Monday, November 10, 2008

Lest We Forget

Remembrance day is not a day to celebrate the living but to remember all those who have given up their lives so that we could have the freedom we take so much for granted today... it is also the day we give thanks for those who were blessed to be able to return to their families that became our families....
Last week I rented the second season of NCIS and one of the shows was titled Call of Silence... a soldier 82 years old came into the office announcing that he killed his buddy during WWII but as I watched the show thoughts of dad and all his memories of his time overseas.. came to me as the show showed me that even after all these years they don't forget this part of their lives... because they can't and why should they ...
For many years I have rarely missed the Remembrance ceremony that took place here in town before they moved it to the center. I stood on the corner of the Post office watching the Vets walking in the parade and each year I seen them go slower and slower up the street and always had a look out for dad as he marched around the corner to the courthouse... and each year my heart filled with pride as my eyes filled with tears... knowing that one day his age would not allow him to walk this walk and I was filled and still am filled with thankfulness for him making the choice to go fight for our future freedom. thanking God for allow him to return when so man didn't, thankful that he is still with us today... to be able to celebrate this day ...knowing that one day this ceremony will be minus one more soldier...
Tomorrow his, like all his other comrades, step will be a little slower... standing at attention will not be as sharp as it use to be... but their hearts are as young as they were when they entered the service to fight for our freedom... and each year when he enters the center my heart still fills with the pride I carry with me for him for being so willingly to give up his life for his country so many years ago...I think of Uncle Howie who was not one the of the lucky ones to return home... I think of Carl's father who was in the midst of all of this as a teenager living in Germany... so many mixed feelings fill me....
Tomorrow when you go to the ceremony thank a Vet for the freedom we so enjoy each and every day of our lives...because without their love of our country we may not have been so lucky... Continue to rememeber and honor these men and women who fought and who continue to fight for the rights to live in freedom not only on this day but every day of our lives...
Assignment here tomorrow after the ceremony go shake a hand of a person who has fought for your freedom, may he or she be one of the oldest Vets or one who has just returned... then lean into them and quietly say thank you for My freedom. I am so proud of you for giving it to me...
Just think you may be the only person that has said this to this soldier of the past or present...
Joanne

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