We here at the Blood-Red Pencil want to take a moment to remember all who died to give us the freedom to even write this blog. There are so many countries that restrict, or limit, any kind of exchange of ideas, and sometimes we forget. This freedom did not come without a high price-tag.
I come from a long line of military men on my father's side. In a little cemetery in Fairmont, West Virginia there are headstones for a number of Van Gilder men who served in the U.S. military, going back to the Revolutionary War. I had the opportunity to go that cemetery a few years ago for a family reunion and it was awe-inspiring to walk the lines of gravestones and think about what it must have been like for them.
Before taking that trip, I had not known that there was a member of our family serving in every war and conflict throughout the history of our country.
It was also interesting to note that not one of those men died in combat. They all served their time in the military and were able to come home. It was the same for my brother in the Vietnam era and my son in Desert Storm. But other families have not been so lucky.
So it is those families that I think about today with special care. They have sacrificed much to protect our country and the freedoms we espouse.
What about you? What does the holiday mean to you?
Posted by Maryann Miller - novelist, editor and sometimes actress. She has written a number of mysteries, including the critically-acclaimed Season Mystery Series that debuted with Open Season. Information about her books and her editing rates is available on her website. When not writing, Maryann likes to take her dog for a walk and work outside on her little ranch in East Texas.
Lovely remembrance, Maryann. Lest we forget.
I am a military brat and only wish most of the wars in my lifetime weren't politically motivated, instead of actually defending our so-called freedoms. This holiday just seems like let's pretend to me, at least most years.
It certainly has lost the impact it had in years past. I can remember Decoration Day and the parades and listening to all the adults talk about the men and women who died in the wars. I think with having the Vietnam war blasted across television screens every night, people became inured to it all. Kind of like watching too many violent video games. Sad.