A Way to Honor

I was not intending to write anything this morning. Then I remembered that I was planning on putting out my flag just at sunrise today. Sunrise comes late now; just after 7:00 a.m. so I had to hurry to get shoes on. As I walked to the end of my porch, I could see men getting ready to work on the lot across the street again. I put the flag into the holder and tightened it down just as the sun was rising. The view left me breathless and I felt humbled.

Sunrise 11/11/2019

My father and my children’s father both served in the Army. My father was in the Army for twenty years but I never knew exactly what he did. We didn’t talk about it or much of anything else. He was gone a lot, often for a year or more at a time. We were strangers to each other.

My children’s father served in the Signal Corps. He had to keep lots of secrets but I had a vague idea of what he did for a job in the military. Those three years changed him. Service to one’s country comes with a price. For some men and women, it’s the ultimate price, for others, the price is extracted for a lifetime.

I don’t celebrate Veterans Day or Memorial Day. I honor them in my heart. We don’t say have a Happy __ Day on these days. We take a pause to remember our servicemen and women and the price they paid. I wish you a thoughtful day.

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself