Veteran’s Day 2011 – I Will Never Forget

Last night Ducky tried to watch Vietnam in HD on History as we sat at the dinner table eating our savory hot chicken and dumplings, a voice from the TV recounted their experiences and terror of the 1968 Tet Offense – And tears fought to run from my eyes and down my face. This distressed Ducky to the point of him going back to the boring Georgia Tech game, a game in which neither of us were vested. I didn’t want him to change the channel, but I didn’t have the ability to say the words that were choked in my throat by tears of sorrow, which I think only moved him more to switch channels.

I don’t believe in war, yes, I recognize there are instances where even I could agree war was a necessary evil, the worse of two evils, where two wrongs might, might end up as ending in a right. Where we have been is a lesson for the future – one my country refuses to hear. I sat there crying for the lives lost, for veterans spit on, for youth, soldiers, and sacrifices forgotten. Not only in Vietnam, but in all wars before and since. Old men send our youth off to die in the name of ego, oil, commerce. They send our youth off to fight someone else’s civil war – Korea, Vietnam, and Bosnia.

Today is Veteran’s Day 2011, tears run down my face with each song I play in the memory of those who felt the call of my country to arms; tears and pain for those who died, for those who suffer their loss, and for those who came back. I don’t believe in war, but I believe in our youth, I believe in the innocence lost, I believe in what will never be for those who never come back, and I mourn what will never be for those who do. I believe in each of those souls, I believe in their honor, and I will mourn their memory - both those I knew, and those I never had the honor to meet. I grieve at the feet of their offering and stand against war for the rest of my life.

Please say thank you to a Veteran today, you don’t have to honor the war, where they were sent, but honor their courage, their commitment to this country, and the loss of their innocence and far, far too often the loss of their lives.



My Veteran’s Day playlist

John Flynn – Dover
Dixie Chicks – Travelin’ Soldier
John Michael Montgomery – Letters From Home
Billy Ray Cyrus – Some Gave All
Tim McGraw – If You’re Reading This
Toby Keith – American Soldier
Amie Lynn - The Star Spangle Banner (although I believe America The Beautiful should be our national anthem – go Ray Charles)
Will.i.am & Faith Hill – America’s Song

Please honor a Veteran, today, and everyday. Then go out and work to end war so we don’t have to have more men and women become veterans.

Sith,
Cele

Talk Thursday: Period

My friend’s husband died this morning at 6:3o. He passed in the quiet hours of the morning, when many spirits choose to pass… unseen, alone, unhindered and as chosen. He passed after a long battle against diabetes, heart disease, and most recently against kidney failure and a gastro-intestinal infection. He is gone; she is heart broken – period.

The next chapter begins.

It is not that she didn’t see this coming, but do we ever really want to be prepared for this? I sure can’t imagine the day that Ducky and I will part… forever… well at least until we meet in some future life. But my friend doesn’t believe in reincarnation, she is waiting only for her resurrection day. I have no problem with this, to each their own. I mean our beliefs are the beds we have to sleep in. While many will poo poo her and mine’s belief in God, any resurrection, and future lives, it is these beliefs that comfort us. As far as I’m concerned if you are comfortable in the belief you die – period, more power to you. Keep your distain for my beliefs to yourself and I promise I will not ridicule yours to your face or on your blog either.

Back to my friend. My heart breaks for her, for hers is not an easy road. She cared not only for her aging invalid husband, but a severely disabled daughter as well. Often her days were spent shuttling herself from one hospital room or doctor’s appointment to the next. Many would said this will ease her load, but I know putting myself in her shoes (which is nigh an impossible task) guilt at the relief of his passing (no matter how merciful), the weight of lonely moments that would have been spent by the two of them, and the burden of her heart-ache will be an even heavy burden to bear.

I send her my prayers, my thoughts, and my wishes for better tomorrows even though I know that I cannot smooth her path, ease her burdens, or share her load. I can only offer her my love, support, shoulders, ears, and prayers in her time of sorrow and pain and while she is on the journey to the road where she learns to be one again.

Thomas, please go with God; Rose my heart wants to lift your sorrow, you pain, your burdens and I’m wholly unqualified for the task, but I shall try. As hard as it is please rejoice that his pain and suffering have ended – and when the day comes, my friend, please remind me of the same.

Sith,
Cele