Posted on 05/30/2011 1:10:33 PM PDT by Kaslin
In the decade since we went to war, America has rediscovered how fortunate we are to have good men and women willing to put themselves in harm's way so that we might remain free and safe. Some haven't lived to make the return trip home -- men like my own son, Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, who was recognized with the Medal of Honor for his actions in a battle in Afghanistan that cost him his life.
The great unspoken fear of families like mine is that the sacrifices of our loved ones will be forgotten once the parades and ceremonies and newspaper accounts fade away.
Military families are often called Blue Star families, after the banner that dates back to World War I -- one or more blue stars, each signifying an immediate family member in the military, on a white rectangle inside a red border. For the past two years, my family has proudly displayed a Blue Star banner in our front window and Blue Star decals on our cars, in honor of our second son, who followed his brother into the Army.
Three years ago, we replaced our original Blue Star banner with a Gold Star one, indicating an immediate family member who'd died in the service of this nation. My husband and I also wear Gold Star lapel pins, presented to each of us (as well as to our seven surviving children) at Rob's funeral.
With some 5,500 soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen killed in action since 2001, the number of Gold Star families may seem small. To that total, however, America must add the parents, husbands, wives, siblings and children of those who lost loved ones in Vietnam and previous wars.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Many grateful thanks to you and your family. And prayers.
Madame, may God Bless and comfort you for the loss of your son. As long as there is breath in me no one will forget. They won’t forget your son or any other veteran. They can’t because I won’t let them. I’ve got a good, loud voice and I’ll make sure I’m heard.
Thank you for posting, Kaslin. Those of us who have not endured that sacrifice do tend to shy from asking questiof the surviving family members, thinking perhaps we are sparing them the agony of ‘reliving’ their family member’s experience, but obviously it’s something they do need and want to talk about. Lesson learned.
You’re welcome. We can never really imagine what they are really going through
Sorry to change the subject BUT -
This makes my blood boil. I just read that Gates has put on the table, cutting Military pay to balance his budget reduction of 400 billion request from his CIC. This came from the military.com news letter I received today. I am writing my congressman and senators to stop this along with the increases to tricare. Need all the help we can get to stop this outrage against, both present and future military service members.
Many, many thank-yous for heroic sacriface!
Her name is Mauren Miller and she will hear your comments if you post them at the source.
I have tears.
We just took our son back to college today and I am feeling sad.
I cannot imagine what you feel on a daily basis.
Prayers up for you and your family.
I really feel embarrassed. I am not the author. I only posted the article.
Not a problem. The sentiment remains the same.
Even if you had posted the article, you got the story presented of a young man who gaved his ALL for the USA.
I guess we just hit reply to you but poured our sentiments out for the family mentioned. When I prayed it was for the Johnson family.
Miller family....I don’t know what is wrong with me today!!
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