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An Over Due Thank You
by Cheryl Hansen
Memorial Day...
In our house, we are raising 3 sons. Their ages are 5, 4, & 2. We want
them to know the true reason for Memorial Day. In our hearts, even though
we did not personally serve in the war, we do have descendants that did.
The thought of anyone fighting for our country is hard to explain. I really
feel thankful they did, I truly do. They have put their lives on the line,
& in many cases are not with us anymore.
The impact is unbelievably hard to bear. I picture Arlington Cemetery,
filled with so many gravestones. But, those gravestones, have a deeper
meaning than I can fathom. Under the stones are people.
Memorial Day is to remember the fallen soldiers, as we hear so often,
but the meaning for me goes deeper.
The people that lost their lives were answered prayers at the time of their
birth. Couples, praying for months to have a child, then years later,
losing them in a battle for serving their country.
They are parents themselves, so their children said good bye for the final
time, with out ever realizing it, because they died for freedom.
They were brothers & sisters. A relationship that never be replaced, but
now lie in rest, to be remembered for going off to war, to fight for freedom.
They were husbands & wives, so the spouse had to break the hardest thing to
tell your child. With tears, & barely getting the words out, how do you
tell your child, their Mommy or Daddy died for bringing our country to
freedom?
Alot made it thru that awful time. They are still alive. The memories are
unbearable at times, then other times they are of pride. That they were
part of the war, to bring our country to freedom.
When I see a Memorial Day Parade, or a license plate that has that special
symbol, I often feel sad, for what they went thru. Even our gloomiest days,
can not compare to what they must have felt, when many died, or the ones
they saw died, or the ones that died in their arms, not being able to do
anything about it. Or even what they went thru daily, trying to live thru things, that we can't
even imagine.
How do we honor, men & women, who go off sometimes with no choice, to serve
our country. How do we honor them? How do we honor the men & women who are still living?
They have awful nightmares, of the conditions, they lived thru.
I do not yet have the answer for that. I wish I did. I feel like hugging
them whenever I see them. But, then they probably think I was a wacky!!!
But, I am not, I am really truly thankful, deep in my heart!
The ones that died for our country, for freedom, I would hope that they are
free... Free as doves, in God's arms of love. I would like to think, that
when the ones who knew gave their lives, went from this world of war, into
a wonderful sense of love, God's loving arms....
To those who had anything to do with the wars, The word thank you is really
not enough. You deserve so much more.
May each day bring a sense of comfort, in knowing, that generations
somewhere are being taught, about the love you showed. To the families &
friends of those who lost their lives in the war. May it bring some
comfort, in thinking, of when your loved one died, the outstretched arms of
God were there to cuddle them & bring them to their eternal home.