, our community and our family in one branch of the service or another...

Remember, those Veteran's aren't nameless faceless folks. Those Veteran's who risked it all, some paying the ultimate price, those guys are your brothers, your sons, your fathers, your uncles and cousins, Veteran's aren't some strangers in a sea of other strangers, and the day isn't about celebrating wars (past or present), it's about acknowledging the risk and the sacrifice these men (and women) are willing to take on your behalf. It's about holding them close, even if only in spirit or memory, and saying "thank you for making my life better, thank you for making it safer for my children to grow up in this world"...

5 comments:

Jean-Luc Picard said...

We have Remembrance Day here; amazingly, some weirdos say it is 'not multiculteral enough'.

Michele sent me here.

John W Leys said...

Very well said, Mindi. Amen!

Bart Treuren said...

thanks for this well-meant, sincere post... despite any or all the misgivings there should be a solid ground of gratitude for those who took to arms to defend what they felt to be valuable in society... the same we all do in own way, big, small, whatever...

keep well... bart

♥Caroline♥ said...

Amen is all i can say.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Beautiful written My dear...and I agree with you completely! You certainly have had a lot of your family give to this country in the services over these many many years....Bless them all and all the other men & wonen, too!