Thursday, November 11, 2004

Veterans' Day

Blessings, F.O.T.E.s!
I apologize for not posting in a while. There have again been complaints. :-) We're doing well and staying very busy.
I woke up this morning thinking about it being Veterans' Day and, as I have every Veterans' Day, thinking of my dad. He was on a battleship during the Korean War...(oops, I mean "Korean Conflict." No, it wasn't a war...even though Daddy was shot at and many troops killed. Sorry, sounds like war to me, no matter what the official title is.) Anyway, this year my mind also brought up the picture of my dear Ram. We have been soooo blessed so far to get to hear from him nearly every day he's been gone. We're only beginning to get a taste of what this separation means. I definitely have a more acute appreciation of the sacrifices made by military families from the beginning of our history as a nation. Our generation now ("Kids these days!!" LOL) really knows little of what it means to sacrifice. Generally, we're pretty bloated on the easy life. Food's plentiful and easy credit makes it "possible" for us to have the things our parents and grandparents had to work decades for. The "American Dream" is not so much a dream anymore, but something young families feel entitled to. Let's think hard about what our nation's founders went through to leave us this legacy we now enjoy. Just because it came easy to us, doesn't mean it was a "cheap gift." Let's take this day to reflect on the legacy our Veterans have made possible for us. Hey, and offer up a prayer for my friend, Mrs. K whose husband made the ultimate sacrifice almost exactly a year ago. This one year anniversary is tough on her. Regardless of your politics, realize that there are folks out there watching your back. Keeping you "covered." Who have "your six." You know...when I went to the market yesterday, I didn't worry about a car bomb detonating in the parking lot. Our troops are giving their all to see that I don't *have* to worry about that. Could it happen? You betcha. It happened 3 years ago in NYC. Am I more aware today of what goes on around me when I'm out and about? Surely. I'm a vigilant mama. BUT, I am thankful for the relative calm our country is blessed to enjoy. I know this is rather disjunct...look in my profile... it says "ra-ra-ramblings." :-) I will end this with a quote that I came across yesterday:
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral
and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who
has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own
personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made so and
kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

Y'all keep your wool dry and HUG A VETERAN today!!!
The Red-White-and Blue Ewe

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good thoughts! We have *much* to be thankful for. God's blessings on you and yours.
Love,
Jessica

Lisa-Anne said...

Hey Sweetpea, I was just about to launch a search and rescue on you... Good thing you posted! *wink*
I totally hear ya... as the daughter, grand-daughter and great-grand daughter of veterans all of whom were injured and nearly died before siring the succesive generation, I'm right here with you, waving the flag and cheering and shouting out thanks to the brave and honorable men and women who risked themselves (both past and present) for our sakes. My dad was in the Vietnam WAR (Lord help me if anybody uses the word "quagmire" in my hearing!)and is still having operations to repair things from the wounds he got while serving. My Grandad (WW2)had a scar an inch above his heart that came from a german sniper's bullet. He had a matching scar on his back. He credited the pocket bible in his shirt for deflecting it that crucial inch. (I, however, know it was the hand of the Almighty!) My great grandad Ira was in World War 1, a young man with a young bride. I never got the official word on what his injuries were, because the older folks wouldn't share that information with us young ones, but there are some pretty metals in a box.
So GOD BLESS our veterans, and all who served at home and abroad, and GOD BLESS our troops all over the planet, and keep them from harm and bring them home safe to our arms!
And GOD BLESS you, sister-ewe, and all your dear ones!
With much love and many, many prayers,
Lisa-Anne