A Belated Memorial Day Post

I am a very patriotic person.  I love seeing our country's flag flying in the wind.  Hearing our National Anthem on the radio every day at noon never fails to bring tears to my eyes. There is something about placing my hand over my heart when I recite our Pledge of Allegiance that makes my heart flutter.   I am eternally grateful for the many sacrifices our serviceman and women, and their families, make each and every day, to make our world a safer place for us and our children. Thoughts of what our country suffered on 9/11/2001 still bring me to my knees.  I don't know if it has to do with being raised military, but I hope I never lose my patriotism and appreciation for my country and the freedoms we have.

The Washington Post Sunday edition  had an excellent article about the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.  I wanted Noah to read it, but because some of it was a little above him, and because he also wasn't too enthusiastic about his assignment, my mom, who is visiting for the week, sat down and read it with him.  As a military wife, she had some insight to offer him as she read the article.  I stopped them a few a times because I had some insight of my own (naturally).  I wanted Noah to understand that even though some of the men in this tomb have never been identified (thanks to the advances in DNA, some of them now have been, so their families now have the peace of mind of knowing their loved ones are back on US soil), they still deserve the respect of a proper military burial. They still deserve the respect of being guarded and properly memorialized.  I explained to Noah that these gentlemen gave their lives for our country; they left everything they knew and loved behind knowing they probably wouldn't return.  They were someone's dad, brother, husband or son.  I could imagine Noah picturing a jumble of bones inside the sarcophagus, so I explained to him that each gentleman has their own little coffin inside the big tomb; each one is respectfully separated.  Many times, as my mom read the article out loud, I cried openly.  The visual image of the WWII veterans strugging to rise from their wheelchairs to salute the young man guarding the Unknowns was too much for me (according to the young man, it was almost too much for him as well.  I think I can safely say I almost love him for that.  I certainly respect him for it.).  Because Noah understands the word "ministry" due to the work we do at the center, I explained to him that to the soldiers who guard the tomb, this is more than a job, more than a career, it's an honor:  this is their ministry.

To all of you who serve:  moms, dads, children:  THANK YOU.  To all of you who have served, THANK YOU.   To all of you who have yet to serve, THANK YOU. May blessings always be abundant for you and your families.