Thank you for Sharing about the 79 Year Old Vet's Send-Off; it Put a Lump in my Throat, and Made me Grateful from my Heart for the Sacrifices our Military Men and Women Make for us. Our Lord Really has Covered our America with Grace.
Our friend Harry was born in 1917. He joined the Marines and served for 4 years. Then he joined the Army in ‘44, I believe, and served 18 months. He was captured by the Germans, and was held for 5 months in Stalag 11B. He wore the same clothing for 5 months and was never able to take a shower! Many of his fellow soldiers died and he said he promised himself he was going to live thru it. And by the Grace of God he did.
I learned most of this from two lovely scrapbooks his wife made which were at the reception at our church after his funeral—complete with Taps and presentation of his flag to her by a burly Master Sergeant, who remained at attention, with tears on his face, saluting this wonderful man.
One one page was one side of the Red Cross package which was delivered to him in prison! It took my breath away. Also the telegram she received from the War Dept. saying he was missing in action and a 2nd one saying he was back “under military control”!
The cover of the church program had his smiling face with a brushed flag in the background and the inside was printed with the same brushing with an eagle overlay with John Kennedy’s “Ask Not...” statement printed—that was all. (These are staunch Republicans but that was Harry’s credo.) There were small photos all around of Harry from his youth thru the stages of his life up to a recent one, surrounded by his family. On the back were the verses of On Eagles’ Wings which the organist played.
I was priviliged to have him grasp my hand his last days in Hospice—he had a steel grip! We wondered if he was experiencing some of his memories of prison camp since Alzheimer’s had robbed him of his recent memories.
I was a child during World War II and I remember wondering why the Army didn’t draft my father because I knew he would be able to defeat all the enemy himself! I may not remember where I put the cell phone, but I can remember that thought and understand that child’s thinking!