I posted this in my blog yesterday, but wanted to share it here as well.
Today is one of the most important days in the calendar year for Americans. Today is the day that we celebrate the lives and sacrifices of those who got our country where it is today. Today is the day that we celebrate our Veterans.
Veterans day has always held a special meaning to my family. My Father, Grandfather, and Uncle are all vets. My Father served in the Coast Guard, my Grandfather served in the Navy, and my Uncle was a marine. Growing up I was always taught to say thank you to each of them, and I was always explained why I was doing so. But as with most kids, I only viewed the day as a day off from school. A day of freedom, only I didn't understand exactly how precious that freedom was. I didn't understand the sacrifices that each endured. I didn't understand the sacrifice that my Mother and Grandmother had endured. I didn't understand that I was lucky growing up, as my family that was sent to fight for this country I love, actually came home. Sure, my parents would always try to explain to me exactly what war actually was. I can even recall my Grandfather telling stories of the friends he lost during his tour of duty. I was just a kid, and later, just a teenager that viewed his stories the same as I viewed a war movie or a book, it wasn't real, just a story. That would change.
In the war that followed the 9/11 attacks I lost 2 of my closest and most dearest friends. I saw the horror side of war. I saw the agony, I saw the pain. I saw how quickly life could change as I viewed the faces of each of their family members on the day they were saluted for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the families they cared for, the freedoms they enjoyed, and the country they loved. My heart broke a little more each time one of the 21 guns saluted them. I cried everytime I remembered our past.
I finally understood what my Father, Grandfather, and Uncle had been through. I finally understood the sacrifice that my Mother and Grandmother had endured. I finally understood that feeling, that each had on Veteran's Day.
Veteran's Day isn't about being off from work or school, it isn't about watching news reports on services or watching war stories, and it isn't just saying thank you to the Veteran's for their service. Its about understanding why you are saying thank you. Our Veteran's went through hell so that we can be where we are today. The families of our Vets endured the same type of hell as they didn't know when their loved ones would return, or even if they'd return.
Today, when you are doing whatever it is you do in your "free" time, please take a moment to understand and reflect as to why you have this free time and the other freedoms and liberties you have. Take the time to attend a service, shake the hand of a Vet, or visit a memorial. Take the time to say a prayer for those fighters and families who are separated right now. Take the time to send up a prayer to the ones who paid the ulitimate sacrifice. Take the time, to say thank you.
Today is one of the most important days in the calendar year for Americans. Today is the day that we celebrate the lives and sacrifices of those who got our country where it is today. Today is the day that we celebrate our Veterans.
Veterans day has always held a special meaning to my family. My Father, Grandfather, and Uncle are all vets. My Father served in the Coast Guard, my Grandfather served in the Navy, and my Uncle was a marine. Growing up I was always taught to say thank you to each of them, and I was always explained why I was doing so. But as with most kids, I only viewed the day as a day off from school. A day of freedom, only I didn't understand exactly how precious that freedom was. I didn't understand the sacrifices that each endured. I didn't understand the sacrifice that my Mother and Grandmother had endured. I didn't understand that I was lucky growing up, as my family that was sent to fight for this country I love, actually came home. Sure, my parents would always try to explain to me exactly what war actually was. I can even recall my Grandfather telling stories of the friends he lost during his tour of duty. I was just a kid, and later, just a teenager that viewed his stories the same as I viewed a war movie or a book, it wasn't real, just a story. That would change.
In the war that followed the 9/11 attacks I lost 2 of my closest and most dearest friends. I saw the horror side of war. I saw the agony, I saw the pain. I saw how quickly life could change as I viewed the faces of each of their family members on the day they were saluted for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the families they cared for, the freedoms they enjoyed, and the country they loved. My heart broke a little more each time one of the 21 guns saluted them. I cried everytime I remembered our past.
I finally understood what my Father, Grandfather, and Uncle had been through. I finally understood the sacrifice that my Mother and Grandmother had endured. I finally understood that feeling, that each had on Veteran's Day.
Veteran's Day isn't about being off from work or school, it isn't about watching news reports on services or watching war stories, and it isn't just saying thank you to the Veteran's for their service. Its about understanding why you are saying thank you. Our Veteran's went through hell so that we can be where we are today. The families of our Vets endured the same type of hell as they didn't know when their loved ones would return, or even if they'd return.
Today, when you are doing whatever it is you do in your "free" time, please take a moment to understand and reflect as to why you have this free time and the other freedoms and liberties you have. Take the time to attend a service, shake the hand of a Vet, or visit a memorial. Take the time to say a prayer for those fighters and families who are separated right now. Take the time to send up a prayer to the ones who paid the ulitimate sacrifice. Take the time, to say thank you.
Comment