Memorial Day 2014

         Haven't been here in a long while again... I'll fix that. Memorial Day 2014 seemed to be a bit different than those past. I still "did my thing" on Face book and Tumblr. Can't explain why but this "holiday" - poor choice to describe the day - holiday brings thoughts of fun and excitement and joy to my mind - and this day is not that kind of celebration, at least for me. This "memorial" day seemed to reach a bit deeper for some reason. 

           First it really pisses me off that I can stand out in my front yard and count the number of American flags displayed on one hand - hell on one finger. How ignorant and selfish are these people that are my neighbors? Do they not realize that what we have and what we enjoy as Americans has been protected by the sacrifice of over a million lives since the Civil War? Do they not care to recognize those that have given the ultimate gift to their country, their families, their friends and their brothers and sisters?

         Next I had to pick up a few things at the store earlier today. Only one of dozens of businesses that I drove past had an American flag displayed - a Vietnamese restaurant. Not Safeway, not Costco, not Home Depot, not Walgreens, not Wal-Mart, not Conoco, not MacDonald’s or the local banks - not even the post office ... and the list goes on. All fine "upstanding" American corporations that somehow forgot what has kept this country safe and whole and free so that they can reap their profits while "serving the needs and wants" of the people in this community. Its crap and what's even more disconcerting is that they were all open for business - except the post office and the banks. Certainly I could have gotten by without the few items I purchased - except maybe the Jameson--LOL. Enuf said...

          Standing out there today at Ft Logan National Cemetery in  the warm spring sunshine amongst 10's of thousands of white washed tablets, each marked with a name and a flag, was as emotional an experience as it has been before. Each time I survey the acres of stones so evenly placed, standing in formation as did each of the veterans whose resting place they mark, I marvel at the courage and honor and bravery and sacrifice they made. Certainly not all died in battle, but they pledged that same oath that I and millions of others have pledged - "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." And beyond that was the unspoken pledge to those they served alongside of. 

            Many stood in harm’s way and performed acts of heroism that are not recorded anywhere or rewarded with ribbons or medals, instead they have been kept close to the hearts and minds of those involved. How many were satisfied with the reward of a pat on the back or helmet and a sincere "thanks" from their buddies? How many stepped up when others hesitated, how many endured the bitter cold or oppressive heat, the lack of rations or ammunition, how many took their aircraft or artillery or armored vehicles to their limits and beyond - all in the name of freedom and liberty and honor and friendship and love? How many? Thousands of stories lay buried there and I know of all to few. 

             Today and in the last few days I spread across my Face book page and Tumblr blog dozens of pictures and quotes trying to raise the awareness of as many as possible. Some share in my feelings - most are my fellow vets, my buddies, my brothers. They know. I only hope that by sharing what I have that a few others have gained some small amount of caring, of recognition, of respect for what Memorial Day is really about. 

              To this day and hopefully forever - whenever the Star Bangled Banner is played I will be able to stand straight and true and salute my country and those that have kept it free. That tears will well up in my eyes at the sound of Taps, the pipes playing Amazing Grace or the images of another brother or sister being laid to rest. Just a few quotes to finish with…

              

               "In the heat of battle it ceases to be an idea for which we fight... or a flag. Rather... we fight for the man on our left and we fight for the man on our right... and when armies have scattered and when the empires fall away... all that remains is the memory

of those precious moments... we spent side by side." Paul Bennett

               "Leave no man be behind - Neither in the heaviest of firefights nor the wasteland of their own mind, Fighting demons that lurk in dark corners and follow, relentless, biting at heels and unguarded flanks, fraying the edges of sanity to ribbons with needle sharp teeth and vicious whispers. 

               A feast for doubt and despair that weakens even the strongest, for one cannot stand vigilant forever when war is left behind, but the battlefield remains in the heart and mind, forever indelible."   Rhi Etzweiler

              “When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.”  – LT Rorke quoting Tecumseh, Act of Valor (2012) 

Hmmmm time for sleep - may it come and be as gentle as the spring breeze out the front window...

