No Words Are Needed

In my area where I had my home built, there are a few vets on my street. This morning while watering my grass looking up and down the street some came out and raised their flags, others lined their yards with the American flag. Then here and there we waved at one another. No words were needed because we knew where our minds were at.

Later, I will go and hangout with fellow paratroopers. It is the same every year. We raise glasses with drink of choice be it alcohol or not and toast those that we knew and those that we did not. Went to the cemetery yesterday and watched those who came and went. We placed flags for our brothers. Sometimes there are some very sad moments when there is a widow, who misses their fallen loved one! They are not hard to spot. We gather round to let them know they are not alone as we are and will always be a brotherhood and we take care of our own. We let them know where our club is and tell them the doors are always open! We give them a card because we want them to know, they are not alone and we take care of our own until they take that journey to join their loved one!

Later, I will be home and grill and set on my back deck and just reflect and funny enough my wife just sits close because she understands that she was just as much a part of the uniform as me and she went through those hard times too, just in a different way. Home and family is my island of peace!

My friend, Nate, I couldn't let your heartfelt words go unnoticed. Thank you for what you've done, your fellow soldiers and others now serving are doing for our country. Our nation is built upon what you and others have done. Serving in the military is not easy and it is not without a certain level of sacrifice. I love seeing all the flags flying in neighborhoods on days like this (and others, too). In my hometown they place crosses at the courthouse park every year. My nieces now go and decorate them. Our family is proud of our family members' service but we want everyone to know we appreciate their loved ones, too. I can tell you, based on what my son tells me, we are so innocent of what it is like to fight In a war. My son has never been so grateful to be a citizen of the United States than now. I thank God he is safe for now and I am happy you, too, made it home. Having been a part of several Patriot Guard military funerals .... Those who gave their lives deserve our appreciation and those families deserve our respect and love. Happy Memorial Day.

Mindy,

We are proud of your son as well as you! I know what it is for a mother to have her son out in harm’s way! I know because I remember like it was yesterday when my bus was pulling out at 03:00 in the morning and I saw the tears rolling down my mother's face. I almost got off of that bus! From that time on when I was home and getting ready to leave I never wanted Mom to come out because I never wanted to see her tears.

I am sure your son is the same about you. Mothers are very important in our lives as they give us a compass and a balance of who we are and what we stand for!

The honor is the nation to the mothers who have to see their loved ones off! Be brave and do not give him cause to worry, so his head can stay in the mission!

Thank you for sharing! Well, I got to get off as I have some duties now to perform and will be back in the evening to see what is going on!

Proud to know you Mindy!

Thanks so much! Right back attcha. I remember the day my son shipped out. The commanding officer walked up to a microphone and asked to speak to all the mothers. So, we turned our attention to him. He said straight out, "In a few minutes you will be saying Good-Bye to someone you love. Don't cry in front of your soldier. It is hard enough on them without them seeing you crying." Now, everyone who knows me knows I can cry at the least tug of my heartstrings. So, my daughter turns to me and asks me, "Are you going to cry, Mom?" I grabbed my son's hand, held it tight (as though I would never let go) and stood straight, took a deep breath and whispered inside my head, "No, I will not cry. I will not cry." When it was time for him to walk away, I looked my son in the eye and told him to come back safe, that I was very proud of him and I wished everyone he knew was here to see him take this step. "Now, go kick some ass!" and he walked away to the bus. As soon as the bus pulled away, I fell apart, of course.

Dad's have their place, but I think Moms are the ones that shape our nations through the children they bring into this world and the values that they instill in them. So, I can see where your son's "Warrior Spirit" comes from!

Memorial Day is indeed a special day to all those of us whom are veterans. I proudly fly the American Flag every day on the front of my home, and those knowing me who pass by realize that there are many proud citizens in this town. At the apartment complex, I was almost "anal" about raising the flag every morning at "O-six early" and lowering it at "Seventeen Hunnert". I chose these times as it corresponds to the flag ceremonies at most US Army posts. I was almost nearly as anal about having a new, crisp, nylon flag on the staff at all times, and taking the pole down to repaint and re-rope at least twice a year. The flagpole was right at the entry of the property, so it is seen at the same time as the property sign. The tenants or most of them knew I was ex military, and appreciated my concern for the US Flag. And, at my own expense entirely, it is lighted so it can remain over night. Now that I am retired (10 May 2012), I will still maintain the flag, unless the new manager is as anal on it as I was (doubtful). I even had one tenant remark that she will be glad things around here are not so "military" as I kept them. Yes, a soldier is always a soldier, but I learned a lot of it won't work with civilians, hence I adjusted with extreme hard effort on my part. I didn't make a tenant knock and request to see the "Property Sergeant Major" when they came in---(calm down, just kidding!!!) (But I would have liked to do that--my little secret).
Anyway, it is nice being retired (for the third time) and I wish all of you the very best, and God Bless our veterans, and God Bless America. Let us keep it "America" and not "Amerika". Too many have died for that!!!

I had a school take down their US flag once because it was not fit for display. I would rather not see a flag than see one that is worn and tattered.

Had to send my complaint to the district office though.

There was a story locally here that WalMart had a flag that was not fit for display neither and ignored customer requests to replace it. Complaint went to the corporate office and they called the store manager immediately and ordered it replaced. It was not like they could not pull a crisp new one off their shelves, they were just too lazy to do it.