HAPPY VETERANS DAY-GOD BLESS THEM AND OUR COUNTRY

 

I am ashamed to say

that I don't

always think about what the cost

is for my freedom.

source

I don't always think about

the person that laid

down their life so that

I can enjoy the freedoms

this country allows.

I don't always think about

the day-to-day struggles that

some of our veterans must deal with...

the physical, emotional, spiritual end

of it.

I do think about my Father

a medic in WWI (yes-WWI)-

A war he never, ever talked about.

His gas mask hidden in our attic.

He was a young man in the service

and an old man when I was born (53).

I do think about my Uncle Samuel,

that fought in the Korean War~

but I don't ever remember him

mentioning it.

I do think about my foster brother, Eugene,

that was part of the Vietnam war years...

the war that wasn't a war,

or so they say.

I do think about my nephew, Scott,

that suffered permanent damage

when he was fired on as

he guarded one of

Sadam's palaces.

He paid the ultimate price

and passed away after suffering

for years.

And, I do think about a man

that had a blog..

A man that I met in my blog travels...

That was a man that gave it all

for his country...

and became but a shadow

of his former self, on the outside..

Inside- he was a fighter of the

greatest magnitude.

I still have a soft spot for 

Kurt The Krippled Warrior.

He lived a hard life but asks

for no pity or sympathy.

We became friends

through blogging and exchanged

Christmas cards.

Sadly, his wife informed me through

a Christmas card

that he had passed away.

She is left to carry on alone now. 

I also think about my 

old classmate, Tom,

that was a chief petty officer

in the Navy.

I haven't seen him in years but

I remember his infectious laugh.

I am sure he kept his

Navy friends laughing

with his wit and humor.

The only picture I could find of him

(along with his lovely wife)

Today, I raise a salute 

to EVERY man or woman

that fights (or has fought) for all of us.

I don't talk politics on my blog but

I hope we can find some peace

in this beautiful country 

we call home.

A home that our vets are

willing to fight for

when called upon to do so.

God Bless Our Veterans

and those that are serving

our country today.

 source

Without them- we have no hope.