Dear Reader:
Every year on Memorable Day I always wonder what is the correct way to thank a veteran? Even with my own brother… knowing how his life was changed forever … I usually just tell him how grateful we are that he came home and how appreciative we are for his service and sacrifice to his country.
According to Memorial Day regulations … the intent of the day is to honor only those who gave the ” ultimate ” sacrifice, their lives, and as such leave ” Thank you’s to living veterans for Veterans Day. ”
I do understand the logic in the separation but what about our young boys who physically survived but left parts of themselves in Vietnam and were never the same again? Isn’t this a type of death?
The suggestions given me on one Memorial Day website were: Thank you for stepping up and serving your country: Thank you for the sacrifice you made being away from your family and finally Thank you for putting your life on hold to serve our country.
The problem with so many returning soldiers was that their lives just weren’t put on hold during their Vietnam experience but it followed them home…throughout their lives.
Like Ben… many soldiers tried to forget their memories from the war, pretend it didn’t happen and resume their pre-Vietnam personal and career dreams … but with little success. And even if like my brother… he could pull it off successfully for awhile… the tell-tale symptoms of self-isolation, phantom physical symptoms began appearing until he was finally diagnosed as having a clear-cut case of PTSD. It’s a lonely path to follow.
Today neurologists are studying the links between PTSD and dementia… it is an on-going new study and starting to show more and more connections to catalyst predispositions to this emotionally wrought disease.
I am still so thankful I was able to persuade Ben to tell his story… he was more ” alive” during that time … for the first time. A special shout-out to Libby for helping him tremendously with the book! ( He finished it before dementia began to settle in permanently.) A Great Memory Treasure!
Even though Summer doesn’t officially start until later in June … Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and I know a lot of school children are happy about that!
It is also the second most popular cook-out grilling day ( just behind Independence Day!) And here’s a fun fact… Over 800 hotdogs are consumed PER SECOND on Memorial Day- 72 million to be precise! ( The problem that most consumers …who wait late to buy …find themselves in-they can always find enough hot dogs but not enough BUNS! ) Those 4 two-sided 8 packaged hot dogs ( that stick to the inside of the bag) run out quickly.
At 3 PM Americans are supposed to pause and have a moment of silence but most gatherings don’t realize this or if they do… by then they are in a hot dog induced coma! 😂
So until tomorrow… Even with ” iffy” weather… Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day and do stop to remember those brave souls who traded their lives on and off the battlefields , for our freedom! God Bless!
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Well, let’s start with the reason for commenting today, remembering. I always think about my Father on Memorial Day, and his service to the Country and it’s a good Story. My Father went into the Navy, after all he lived in Mount Pleasant and all of his early days he saw the war ships coming and going from Charleston Harbor, Navy was to him the only branch of Service considered. He ended up in the Island hopping campaign in the Pacific theater. He was trained and was on a ship of men who could repair ships if they were damaged as well as one of the many ships that formed a protective shield around the Aircraft Carrier or Carriers. But a change came early as he was part of a detail tha once Marines pushed the enemy away from landing strips he went on shore and started making the area ready for the Auxiliary Carriers to launch support aircraft to the newly formed base complete over time with barracks and fuel tanks with steel plates for the runway so mud and water from frequent rain couldn’t stop the planes from landing and taking off. So, he was asked to volunteer for becoming the very first branch off the Navy known as the Civil Battalion or Sea Bees. He had to return to the USA for training at Paris Island to be trained to fight like a Marine. He got to see my Mother while he was there. He and My Mother were married in January of 1941 and we all know what happened in December of 1941. After training he was shipped back to the Pacific to carry out the duties of the newly formed Sea Bees. So he either repaired or built things the entire war in the Pacific. He was injured and sent to Hawaii where my Mother got to see him again. After healing was sent back to the Pacific. Remember he and my Mother got to see each other while he was injured. My oldest Sibling my Sister was born in 1943. My Father was off in the Pacific when she was born and didn’t get to see here until the war was over in 1945 and the story was my Sister was afraid of him and slowly came around. He said having my Sister afraid of him hurt worse than any injury he went through. Another issue men faced while away fighting in a war. As if that wasn’t enough, he was called up again when the Korean conflict began and was there until it’s ending. Meanwhile my second oldest Sibling who was 3.5 years old born in February of 1946. My Mother said my second Sister cried almost everyday because my Father was gone to war. She was my Father’s Daughter. He was there at her Birth and was very close to my Father and her to her. I think it was because he missed my oldest Sister for the first couple of years of her life. So, I always think of my Father on Memorial Day and hardships caused by his time in the wars. But my mind can’t help but think about others I knew that were in the war in Vietnam and other Family Members that served. I know I feel deeply thankful for all of our Veterans because I know the hardships and sacrifices they all made, and to those that gave their all.
If you see Ben today please tell him I am thankful for his Service to this Country, please! Also tell him I really like his book. I read it twice to be sure I understood all that he wrote. And to all you veterans, Thank You for Your Service, keeping us free!
And thank you Mrs. Dingle for bringing us to remember all those who served and especially those that served that were close Family members.
Thanks to Ben and all veterans…
Thank you Gin-g! 🙏🏻
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you for writing and sharing this story today. It was also very interesting reading the first comment. God bless you.