May 31 2010
Memorial Day
My Dad spent over twenty years in the military. During that time, my family did a lot of moving around and life was a series of military posts (Fort Sill, Fort Huachuca, Fort Ord, etc.). When dad was stationed overseas, mom had to take care of the six of us. I see old pictures from that time, celebrations of birthdays and holidays. Dad had to miss many of those special times, and it pained him considerably.
“Tell the kids to write me,” he’d tell my mom. My sister Cindy says he told her to write about everything that each person in the family was doing, because he wanted to feel like he was there.
She remembers dad sending us souvenirs from overseas, including a large spool of orange silk fabric that mom and all the girls made into matching dresses.
My family has lots of stories about that time. They’re full of love and perseverance. However, the best story was that my dad got to come home. Many families never got that happy ending. They got a visit from a stranger instead.
I can’t even contemplate how our lives would have changed had this happened to us. This is a day to give thanks to those who didn’t get to come home.
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