In line, paying for yet another bag of ice*, an elderly gentleman approaches my husband.
"Did you serve?" he trembles.
"Yes." says Patrick.
"When did you get back?"
"About 20 years ago." my very young-looking husband smiled.
"Oh! Well, thank you. Thank you so much for your service!" the man replies.
"Absolutely, sir. You're welcome."
I was at a loss. Nobody ever approaches ME and assumes that I was in the military! I commented on how random that was.
"It's the haircut," Pat explained. "It happens to me all the time."
And that? That memory was the sweetest one of all of Memorial Day for me. People who go out of their way to remember and recognize the countless sacrifices that our daily freedom has required. I fear that I didn't do a good enough job acknowledging the day, myself. I was so concerned with not passing out from heat exhaustion or sun poisoning, that I only allowed myself a brief moment to pause and remember.
And now, in the artificially cooled air of my safe home in a civilized neighborhood, I gaze around at my blessings and say THANK YOU. Thank you to the people who are not only currently serving their country, but also all of the men and women who have died for America, for freedom... For every parent of a military person who has ever had to mourn the loss of their child. For every child who has had to mourn the passing of their parent. For hundreds of years of sacrificing oneself for the good of the All. For all of the pain that millions and millions and millions of those who were left behind and for all of the joy that those who had to leave missed out on...
THANK YOU.
 | |
| He still gets carded at times. Drives me crazy... |
*Seriously? Between the old fridge dying and 94 degree heat all weekend, I do believe we have personally kept the ice industry in business for all of May. All of you readers in the Arctic circle? You're welcome.
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11 comments:
Great post! Thank you to your family for their service to our country.
It is the haircut. My 70+ year old uncle also gets thanked because he still has the military haircut. Last winter someone told him he still walks like a Marine.
Thank you Patrick!
I still get carded too. :P
wow. and thank YOU and your family for your service!
My brother-in-law left the Navy two years ago after many years of service. I wasn't sure if I should thank him on Memorial Day... whether it was meaningful or not. But, now I realize it is. Thanks for the reminder!
Awesome. I love this. Someone came up to my dad this weekend when he was out with Mister Man eating lunch and paid for his meal to thank him. I thought that was awesome - definitely something I'll be doing myself, too!
It's the haircut and just something about them that I can't describe. Thank you for writing about the reality of Memorial Day and for Patrick's service. We are always humbled when someone thanks my husband even though he was based at home during war time.
My husband is very good about thanking veterans, all year long. If he sees someone with a hat or a pin, he's right on it. I think when you come from a "military" family, it's always in the forefront of your thoughts. Great post!!
Wait a minute...how come on mother's day, no one comes up to ME and thanks me for my sacrifice and service??? I risk my life every day taking care of this kid, driving him around to lawd knows where...heh heh.
Oh...I get it...maybe because I don't LOOK like a mother. :D I'll take it. ;)
it's not only the haircut... there is something about someone who served that you can just sense. I can spot a Marine a mile away (my dad, as well as both my granfather AND grandmother were Marines).
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