Thanking a Veteran

I am honored to share this poignant story from Slim Randles as Wednesday's Guest today. It doesn't have to be only on Veteran's Day that we remember. Enjoy....

We buried Marshall Sprack last Saturday, and we will miss him. Ol’ Marsh was the cheerful old-timer who could be seen each day walking his two tiny dogs around the neighborhood. He always had a smile and wave for everyone.

He was a very private guy, however. We all knew him, but didn’t really know him, if you get my drift.
 
He’d been retired for more years than some young married folks here had been alive. And he wasn’t the kind of guy who needed to come down to the Mule Barn coffee shop and settle the world’s troubles like the rest of us do. He stayed home and he walked the dogs. 

We didn’t really know Marshall Sprack until Saturday, really. On Saturday, as we gathered to say goodbye to him, the military honor guard showed up. He was buried in his dress uniform from a war most of us can’t remember. His medals were on display next to the casket. The honor guard carried his flag-draped coffin to the grave-site, and other honor guards fired a three-volley salute to Marsh. Then the flag was folded carefully into a tight triangle and presented to Marshall’s daughter.

When the chaplain rose to speak to us, it was about Master Sergeant Sprack. It turned out that Marsh did things in combat that none of us could imagine him, or anyone else, doing. Later, we said the miracle of Marsh’s life was that he made it home. Now, at last, we understood the reason for his slight limp. And we can also understand a bit more why he didn’t go in for the shallow, flippant conversation we practice daily. He had things he could have said, but he didn’t have to because he knew them.
 
Well, we started out on Saturday thinking we were burying our old pal Marsh, the morning dog walker. But by the time that bugler played “Taps,” we realized that we didn’t bury him at all. His country showed up to bury him and say goodbye.
 
Marsh … thank you.
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Brought to you by Home Country. The book, which is a collection of some of the best of Slim's weekly Home Country columns, has many stories that are humorous, as well as more that are thoughtful and poignant. Check it out.

Veteran's Day 2011

Instead of my usual Friday fare on the blog, I wanted to pause a moment to honor the men and women who have served in the military in defense of our country and our freedom. If you would like to see the ceremony being held at Arlington Cemetary in Washington D.C. today here is a LINK.

Late yesterday a friend of mine, Clint Brady, posted this on his Facebook status and it encompasses all of what I would like to say to those in the military and those who served at one time.  With his permission, I'd like to share it with you.

"A few hours early here in Texas. Let me say a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our veterans and those in active duty military. I may not have always agreed with ,or completely understood, what you were fighting for. But each of you has done something that the large majority of Americans either can't or won't do...you put on a uniform to serve our country, and in many cases you risked your life to do that. I can never fully understand the sacrifices you made to serve our country since I was never in the military myself. What I can absolutely assure you is that you have my respect and gratitude. Happy Veterans Day, and thank you."

And I would like to add a special thank you to my brother, Michael, who served in Vietnam, my son, David, who served in Desert Storm, my daughter, Danielle, who served in the army, my grandfather Stewart who served in WWII, and all the military men in my father's family who served in every war since the Revolutionary War.

Honoring Those Who Served

This Veteran's Day I want to take a moment to say thanks to the members of my family who have served in the military.

In my immediate family I have a daughter who was in the Army and a son who was in the Marines. They spent many years debating which branch was the best, and still have a friendly rivalry. Dany did not serve during an active war, but David served during Desert Storm.

My husband was in the Air Force, and, like Dany, he was lucky enough to miss conflict.

My brother served in the army in Vietnam. It was the worst two years of his life.

Going further back I am proud to say that every generation of my father's family had men serving in the military back to the Revolutionary War. It was humbling and awe-inspiring to see all the headstones in the small graveyard in West Virginia a few years ago.

While serving in the military is something that I support and honor on a patriotic level I also agree with what Andy Rooney said last Sunday on 60 minutes. He wondered why we don't have a day that honors not going to war.

He said, "Too many young men and women with a whole life ahead of them are getting killed before they have a chance to live it and for what?

Of all the things that men do - historically mostly men - fighting a war to kill other men is the most uncivilized."