In Honor of Uncle Jim

I had an uncle who recently passed away. My Uncle Jim was a WW2 veteran who served in the military, was held captive by the Swiss then came home to share his story. He lived a long life with many years of service in various civic organizations. Several weeks after his memorial, my father organized a 21 gun salute with his veteran's group to honor the life of a man who gave his youth to serve in our country's fighting forces. We were invited to join in on this special event, to witness the respect and honor given to a passing friend and loved one. I was especially moved by the sincerity these men expressed as they spoke of the life of a man they knew not, but one with whom they shared a common bond. Just as my uncle had volunteered himself to defend our country's liberties, these gentlemen also have given years of their lives to do the same.
My dad is the one at the far end holding the POW flag. He too shared his youthfulness with countless other young men in defending the US during WW2.


Here are the men firing off the 1st round of 7 guns. I apologize that this photo is blurry but I jumped a bit as the guns went off. They were louder than I had anticipated!
Thank You again, gentlemen for honoring my family in this special way.

Memorial Day & my Dad

So.... where is the sunshine???? According to the weather man, we are supposed to have some sun this weekend but I woke up this morning to drizzly skies and clouds.... hmm. With plans to take 6 teens down to the campsite, this could spell disaster! Can you just imagine being locked in a small trailer with six teens???? Doesn't sound too appealing to me either! As we gather around the breakfast table this morning nibbling on Jo's freshly made cinnamon rolls, we are contemplating our plans for the 3 day weekend. Do we stay home to work on the never-ending house projects or do we just go for it, head down to the camp to see how it goes with the weather? I decided to go with whatever decision is made, so I will stay upstairs in my chamber while awaiting the final decision.
So with that aside, this Memorial Day weekend I will remind myself why it is that we even celebrate this holiday. Many have given years of their lives in service, others have paid the ultimate price and lost their own lives in order that mine would be better. My own father being one of those whose life was spared, yet scarred in ways that none of us will ever be able to comprehend. The images and experiences of war are not easily forgotten by those who are lucky enough to make it home to their families after serving in the military. Those are the wounds that take a life time to heal.

Dad, I am thankful for your willingness to spend your youthful years defending the principles that were so dear to your heart. The scars that marred your heart and your mind will always be there, but I honor you for the diligence you have displayed over the years to work through it. Life hasn't always been easy for you in your struggle. You have made some bad choices that have had some far reaching consequences, yet you have remained solid. You have stood the test of time, you have not folded. You have not given in to the temptation of quitting. Always there, always near the line, but never crossed. You have shown me how to persevere through those times when life is hard, when the breach in the wall of the dam is seeping, ready to burst. I pray that the God of peace will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus as you reach toward the prize set before you.

Reebs wrote this for you:

When I feel a cool breeze graze my skin and play gently with my hair,
I think.
When I look at the blue sky with birds flying high, I know.
These are the things we share.
Your eyes have seen these things and your skin felt this same breeze.
I am standing free
You were in chains, with the weight of hatred scarring your body.
I am standing free
You ate the food of nightmares and still carry the effects.
I am standing free
You felt the blow of hatred and fascism.
I am standing free
You watched as your friends fell, the victims of terrible horrors.
I am standing free
You spent weeks in black misery with only your heartbeat to remind you that you were still alive
I am standing free
Your eyes forever scarred, the image of murder imprinted on the inside of your eyelids.
I am standing free
It is these things we share, the blue of the sky, the same color over Germany.
A cool breeze, so free and unconfined, the same in a prison camp.
I am standing free,
Thank you