I Didn't Recognize My Uncle... in his Marine dress blues. He was beautiful I was only 3 years old or there abouts. It had been a while since we had seen him. He had been in a place I didn't understand called, Vietnam. Uncle Bill was on leave and came home to visit me. He knocked on the front door, and nobody we knew used that door, and I had to get mommy to answer the door. He went against his father's wishes. He went against his sisters' wishes. We had a large family. I wish I could paint a picture for you of how he looked that day. He seemed larger than life and still does in my memories. I want to keep him that way...larger than life.
He loved his sisters, and his two only nieces. That was me and my sister. On that day he brought us gifts. Had he lived longer, he would have seen his collection of nieces and nephews grow. He also would have had kids of his own.
My Uncle Bill died in Vietnam. He signed up to be a Marine, because he felt the need to serve this country. He was proud of this nation and what we stand for, and he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. His father, my grandfather, was a decorated veteran of WWII. Uncle Bill died on his father's birthday, and for years after that, my grandfather would never celebrate his own birthday.
This lonely roadside sign is a reminder of how I see people in the country think of Memorial Day. It's a reminder, just like any other billboard. That's it...just a pass on the road. Maybe the homemade status gives it a bit more attention, but it reminds me of the times my grandpa couldn't celebrate his birthday because of his loss. To me it's a lonely reminder of something that shouldn't be forgotten. You know this sign stands alone like so many roadside reminders, but let's not let our veterans and those that are in active duty stand alone.
On this weekend please take the time to remember what Memorial Day is all about. You know it was moved to the last Monday of the month to accommodate all of us having a long week. That isn't what this day is all about. There is one day in that long weekend that is suppose to be set aside to honor and remember the men and women that have served this country. Please take at least one moment to honor those that have served, and are still serving, our country.
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