Memorial Day 2010

Friday I was out grocery shopping. Outside a couple of the stores were men asking people to buy poppies to support veterans. One man was busy talking to another, so he didn't ask me, but at the other store a man did. I declined. Here's why.

I am privileged to have a veteran in my family. My dad is a veteran of the Korean War. He was in the Air Force. If I remember correctly, he left soon after he and Mom were married and was gone most of the next four years. I believe she stayed behind and worked. Dad didn't have much of a retirement account (if any), so today I am doing my part to support veterans by helping my veteran dad as much as he'll let me. (grin)

Dad grew up on a farm, had to work hard, and didn't have a college education, but his military service enabled him to get pilot's training, which he used in his work as a self-employed salesman. We had a couple of small airplanes when I was growing up. The first was a four-seater, then when my sister came along (surprise!) we got a six-seater. I remember spending time at the airport in Coldwater with Dad, watching planes taking off and landing, wandering around the hangars, hearing the radio chatter between the airport and planes, reading the shirttails on the walls, washing the plane, and taking off and landing ourselves. (Whenever someone completed his solo flight, they would cut his shirttail off and hang it on the airport wall. Most, if not all, of them had funny sayings written on them. The one I remember is, "Altimeter was not reset, airplane and runway never met.").

Anyway, seeing those men out there reminded me again of the high price of freedom, which I too often take for granted. A few days ago we heard a radio interview with a man whose ministry helps wounded soldiers with their recovery and gives them hope for the future. He himself was horribly wounded and burned when a sniper shot at and exploded a phosphorus grenade he was holding. He shared his story and talked about some of the soldiers they have helped. It is a Christian ministry, and the best part was hearing how they speak of the Lord, and the hope He offers to all of us, to the soldiers under their program, and what He has done in their lives.

This is Memorial Day 2010, and in closing I want to say, "Thanks, Dad!" and a big "THANK YOU!!!!!" to all the members of our military and their families for their sacrifices for our country.