Sunday, November 11, 2012

For the Veterans

I have not been up to making a post his week.  We have all moped around the house like there was a death in the family this week.  I wasn't going to post today but after getting such a sweet, heartfelt comment on another of my post from kymber, I had to.  

kymber wrote:  Mamma - i just wanted to take the time on this Remembrance Day/Veterans Day to thank The Marine...i thank him from the bottom of my heart because i enjoy privileges and freedoms that i enjoy because of him. also, i want to thank you and Papa....without families like yours, The Marine would never have been born. nor sacrificed for my freedoms. and on this beautiful day, the families must be remembered and thanked as well.

thank you Mamma and Papa. and thank you to The Marine.

there is so much in my heart that i want to say but it all just gets jumbled up. Mamma - i know that you know what i really mean.

thank you.

your friend,
kymber 


I printed this off and took it into the Marines room to read to him but I didn't get very far before I started sobbing.  Papa Bear had to take it and read it to him.  kymber...I can't tell you how much your words meant to me.

Today I am especially remembering all of our heroes and the sacrificing they and their families have had to make all through the years.  The ones who made it back stateside safely.  The ones who came home injured and the ones who came home in a flagged draped coffin.   

We sit here in the safety of our homes and grumble because at times we don't think our people in uniform should be in this country or that country but it was and is their duty.  They have a patriotism to this country that I will never understand.  My stepfather, my little brother and both of my sons served.  My sons went off proudly with me in tears while I waited for every letter, post card and phone call when they could.  I am so proud of them and all of those in uniform.  

I read a number of blogs of those who have served.  I won't mention names as I am afraid I will leave someone out but please know our family is most grateful to all of you veterans today.   


We love you!

 

13 comments:

  1. Hugs to the Marine, you and Papa Bear today, hope things start looking up soon, all the money spent on campaigning could have gone to much better use to help this country.

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    1. A little late but thanks TL. I totally agree about the money spent. I wonder how much would go on if they had to use their own funds. I guess the one with the most money wins!

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  2. To the Marine- Thank You sir for your service. Papa and Mama- Thank you too for your sacrifices. Our family is deeply appreciative of your service and sacrifice to our country. God Bless and many, many thanks. - K's clan

    (Kymber has spoken for many people today.)

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    1. Sorry to be late K but thank you...and yes...kymber could not have said anything more heartfelt.

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  3. In church this morning, I couldn't help but stare at the American flag that had stood in the corner, unseen for so many years. Our church members are old, so there were a lot of veterans to carry her proudly. It was then that I realized she looked old herself, tired and fading. Such are the veterans who proudly carried her. I feel this is so fitting, due to the elections. Our country, our men, fading.

    MEN, real men, have fought to guarantee the very freedom that ONE man is throwing away with both hands.

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    1. We are on our 3rd flag hanging upside down on a porch column since Obama took office. The flagpole further in the yard outside the Marine's window holds old glory as she should be.

      We have lost our freedom. It isn't like when Stud or my dad and boys served. They served proudly for a country to be proud of.

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  4. Please thank the marine on my behalf also. As for kymber, she's a sweetheart.

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    1. Thank you GS.. I copied off everyone's remarks and read them with him. yep...gotta love kymber!

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  5. Mamma - i am so glad that my few words meant so much to you. there is so much that i want to say but i honestly get teary-eyed when i try to think of how much it means to me that veterans fought and sacrificed so much for our freedoms. i know what level of patriotism that both of your sons must have felt. i find that with veterans, that level of patriotism usually stays with them for the rest of their lives no matter how many years they served.

    i have friends still over in Afghanistan and when i think about them i get teary. i know that they could be injured or worse...but without their service who knows what kind of country you and i would be living in?

    i also read a lot of blogs written by veterans. and they always thank other veterans for their service.

    it is an honour that you would print my message out so that The Marine could hear it. tell him thank you again for me, will you? i could never thank him enough.

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. kymber....thank you. Our Marine knows he is well thought of by all my blog buddies!

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  6. Please add our thanks to those of the others here.

    Not quite sure why I feel the need to do so, but am drawn to share a bit of how our weekend went. We usually go to our local Veterans Day Parade. Neither of us wanted to this year. We did go to Applebee's mid-afternoon Sunday. It was our intention to buy the lunch of a family member or two who were with a veteran eating the free meal. We both ate free and did not get to buy anyone else's meal. (Sounds weird, I know, but we hit a very slack time and it was a nearly empty restaurant. I knew almost everyone in there and they do NOT need a hand out!)

    From there we went to Cabelas. They were having a tremendous sale and we got the 80-ltr commercial dehydrator at a ridiculously low price - much less than half price.

    All this after spending time on Saturday with the VFW poppy drive. It's an opportunity to educate youngsters and collect a little bit to help local vets.

    Altogether, a very worthwhile weekend for us. Unusual, but very meaningful as we remembered those with whom we had served, all who served before us and those still serving. Yes, both my husband and I are vets.

    Pete

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    1. Thank you and your husband for your service and for the thoughtfulness of buying a soldier lunch. That is so awesome when I see it happen right in front of me. I am usually tied up with something and someone beats me to it. At least you tried. I haven't seen anyone around here in awhile with the poppies.

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    2. My VFW post shares poppies twice each year - Veterans Day and Memorial Day, or close to each of those dates. Several other posts are again sharing them as well. No one had done it in years around here either. It meant a lot ot me as a kid so it is a very special thing to do now.

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