Some thoughts on Veterans

Veterans Day was yesterday.                    
     I began to think about the contributions
     of veterans to the life of our country.|
Anytime a person is willing to be put in
     harms way and possibly die for a cause we sit up and take notice.
Soldiers, Christian martyrs like Jesus, Peter,
Stephen and those who work for peace in war torn
     countries without weapons, are among those who have gone and died for us.
I remember my dad, who, although he had an
     exemption, demanded to serve in the U.S. Army
In a time when women often did not serve in the
     military, my mom was a Marine in communications on the west coast
My uncle, a marine, was dragged on a tarp behind a tank through the
     snow escaping the Chinese invasion of Korea.
Uncle Virgil, drove a tank in Patton’s 3rd Army. 
Uncle Wilbur (U.S. Army) cooked for soldiers all his life.
I have a cousin I have never met, who has served in Afghanistan.
And I know Ashleigh Lowe, who could have done anything she
     wanted to do out of high school, and has chosen to help our country|
     be ready for whatever crisis we may face in the future.
Everyone who is a good citizen, contributing to the well-being,
     the education and physical health of our country, is a critical part of
     our preparation to defend freedoms that allow us to accept
     responsibility for our destiny.
But this week flags fly, rousing marches are played, wreaths are laid,
     presidents and paupers remember sacrifices made and the readiness to
     make sacrifices on the part of those who have faithfully prepared to serve
     and served in the armed forces of the Unites States of America.
     “…from every mountain side, let freedom ring.”

Moving to the deeper places,

Jeff