this is what I posted in my blog the other day...I cut out the first part...
“…and so, here I am, on a Tuesday…looking out past the next few days toward the weekend, and Memorial Day…through the years, as each one of these holidays draws closer, and my awareness that our time on this planet is in and of itself truly finite, my appreciation of this particular holiday grows- I don’t begrudge the parades, the services, the speeches, the picnics, the evening fireworks… those things are fine…and I don’t disparage the real estate broker who puts those small flags on everyone’s lawn, or the big retail sales…everyone’s out to make a buck…
…but I’d like to think that my Memorial Day is about celebrating the journey of those millions who came before me, who served for a moment in time, honored us with their duty, and then stepped off the trail to join the ranks of the rest of us…and I’d like to think it’s about remembering those who gave of themselves, for us, the ultimate sacrifice, gone before they had the opportunity to stand and salute the band on main street…
…Memorial Day is for all of us…who we were, who we might have been were it not for those who fought for us…and who we are now because of them…
…Ft. Hood lost six more soldiers last week…keep them in your prayers....
I leave you with this short piece I worked up a while ago…
Evening in Arlington
(Last line from Taps)
as the last note waifs away,
and the wind dies down,
there is one solemn moment,
suspended…
and our grief for those gone
becomes a brush
that we pass across our opaque pain,
so we may see them once more,
before they fade forever into the evening mist…
before some sound stirs this field to flight-
still we might remember-
“as we go, this we know, God is near…”
...and as always, here’s to the Irish…
Chief
Before we all start our Memorial Weekend,
(which is for the fallen hero’s, not a sale at Lowes.)
I want to publicly thank Meagan for the choice that she has made in her future life.
After she gets out of school this week,
she will be joining the Texas National Guard.
She will be shipped out to boot camp,
then to A.I.T school, (Advanced Individual Training)
Her desire is to become a RN and help those veterans needing help in the recovery from war injuries.
After this summer, she will come back to school for her senior year.
In a time when so many young people care only about themselves, it is an HONOR to know this young lady.
Gary and Jacki have raised an outstanding daughter.
It is those like her,
that give this old vet,
hope for this country.
Thank You Meagan!
This weekend take time to remember your fallen hero.
God Bless America. We need it!
I posted this on a Dallas MX forum a few minutes ago!
I can never forget!