Veterans Remembered

I grew up with Vets. I did not remember them yesterday or sunday as I should but here goes. My step-father was a Korean Vet. Hat's off to a man that had to lie about his young age to enlist. He was forever changed by his tour of duty.

My Uncle Lloyd is a vet of WWII. He is a proud vet, one who still serves daily on the funeral circuit with other senior vets to honor those fallen. He was forever changed and will not talk about his experience on Normandy Beach.

One of my first loves was a Vietnam Vet. He came back broken and forever changed. His brute physicality was destroyed, many many bones and his spirit as well. He struggled through depression, alcoholism (still does) but tries to live as best he can, my heart goes out to you Mike.

Then there is Christopher & Travis, cousins who recently served in the Middle East. We have prayed many prayers. My neighbors son Jason flies, another friend, Keith a refueler pilot. Both safe now.

There are others but my point being, there is not a family in this country that has not been forever changed by war. The price we pay for being the greatest country in the world.

I have traveled abroad. I know how lucky we are. I have landed from being abroad and clapped along with my fellow travelers. So so happy to be home, to know when we got off the plane that the country we were coming home to, though flawed, is still free from so much, which other countries in this world are not.

Free speech, freedom of religion, women walk freely without worry of beating for having her head uncovered or because she is not in the company of a male, freedome of expression, free to read or watch whatever we want.

If you still have doubt, READ. READ the expanse wealth of literature out there that tells us, from personal experience, just how lucky we in the US are.

We have never lived through the Cultural Revolution as the Chinese have. Read memoirs from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan. We are blessed. I will give you an amazing list!

Hats of to our men and women SERVING THIS COUNTRY TO ENSURE OUR FREEDOMS!!