       

Thanksgiving Memory

Missing the warmth of Thanksgivings passed, I close my eyes;

See my grandmother at the stove making the best gravy ever,

Smell the rich aromas filling the house – roast turkey & bread & stuffing & more,

Feel the shiny smooth finish and weight of the “good” silverware as I help set the table so I can

Steal small handfuls of black olives, garlic pickles and baby corn when no one’s looking,

Gathering at the table in anticipation we all know what the prayer will be,

 I bow my head and squeezing my eyes shut tightly repeating my father’s words silently in my mind as we hold hands around the table;

“Thank you God, for all the blessings our family and friends enjoy and for those you have given to others.”

Hearing my twin brother laugh I open my eyes as he takes “dibs” on one of the turkey legs,

I pass on the cranberries in favor crisp marshmallows and caramel syrup covering the sweet potatoes,

Relishing the chance to have more than a taste of my Uncle’s dark red homemade wine I clean my plate,

Great memories to be thankful for…

Yes, thank you God for all the blessings I and my friends have enjoyed, and for those you have given to others.

November stinks! In my opinion...

          I had this gloriously written bunch of verbiage all set to be placed in this spot. Here and there were adjectives of insurmountable  - oops there one slipped in when I wasn't paying attention. All I really wanted to say is this was a crappy week for me. And next week will be as well... November of every year for more than the last few has not been the time for celebration of family and friendship and all that gooey feel good stuff for me. November stinks! In my opinion...
          Veterans Day - an awesome day - one that I truly enjoy and participate in every year. No one on this planet deserves more recognition than those who have or who are serving our nation in the armed forces. With the protection of our liberty and freedom solidly in their hands we have survived for decades, and God willing will for many more. I relish in the fact that I am a member of that select group of American service men and women. Yet amongst the glory are scattered the stories and horrors of those who gave all that they had, as well as the bitter taste left from the way I and my buddies were treated when we returned from the Viet Nam war. 40+ years have not dissipated the agony and emotions of war.
          Anniversary of JFK's assassination - hardly a celebratory day. A memorial to a man who led this country through a cataclysm of internal political and social issues while staving off the likelihood of world wide nuclear war. A man who did not quake at the massiveness of any job ahead of him nor from the calculated rhetoric and actions of our cold war enemies or his political foes. A hero of mine whose life was ended all too abruptly, altering greatly the future of America and the world.
          Anniversary of my fathers death. I'm not going to elaborate much on this one. Suffice it to say that my Dad and I were the best of friends in the later years of his life. To this day I wish that I had listened to his words during the first 40 years of my life as well as I did the last 10 years of his. I learned enough in the beginning to serve me well and make him proud. He was a man educated in the "school of hard knocks", a man who worked with his hands as well as his mind from the time he was 15 years old. A man who cherished greatly what he had earned through his sacrifices. Stoic and gruff and hard fisted as he was on the outside there was an inner being that I don't believe he shared with many - not even my mother. I was lucky enough to be part of that. He fought his cancer with all that he had, with that same work ethic that had served him so well before. And he won for the longest time. Another hero of mine whose life came to an end all too soon.
          Thanksgiving - another splendid celebration. Certainly we ALL need to step back and at least take part of a day to survey what we have, where we are and who we are and then give thanks. Unfortunately it's a bit difficult to get into when you live alone. In the last few years this holiday has taken on a deeper meaning for me - even beyond Christmas. It doesn't really matter whether I have PBnJ on toast or a pork roast or turkey bacon n eggs for dinner on Thursday. What matters is that I am here to make that choice and it's not so much about what I have received over the last year but what I have given. I am most grateful and blessed to be able to have shared whatever I have had with those who were in need. From things as simple as a smile, to a phone call or email, to contributing to lessening the cost of putting a household back together. It was all about family a few years back and now it's all about me? No I think not... Still I'd love to smell Grandma's gravy bubbling away on the stove as it mixes with the aroma of "all the fixins" and the freshly sliced turkey again. I'd love to hold hands around the table an hear Dad repeat the same words - "Thank God for all the blessings that our family and friends enjoy. And for those you have given to others." I will try again to be most thankful for those things I have been able to share with others.
          That about sums it up for me... ha - best thing about November? Movember! I don't have to shave for a whole month!!!! And I haven't!