At a very impressionable age I became very aware of our military and the job the put forth for our lives. My elderly neighbor was a World War ll veteran and in my late teens his health began to fail at a more rapid speed. I took many trips to another town here in NC with his grandson to visit and I acquired a deep appreciation for our armed services. It hit me so hard, and being a teenager it seemed to impact me at a greater level. The men and women there craved attention, a touch, a smile or a brief hello as you passed their room. Later I would marry a serviceman and he himself began frequenting the Veteran’s hospital because of his injuries he received during his time of service.
It was shortly after Desert Storm, we would sit and wait to be seen, the waiting room always packed as soldiers awaited treatment for their wounds, wives and husbands trying to make the best of the visit, children playing at their parent’s feet, unaware of the pain and suffering their family had gone through and the price paid by their father or mother who proudly served our great country.
It was at this time that it truly sunk in to me how very lucky and blessed we are. I sat with my own infant son in my lap, marveling in his beauty, his smile, and then looking up and seeing all the people just like my family who felt happy to be sitting in a VA hospital. Lucky? Yes, I said Lucky. At the sight of the new life in my arms I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness, of pain, and a sick ache for all the families who lost their soldier and would not be fortunate enough to hold a new life ever again, never allowed the chance to get a hug from an aunt, uncle, cousin, to smell a home cooked dinner, to feel the surge of love found in holding hands with your significant other or simply just live a normal life without the worry of war, terror or struggle. We live that every day. We are allowed to go about our daily lives, shielded from the horror of war and pain of living in a country where we have limited to no freedom.
Today, when you are grilling out, surrounded by family, driving to work, calling a friend, or just sitting online, remember why you are allowed. My thoughts go back to a hospital where I encountered a blind World War veteran who just wanted me to touch his hand, to hear my voice as he lay now slowly dying, and upon my asking him his greatest accomplishment, he answered, serving my country.
To our fallen heroes, I salute you; you gave your life so that we would be free to live ours. To our veterans, God Bless you and to those serving now like my nephew Dakota, Thank God for you, there is no way to ever show you enough how very thankful our country is for your bravery. It is my hope that my words will encourage you to take time out of your day to breathe in the beautiful air of freedom that we so often overlook. Enjoy your day everyone and remember why you can and also if ever need a real eye opener, go by a local Veteran’s hospital, it will cost you nothing to show your gratitude and the time spent will mean the world to our national heroes. HOOAH! Here are my thoughts.
TC ;)
~For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield
~They fell, but o'er their glorious grave Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save. ~Francis Marion Crawford
~The story of America's quest for freedom is inscribed on her history in the blood of her patriots. ~Randy Vader
