Tonight Mom and I are watching the 25th annual PBS Memorial Day Concert. Great music is interspersed with powerful stories honoring those who have served our country, especially those who are lost to us through death or physical, mental, emotional and other injuries. They have all sacrificed so much for our nation. It is good that we remember their stories. It is the least that we can do to show our gratitude for what they have endured, and continue to endure. We salute the military and their families.
While Megan Hilty was doing her 40s medley of songs to commemorate WW2 (tonight we were reminded that it's been 70 years since D-Day), Mom was singing along with Megan--these were her songs in high school. She remembered that bandleader Glenn Miller was presumed killed in a plane crash over the English Channel on December 15, 1944, while he was on his way to entertain the troops. Her uncles Roy, Henry and Bill all served in the military in that war--all came home alive. We don't really know how much they sacrificed--those who served and returned don't talk a lot about their service.
My uncles and cousins who have served more recently in the military don't talk alot about the fighting either, although they sometimes talk about the everyday life. It is like a brotherhood and sisterhood. If you haven't been there, you can't really understand. That is probably the main reason that you see those who have been there talking more to each other.
What we can do is honor them for their service. We can listen when they want to talk. We can comfort them when they grieve for those they have lost. Most of all, we can show our love for them.
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