Thank You

(Photo of Union Soldiers occupying the U.S. Senate during the Civil War, found here.)

Thank you to all of the veterans of our many horrible wars, just and unjust. Thank you for putting your life on the line, for risking all. Thank you to the families, the husbands, wives, parents, and children, of those who are sent into harms way, over and over again. Veteran’s Day is a day of Remembrance, a day to ponder the sacrifices of those who serve. A day to ponder our future, and whether this might, perhaps, be avoidable now, and in the future. For now, though, thank you.

Ted and I happened upon a Veteran’s Day parade a week and a half ago (early, no?), and I’ll confess that I got pretty choked up.  Watching the soldiers of wars gone by, soldiers of wars going on now, and the families of soldiers who have died in the service of their country.  Moms and dads carrying pictures of their sons and daughters who are still very much alive over there, those sons and daughters looking so darned young and vulnerable to me.  It brought tears to my eyes.  Hoping those sons and daughters will come home healthy and soon.  Making me wish this world were a different one, one in which people weren’t so damn hell bent on killing each other.

NPR is doing an interesting thing today, where you can listen to some veterans’ coming home stories. Pretty moving.

On a more personal side note, I used to have a friend who’s birthday was today, and she said that growing up, she thought all of the flags were in celebration of her. I wonder if C’s Little One will grow up thinking that? Happy 1st Birthday, beautiful girl!