I remember the day when I reported for military service registration in the United States military and armed forces. I was not born early enough to remember the days of full scale international war and when military service was required. Being a bit naive, I reported for the draft several months late because I thought I'd be notified if there really was a draft or registration in effect. After all, the IRS finds you if it wishes....
So off I went to the US Post Office branch near my home because I was told that is where you were supposed to register. That day I was more than a little nervous, not really sure what it meant, whether I might actually be called to serve in the military and whether my late registration would affect me. After cautiously approaching the clerk, I prefaced my question about the draft registration by apologizing in advance if I was asking a stupid question. He responded by handing me a card to fill out and then asking: "What's your uniform size?" Of course, I couldn't see my own expression. But the post office clerk laughed heartily and said "I'm just kidding around with you."
While that is a funny and amusing story, serving in the military is decided not funny nor amusing. It's easy to forget the pain and suffering of our veterans, those who have died and whose names are so easily forgotten - especially if they are members of other people's families. It's also easy to forget those veterans who live on with their lives forever impacted by war - mentally and physically. For those of us who did not have the honor of serving in the defense and safety of our country and its citizens, I cannot even come close to thanking our veterans for their sacrifices. I must humbly remember that every military veteran is a true hero and that nothing I can say will even come close to the gratitude we must feel for those who no longer can enjoy life so that the rest of us can. We also have to humbly thank the families of veterans for supporting them and coping with the loss of every fallen soldier. There is no Captain America. Every one of our veterans is a true hero and on this day, Memorial Day, we should pay more attention than just lip service to understand just how important their sacrifices were in order for us to appreciate our own lives.
Bless our troops and our veterans. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart and as best I can.
So off I went to the US Post Office branch near my home because I was told that is where you were supposed to register. That day I was more than a little nervous, not really sure what it meant, whether I might actually be called to serve in the military and whether my late registration would affect me. After cautiously approaching the clerk, I prefaced my question about the draft registration by apologizing in advance if I was asking a stupid question. He responded by handing me a card to fill out and then asking: "What's your uniform size?" Of course, I couldn't see my own expression. But the post office clerk laughed heartily and said "I'm just kidding around with you."
While that is a funny and amusing story, serving in the military is decided not funny nor amusing. It's easy to forget the pain and suffering of our veterans, those who have died and whose names are so easily forgotten - especially if they are members of other people's families. It's also easy to forget those veterans who live on with their lives forever impacted by war - mentally and physically. For those of us who did not have the honor of serving in the defense and safety of our country and its citizens, I cannot even come close to thanking our veterans for their sacrifices. I must humbly remember that every military veteran is a true hero and that nothing I can say will even come close to the gratitude we must feel for those who no longer can enjoy life so that the rest of us can. We also have to humbly thank the families of veterans for supporting them and coping with the loss of every fallen soldier. There is no Captain America. Every one of our veterans is a true hero and on this day, Memorial Day, we should pay more attention than just lip service to understand just how important their sacrifices were in order for us to appreciate our own lives.
Bless our troops and our veterans. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart and as best I can.
