Honoring My Veteran
Following high school, my late husband Peter joined the U. S. Navy and served proudly for nearly four years, including during the Korean War. Even though he was never at the front line, it wasn't "easy duty," as he would say. Afterward, he never talked about his war service (veterans almost never do) except with friends who were military veterans. The first thing he did after he came home on leave following his war duty tour, he burned his uniform in the family trash barrel. This just didn't seem to jibe to me, since he always spoke so proudly of the military life and even encouraged young men in the family to consider it.
I never learned this until after he died, nor did I learn why. Peter had shared it with his closest brother, who told me one day. He had lived with the ear-shattering noise of offshore bombardment, day and night, for nearly a year. I don't know how he saved his hearing from that ordeal. I did know (because it made the newspapers) that his ship was hit once from return fire, with one man killed and several wounded. The deceased sailor slept in the bunk above Peter's.
Independence Day is not just our national birthday, it is also another occasion to remember those men and women who have contributed to the freedom and safety of the land we are privileged to live in. To thank and pray for those men and women who gave of their time and some their lives in the service of our country. Most if not all of them were proud to do so, despite any misgivings they may have had about the necessity of war or whether certain strategies were the best option. They just did it.
My husband valued his service time so much that he encouraged his all grandchildren to consider giving some time--short or long--to serving our country. He had learned about people, all kinds of people, he told me. But it was the character-building that he prized most--bringing him a strong sense of duty, obedience, honor, and valor. It was also a chance to give something back to a nation richly blessed by God, one that has given so much to its people.
In honor of our military and its veterans in honor of the nation they so courageously serve,
Margaret
No comments:
Post a Comment