Happy Memorial Day, everyone. This is a day of remembrance for me. I have several veterans in my family. My father is a Vietnam veteran who was drafted during the Tet Offensive. He got two days leave in Hawaii to meet my brother who was born while he was in Vietnam.
My paternal grandfather was a WWII veteran who fought at the Battle of the Bulge.
And My maternal grandfather was a WWI veteran who lied about his age and signed up at the age of 16. He was sent to Siberia on a special mission with other American soldiers to guard the rail roads there.
Now-a-days the family and I send care packages to troops in combat zones through anysoldier.com. (I've written about this organization before.) We just got a beautiful letter from a female soldier. The Urchins and I created a girlie package to send to the female soldiers last month in the platoon we'd gotten an address for, and one of the recipients wrote back to say thanks. I never expect a thank you back since these soldiers are working twelve or more hours a day in a combat zone. They're a little busy with other more important things. Like staying alive. So it was a really nice surprise to get the letter.
Do you know any veterans? How do you spend your Memorial Day? Any interesting organizations you support?
Have a safe and awesome Memorial Day! Back to the craziness this blog is known for later this week!
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7 comments:
I am so glad you wrote about the veterans in your family with a post honoring Memorial Day and the men and women we have lost in service to our country. I,too, have supported deployed troops - mostly Marines - for years through AnySoldier.com and have been fortunate enough to meet a handful of them in person. Many I've supported through multiple deployments, and our friendships have become very special. Thank you again for all you do to support our troops and vets.
We had an age fibber in our family as well. My great uncle fudged the numbers just a wee bit. He's the only one who gave his life serving but we've had other service members through the years.
That's awesome yall do Any Soldier. I've sent packages via them as well over the years. This year I'm knee deep in a fundraiser for the USO I'm hosting so it kept me busy today doing this and that for it :) I volunteer at our USO center as often as I can doing overnight shifts and taking care of those that are in over night waiting for flights or have had theirs delayed or canceled. It's been a great experience :)
Our family supports Wounded Warriors. I think we should all do what we politically to get that mess at the VA taken care of. Most of the young veterans I know are my former students.
That's so awesome! That's what I need to do with the kids for next year. Grandpa was a pilot in WWII, and although Dad was an Air Force doctor, he never ended up serving except on base.
Love the care package thing! Kudos!
I should do something like that with my kids. :)
It surprised me when I worked for the state how many people were veterans and I had no idea about it. They would make a list of them and salute them on the Friday before Memorial Day. Often they're all around us and we don't even realize it because they don't really go around talking about it.
@bemuzin- That's so cool that you got to meet some of the troops you supported! Thanks for stopping by!
@Anna- Very cool that you're working so hard with the USO. Staying overnight is a big commitment. Shows just how awesome you are!
@Sue- Absolutely. Wounded Warriors is a fantastic organization to support. Way to go.
@Crystal- My girls really get a lot out of it. Wow! WWII pilot. That's intense.
@Melissa- It's really worth it!
@Stephanie- That's awesome that they honored veterans. And yes, very true. Most of the time we don't know who has served.
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