I'm not a poet and I know it, what I do know is how my family served our country, each in their own special way. Each of the military branches has been served by memebers of our family. Our father served in the Navy in WWII, step father served in the Army, my oldest brother, known on here as BILLB OKC, served in the Marines at the start of the Viet Nam War and served in Viet Nam. He was extended and sent off right after his oldest daughter was born and was gone approximately 13 months. My HERO. My next to the oldest brother served in the Marine Corps as well. My husband was in the Navy serving on a submarine, he too was sent away when our first daughter was just 6 days old. My youngest brother served in the Air Force and my next to the youngest brother served in the Peace Corps after college graduation. My oldest daughter and her husband both served in the Air Force during the Gulf War. She was sent to Kuwait in the middle of planning her wedding and made it back just a week before she was married. Leaving her sister and myself to plan her wedding right down to selecting her wedding dress. Imagine not seeing your wedding dress until 3 days before you are married, not knowing what the details are. All of these people in my opinion are my heros. They all sacrificed so much and left their families for extended periods of time. I have a 19 year old nephew serving in the Air Force and just returned from a 6 month tour in Afghanistan. Thankfully he returned safe. My husband still serves our Armed Forces working for the government in the Defense Department. He has been to Afghanistan the past two years for six months a tour. His purpose their was to make sure our military was being taken care of by Government Contractors. Today he oversee's the building and construction of the
tanks that are sent over. Having come from this line of people who are so willing to give up their time is heart warming and makes me proud to be related to each one. Not one of them was drafted, they went willingly and knew what they were going to be doing and giving up. Though he wasn't in the military, but the Peace Corp, this brother deserves to be honored for his services of helping and contributing to the well being of people in a remote country. Money not being his concern after 4 years of college. We have so many people in the United States that serve this country in some way. Each person needs to be honored and be proud of their accomplishments whether they served in a war, conflict or otherwise. Memorial Day means to fly my flag proudly and remember all that are serving this country or have served and remebering the lives that were lost so we can stay free. Though, I am fortunate and didn't lose any of these people in any of the wars, they still need to be remembered, maybe this tribute would be better on Veterans Day. Passed or alive each person that serves this country needs remembered for their sacafrice for US. I found this poem, author unknown:
Heroes
They are fallen
but, never forgotten.
The brave,
they did save.
This Memorial Day,
we remember the flag forever waves
for all
that stood tall.
The sacrifice
for our quality of life
is truly cherished
and blessed.
So with this I end and say thank you, My 2 dads, Bill, Mike, Wyatt and Jimmy, my husband Bob, Tina and Lee and Little Wyatt too. We appreciate what you do. Each of you are my hero. Last but not least a Great Big Thank you to the families who have sacrificed and lost loved ones serving this country. God Bless US!
