SOME WHO SERVED...AND ONE WHO DIDN'T

Today is Memorial Day and there have been so many poignant stories on TV today about those who served and sacrificed. It makes me proud to be married to a USArmy Lt. Colonel...Retired. The Army life was one in which he, as an Army brat, grew up. His early years were spent on many different Army bases - from Puerto Rico to Texas.
At 19 he was on tour #1 in VietNam - and returned later for #2. After returning to civilian life (which he found boring) he became a member of the National Guard and continued serving for many years until he "retired" just before we met in 1996.
He has often said that it was a life he loved and would do it all again in a heartbeat. He actually tried to re-up a few years ago when he heard the Army was short-handed. He almost got in too! The Surgeon General in St Louis found his coumadin to be a deal-breaker, even as he was chosen for a position in Maryland. I would have enjoyed adding Army Wife to my resume! But it was not to be. I admire his patriotism, his bravery and his service...and am mortified that when he was risking everything for me - I was marching on the streets against the VietNam war.
He forgives me for which I am thankful.
PAT'S DAD

PAT in VIETNAM












My first recollection as a child is the vignette of my Dad coming in the door and my my Mom falling in his arms sobbing. As it turned out, he had been scheduled to report for duty in the next few days and had found out that day that they decided since he was a teacher, and the war was winding down, that he would not have to go.













My brother served as a Navy pilot - a handsome one at that - and made us all proud.











So on Memorial Day I honor the men in my life who have served - and one who didn't.
Thank you to all who are serving today so that I can have the life that I do!

God Bless America!