Remembering Our Veterans

Today in America we set each November 11th aside to honor and remember our veterans. Originally today was called Armistice Day and was set aside to commemorate the signing of a treaty between Allies of World War I and Germany. The signing took place at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Too bad it wasn’t 1911. I’m all about the numbers. In a couple of years when it will be 11:00 on 11/11/11 there should really be a celebration. In 1953 the date was expanded to include all veterans, not just those that fought in World War I. I am so very thankful for all branches of the military that are willing to make the sacrifice to keep our country free. To make it more personal, I am thankful they make the sacrifice to insure my personal freedoms to choose to vote, or what religion I want to participate in, to voice my opinion, to carry a weapon if I so choose and all the other rights we as American’s have that we take for granted. None of the men in my immediate family have served in any wars. My dad signed up for the draft for the Korean War, but the war ended before he was drafted. He registered in Sudan and all his friends registered in Littlefield. All his friends were drafted and some gave their lives, but daddy was never called. Then during the Viet Nam War daddy was too old to serve. Darla was of the right age, but during those times women weren’t drafted and rarely even enlisted. Darla would have never gone though if they would have drafted her. I think she would be a Canadian as she was very anti-Viet Nam. Later Darla’s husband Lance did join the army and served our country during peace times. Last month when Kevin and I were coming home from our cruise to Canada we were just boarding the plane in Montreal. Our seats were way in the back. As we were getting closer to our seats, I noticed a guy was already seated in the isle seat (at least he was thin and I wouldn’t have to share my seat with him and Kevin) but he looked intimidating. His hair was very short and he was very dark skinned. He had tattoos and was very muscular. I immediately thought, “Great! We would have to sit next to a terrorist!” But boy was I wrong. Turns out he was a marine on his way back to Texas. He had served two tours in Iraq. We had a really nice visit. I told him I appreciate him making the sacrifice to serve our country. He said, “My wife is really the one that makes the sacrifice.” Before we landed I told him I was going to pray often for his safety and protection, and pray for his wife and three children.

These are photos I took at the Panhandle War Memorial. I had never been there, but enjoyed strolling through the grounds.

So in honor of all veterans on this Veterans Day, "Thanks for making a sacrifice and keeping America free.”