Sunday, May 27, 2012

For Everyone

Tomorrow there will be a parade in Downingtown and then a short service at the memorial for which I am profoundly glad that I live in a town that recognizes the sacrifices of those who have served and gave their all.  Today while at the ceremony in Marinelli Park I was reflecting on not only the young men and women who have gone before us, but those who are still here who served and are still serving our great country.   I guess the moment that it truly hit me was when I watched my husband wipe away a tear after the singing of the National Anthem.....he gave up a few years of his life so that we could have a ceremony like that one and then I really looked around and saw the others who were there, standing in the shade, or sitting in a chair or on a bench and leaning on a cane and I wanted to give each of them the biggest hug that I could muster.  I respect those so much who gave their lives, but the horrors of war for them are over, yet men and women all over are still here and carry a pain in their hearts that none of us will ever know.

I am sure that every Memorial Day and Veterans Day they relive what they endured for our freedom, yet we don't thank them enough in our everyday lives........when you can go to church services and then attend a ceremony, you can say that you disagree with our governmental leaders or to peruse the Internet without fear of someone breaking down your door because you have gone to a place that you cannot.  So today I would like to say thank you to them men who worked for hours this morning cleaning up the Memorial in Kerr Park, I would like to say thank you to my husband for the time that he spent keeping us safe, I would like to say thank you to the gentleman whose chair we carried to the circle so he could attend the goings on, and I would like to say thank you to those whose lives are still in the line of fire because without you, I could not do the things I do and say out loud "I am proud to be an American!"