Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day.

As each year passes I come to know more and more veterans who are younger than I.

I know their wives and have seen their little babies, conceived and born now that Dad is home from service.

It draws me closer to understanding my family and especially my grandparents and the impact WWII had on their lives.

Both my grandfathers served in WWII, doing their duty, giving up their freedom to protect ours.

My maternal grandfather has a pretty incredible war story.

He played in the army band, then was captured and became a POW.

My grandmother has refused to marry him before the war, and understandably so, was devastated to receive the telegram that the army had no idea where my grandfather was.

When grandpa came back home, his dad said to him "Gordon, you'd better go see Ruby, I hear she's got coffee on for you."

They were engaged and married shortly after.

Many years later they traveled to Europe where my grandfather met the man who had once been his captor in Germany.

Last year, my aunt, who is a teacher, asked her dad to come share his story with her class.

A student videotaped it and shared it on youtube. It's about an hour long, but if you've got time, it's a fascinating story.

Part One:

Part Two

I'm not terribly patriotic. There are lots of things that are wrong about this country.

But I am intensely moved by and fiercely protective of those who have decided that my freedom and rights are so important that they are willing to give up theirs in service.

And as the years pass, the story tellers are getting younger, but the sacrifices are the same.

So thank you to all who have served this country so that I can be educated and worship whoever and however I want and vote and all the other things we take for granted.

Your sacrifices are not in vain.

O beautiful for heroes proved 

In liberating strife. 

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!