My father was in WWII, he never talked about it until the last few years. He is now 84 years old and may not have many more years left. He is one of the few left, as the heros of that war are all going on to be with those who have passed before them.
I am so happy that he is healthy and enjoys going fishing, in fact, this morning he caught an 8 lb channel cat, which he kept. Usually he throws back, but he kept this one. Just a few years ago it was not unusual for him to bring home flathead weighting in at 40 to 60 lbs. He loved the fight they gave him. They would tear his hands and arms up when he would reach down to pull them out, but he loved it.
My husband served in the Air Force during the Viet Nam war. He never went over but some of his friends did. One in our group did not return. Many of my friends came home emotionally damaged, unable to function. They have since adapted but the scares are still there - as the physical scars my father still bares.
My son was in the Navy in Desert Storm, he was stationed on the USS John Stennis, aircraft carrier. He was a plane caption and was in charge of a team of men that worked on the Tom-Cats. The longest time he spent stationed near the war was nine months. I was so thankful that he was on ship and not on shore.
Many young men and women today are in the ongoing war both at home and overseas. Not only in the middle East but all over the world. I thank each and everyone of them for the danger they put themselves in so that I might have the freedom to have the life I do.
On this Decoration Day - may God bless all of these - our heros.
