Being a veteran and before I retired, I used to annually take this day off to reflect upon the great and ultimate sacrifices we all made for this country. I'm not much of a person who marches in parades to receive accolades, or standing out among people with my Army cap on my head with medals pinned to my shirt or other ways to draw attention or even to point out I was a veteran at all from a past war long ago. I like to take the day to just reflect upon who I am, where I've been, where I'm to go but, mostly just to be thankful I lived through some very horrible times where some did not. I like to think about them and where they would be today, with families that were never meant to be and children who never had the chance to be born. I remember them and I will never forget them or their ultimate sacrifice for this country.
In my reflections I try and come to place where these soldiers, seamen, and marines lost in battle are alive, laughing and happy again. Each year becomes harder but, one thing I have learned from being one of the many who made it back alive is that these precious souls should never, ever be forgotten regardless what a person's opinion is about war and peace. They gave the ultimate sacrifice for this nation, something we should always hold dear to our hearts.
Happy Veteran's Day
Butch
