Many of these brave men and women who marched off to war to proudly serve their country are now being wheeled in wheelchairs down long, crowded hallways at area nursing facilities.
Where once they donned their spit shine uniforms and adjusted their “toppers” (hats) according to military regulations, they now need to have help changing their pajamas… or…diapers.
At one time, they were fly-boy-cocky, defending the greatest country in the world, and filled with vitality, strength and hope. But now their vitality has waned, their strength is gone, and, in many cases, their hope revolves around if family and friends will remember them.
So we honor them.
With music and pomp and circumstance and pictures of Betty Grable, D-Day, and the Andrew Sisters projected on a big screen, we honor them.
We honor them for their bravery.
We honor them for their sacrifice.
And we remember.
We remember the good times.
We also remember the not so good.
They tell stories of patting the picture of Betty Grable’s bottom on the poster of her that was hung inside their submarine, being in Time’s Square the day the war ended, and turning to light a cigarette for their battle buddy only to discover he’d been blown up by a mortar.
And we cry.
We cry for what was.
We cry for what is.
We cry for the things that could have been.
We cry for the things that are now.
These ceremonies are always so special, so poignant, and so very, very important.
Let us remember and never, ever forget that our freedoms to choose, to express our opinions, to serve whatever gods we’d like, to raise our families as we wish, to work or draw public aid, to buy or sell, or to go on vacation are only enjoyed because of men and women just like those we will honor today.
Of course, let us remember all of our veterans as well. (My son Jeremy is a purple heart veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom (Iraq) and my son-in-law Shane is a Marine Corp veteran.)
Listen to them today. Let them be heard. If you have a veteran in your family, call them. If you don’t, find a vet to thank. If you have a loved who has died who was a vet, share their story with others.
Let’s thank them by remembering.
By listening.
Please considering posting your stories here along with pictures so that we all can honor them… and remember.