THANK THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED

Early this morning, I drove by the car wash down the street from my house and I saw a young boy raising the American flag. That raises many emotions in citizens, but today (as with many times I see the flag) it made me reflect upon an amazing gift…my uncle Richard. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to get to know my uncle very well, as he is pretty guarded. I did have the honor of reading a letter he wrote when in Vietnam, when he shared how difficult it was to gather up the remains of a friend in Charlie Company to carry him back for a proper burial. I can’t even imagine.

Many of the chidren of my generation were born during the Vietnam War and we grew up hearing the stories of bloodshed and returning to an unsupportive country. Most of these men were doing what our country expected of them as citizens. This made my generation appreciate the Vets and become even more patriotic. My uncle volunteered in hopes that if that if death was inevitable, the sole survivor policy would kick in and protect his brothers (my father) from the draft. His father, my grandfather, served in WWII and all three of his sons served in the military at some point. I feel that, in many ways, I owe my life to my uncle Richard. For if he had not volunteered for Vietnam, my father may have been drafted in that ugly war. For that, I exist only to be grateful!

Tonight, I was having dinner with my friend Karen and our sons at a local hibachi restaurant. The waiter asked if only one person could join our table. “The more the merrier,” of course. Our new friend Paul joined us and he shared his experiences in the Army. Today, he still participates in the Patriot Guard Riders, who attend funerals for fallen soldiers. The organization was originally started to protect the deceased’s families (by physically shielding them) against war protesters. Paul, adorned in tasteful riding gear, was making his way from the Keys to Bike Week in Daytona. He shared that his group is now less focused on protecting and more focused on paying homage to those who have served and their families. Paul’s message of inspiration, his dedication to helping surviving families, his personal humility and his own service in the Army, partnered with my own recent reflection of my uncle’s selfless service, warranted a free dinner for our guest passing through town. He is a kind soul.

The fun part was seeing the service staff gather to watch him get the news that his dinner was one me. They all said that they had NEVER seen anyone pick up another party’s tab. Could it really be that rare? The highlight for me was seeing my BFF, Karen, volunteer to kick in for half. It made both of our nights! Giving is so much better than receiving and giving to those who risked their lives for us is even more rewarding.