[KathieI]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

The older I get, the more I realize how grateful I am for the men and women who served in war and or conflicts that have preserved the freedoms we enjoy every day. Lately I have begun to include the families of those who served in my daily thanks. There was and still is absolutely nothing grand or glorious about going off to fight, but thank the Lord that they did and still do. I invited a vet to our barbeque today and he was moved when everyone thanked him for his service.

I only had an uncle who served in WW II [my Dad got sent home each of the 4 times he tried to enlist - flat feet!]; had one boss who spent his service time in a recruiting station [in downtown Newark, NJ] and another who served in memorial services in Viet Nam [he sent bodies home in bags - only section that got a bottle of booze as part of his pay!]; and I had a brother-in-law who served in Viet Nam [personally saw the effects of PTSD - every bit as bad as it is said to be]. That's as close to war as I have ever come - other than living thru the Viet Nam era.

Yet, the older I get, the more I feel the seriousness of remembering those who served and the families of those who served. I think I will donate my lapghans to a Veteran's home this Christmas and will try to think of other ways to say thanks all the year thru.

Beautiful post, NJBB. I agree wholeheartedly.
Last night at the end of Patrick's karaoke show at Havana, he had 4 of the singers join him to sing patriotic songs and we all stood up and saluted. It was fantastic and it was hard to hold back tears.
God Bless America and our wonderful troops for protecting us!!