Remembering and Thank You



Some years ago, we were getting ready to take our first ever family vacation flying to Florida for my Granddad's 100th birthday party.   We had an unexpected wait at the airport for 8 hours while our plane was being (ahem) worked on.  While we were waiting, a plane with troops landed.  The Bangor area is known for welcoming troops home since the first Gulf War.   My younger son, who was 6 at the time, was in awe of the military he saw, and asked if he could get some autographs.  We wanted to instill that these are people fighting for our country and they are heroes.  So we let him ask a few, who graciously and kindly signed our vacation scrapbook.  

I didn't post their signatures out of respect for their privacy, but I did wonder if they are still living and realized they might not be.  A sobering thought.  I want to express thankfulness for those who have fought and sacrificed everything as well as for those who are living and choose to keep serving our country.



Dixie Redmond

5 comments:

Connie said...

I love this story . . . they are heroes every single one of them that wears a uniform. I'm sure that your young son touched many hearts that day. I have two brothers that were both in the military for over 25 years. So, I am a woman with a heart filled with pride for are fighting men and women, whether in combat or behind a desk, where would our country be without them . . . I do not even want to know the answer to that. Tell your son that I'm very proud of him for his sweet way of honoring them that day. Connie :)

Dixie Redmond said...

I'll tell him, Connie. :-) And God bless you and your heroes.

Jan Conwell said...

What a beautiful story. I'm so steeped in military people (grandaddy, father & brother in law, and three of my four kids) that perhaps my view is a little biased, but I know how much it means to military members when someone takes the time to thank them for their service. It seems a small gesture, but it has huge repercussions.

"The Ultimate Sacrifice" has become such a buzzword as to become almost cliche, and that is truly what Memorial Day reminds us of...but even those with desk jobs appreciate the acknowledgement that they're serving 24/7 instead of the (higher paid?) 8 to 5 they could have chosen.

Your son's scrap book is a treasure.

Dixie Redmond said...

Jan - this is an important thing to remember. The "desk job" people are doing work that is equally important. When I used to lead worship at a local church, it was clear that the "up front" people wouldn't be heard well without the work of the audio/visual people who sat in the booth adjusting monitors, etc.

Countryfolk Keepsakes said...


"Do not let what you cannot do
keep you from doing what you can do."

John Wooden