Posted on 05/26/2014 9:10:21 AM PDT by kristinn
After more than 12 years at war our nation is almost at peace and can hopefully rest our weary, war-torn military, country and people.
There's a lot of healing that needs to be done, many scars that will remain, and many lives that need to be rebuilt. Many of the 2.6 million veterans who have bravely served in Iraq and Afghanistan, have endured multiple deployments, losing families, careers, peace of mind and limbs. There are many heroes who are going to have to learn to live with a new sense of normalcy.
Our country needs to be aware of the changes these military men and women have gone through to adapt and change ourselves. Whether we like it or not, we have changed as a nation; the attacks on Sept. 11, Afghanistan and Iraq have changed us forever. We will never be the same. Just as a deployment changes a family, more than a decade of war shapes a nation. As a nation we owe our veterans honor, we owe them our resources, and we owe them the best care we can give.
There is a group of Americans who have suffered greatly from these wars, whose lives will never be the same and who sit mostly in silence as the nation slowly forgets and leaves them behind. Their wounds are not visible on the surface, their lives seem normal unless they open up, drop their walls and tell you otherwise.
What America does not realize is they are really walking around with gaping wounds. Some lost their other half, have had their marriages ripped apart. There are children who no longer have a mother or father to raise them. There are mothers who have carried their sons and daughters within their womb, nursed their wounds when they fell on the pavement learning to ride their bikes, and fathers who walked their daughters down the aisle and then sent them off to war, only to have them come home in a body bag.
As hard as it is to read and think about, it is even harder to write. Every time I do I picture the hundreds and thousands of families I have had the honor of meeting throughout the two years since my husband, Chris, gave his life in battle in Afghanistan.
SNIP
America, I ask you, as these wars wind down and your eyes and hearts turn to the veterans to bind up their wounds — as they should — please do not forget the small population whose wounds might not be visible. Their families are not whole, they never will be or feel whole again. You cannot replace what was lost, but we ask you to look at us as well as we need your help to rebuild our lives, our families, and our country.
Please America, I beg you, do not forget about our nation's fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, and children of our nation's fallen. We need you more than ever, and as we rebuild please do not forget us.
Our loved ones who paid it all did not forget you.
My heart goes to them all, My troubles are small.
Kristinn, it pisses me off that this country is forgetting these men and women due to war fatigue.
The public is war weary?, how the **** do you think these vets feel?
No generation of Americans has ever served in a war theater longer than our current military.
Friday night I had the honor of attending an event for the Navy Seal Foundation. Patsy Dietz and Cindy Axelson were there (husbands were two of the three fallen Seals in Afghanistan in Operation Red Wings with “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell). Other Seal widows and children also attended, and current and retired Seals.
There were some very sobering and tearful moments, especially when a retired Seal that was really tight with the fallen in Operation Red Wings did a role call for all Seals that have died in combat since 9-11. You could tell when he was reading the name of a close friend, he had a difficult time.
Certainly put a real face on Memorial Day.
God Bless you for remembering.
Being a WWII vet with service in the Philippines and my only brother killed in the battle for Okinawa I sometimes get the feeling that the two of us along with so very many of my age and older are like old books put off a shelf to be replaced by newer editions. War is hell for whomever in whatever generation that is on the world stage for those yet living.
Thank you for your service and God Rest your brother.
I was truly blessed just by being there.
It breaks my heart to hear that you feel like “an old book put on a shelf,” especially with the price you have paid in losing your brother and your own personal sacrifice.
We didn’t stop at honoring the “newer editions” that evening. (Funny you mention that. Those retired Seals looked young to me, strange how that happens as you get older). We had every vet there stand up and go to the front and recognized every one of them, from all branches.
It was held at a private club (a venue for live music) where hubby and I are members, but this night it was open to the public. Every night, and I mean EVERY night this place is open, we have all veterans stand and be recognized so that they can be thanked by others that are there.
My Dad is a vet (Korea) and we brought him there once and he loved it so much he joined as well. He has never had so many “thanks” in all of his life. If you are ever in our neck of the woods (Houston), you are more than welcome to go as our guest. I can assure you that you won’t leave feeling like put-away old book anymore.
God bless and thank you, sir, for your service. You and your fellow soldiers will NEVER become old books to be placed on the shelves of history. You were part of the Greatest Generation, the generation of my parents. You made it possible for me to grow up with a great love for my country, for all the men and women in WWII who made that possible. I salute you and your band of brothers. Know that you are remembered and loved, and so very much appreciated for your sacrifices so that we may be free. May God bless you all, and may God bless America!
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