Show Your Red, White & Blue this Veteran’s Day
No generation gap here. My son and one of our local heroes.
I come from a family where American patriotism is a very serious thing. Both of my grandfathers (now deceased) served in World War II and my own father retired as a Colonel from the US Army. As an Army brat, I had a chance to live in and visit foreign countries as a representative of the United States. It was about the time I was 13 and we moved to Berlin, Germany that my mom made me understand and realize the significance of what it meant to be an American. NOT an ugly American.
Living in what was West Berlin at the time, I grasped that not everyone in the world experiences the same freedoms we enjoy in the United States. I visited East Berlin, traveled through Russia during the Cold War, and have also stood at the crossroads of the DMZ at the border of North and South Korea.
So, take it from me…do not take freedom for granted. It is VERY easy to drive around Bernardsville caught up in the glory of the seasons between Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas and totally forget that there are men who have died for our country and more that are overseas dying right now. I’m not trying to be morbid or heavy-handed but I really want everyone to take pause on Veteran’s Day and give thanks for all our soldiers, all our freedoms and blessings because of the sacrifices so many have made on our behalf.
Enjoy life to the fullest and how about this for a challenge…say “thank you” to a soldier or veteran!!!!
Here’s an easy way you can do that…. Every morning at 8am and every afternoon at 4pm this week, there are a group of veterans gathered at the Bernardsville Post Office to raise & lower the flag. They do it in tribute to their fellow soldiers and in remembrance of time served in the Armed Forces. (They only do this for the weeks of Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day.)
The local Heartworks group first came to recognize these Vets through the very caring & always open-hearted Megan McDowell. She noticed them and it gave her pause, even in the midst of her own busy life. Through her efforts, Heartworks provides meals during this week of remembrance as a way to say “Thank you” to them. Thanks to Megan’s awareness, many other area families have begun to attend as well…. and you oughtta see how great that makes these very special (but often unrecognized) Veterans feel!
If you feel moved to join us, we’ll be there at 8am and 4pm to support our local Veterans and let them know that we remember, we care, and we will never forget the sacrifices that they have made for our freedom. It is definitely NOT easy to get up early and drag your kids to the post office at 8am or force them to go there straight from the bus after school…but you know what? Those Vets sacrificed so much more… and that is a lesson worth teaching a younger generation.
On a final note, I took a short hiatus and visited one of the U.S.A.’s finest cities this past weekend–Nashville, TN. Along the way, I rekindled my love for country music and went crazy for this song called “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band. The lyrics midway through the song are actually fitting for this blog:
I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice
All the things we love
Happy Veteran’s Day Y’all!
