OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID. THEY HAVE EARNED OUR UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES.
[President Harry S Truman]
i had the great privilege to accompany my dear granddad p as he visited the ww2 memorial here in dc for the first time. he's a veteran of that war, as was my late grandpa h. i couldn't help but fight back a few tears as i surveyed the group of brave men taking a long awaited victory lap around their memorial.
i couldn't help but wonder how they feel about the current events in the land they fought so hard to protect. it seems like since those days, our national dialogue has devolved to a place where grinding the gears of our entire economy for weeks on end is an acceptable tantrum tactic by our nation's leaders. i was more than a little shocked that those same leaders showed up for a quick photo op with these dear veterans instead of doing us all the service of getting the government up and running again.
anyway, i digress. the point is, it was a bittersweet day. i loved seeing my granddad get to experience his beloved nation's capitol, but an unbelievably stark contrast was painted between these brave and kind veterans of foreign wars vs. the nincompoops who can't keep our government from imploding due to infighting and petty posturing.
i love you, granddad bill, and i thank you so much for your service and your example.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them
[jfk]
0 comments:
Post a Comment