MEMORIAL DAY THOUGHTS

Memorial Day is about remembering our fallen heroes as a country.  At this time because we have so many men and women elsewhere in the world, with their lives in daily peril, I say thank you.  I know all my readers say thank you also.

This post is about a different kind of hero. This is my own personal hero squad.  The first would be my dad, who recently passed away from ALS.  I didn't realize it then as a child when he was telling us the stories but as an adult I now know he loved being in the Navy.  He would often cry, at the end, when I told him about my son Mac (in the Navy) and his current adventure.  He once simply said, "I am so proud of Mac." Those sailors stick together.

Salty and my dad, Larry discussing how to cure the country.  We both miss him so much!

My own Salty Dawg attended the Air Force Academy and after that spent 22 years in active duty service. His only regret is probably when war was declared, the first Gulf War, he was stuck in a training position in the US.  The government deemed his presence more vital stateside training troops going overseas.

I am sure that Salty and I cancelled out each other's heartfelt prayers during this time.  He to go and be an
active part of the war, me to keep him stateside. I take that as proof positive that God sides with mothers.

He stayed home, trained the troops, loved his wife and enjoyed his children.  Salty has a strong sense of duty that he now uses as a Municipal Judge and in truancy court. After retirement he spent another ten years training troops of another sort; he taught high school physics/chemistry and  influenced several young men to serve their country in uniform.  I couldn't be happier with his path; I hope he is.

My next hero took another route.  Our oldest son Brandon joined the fire department.  This is good because it was either that or he was going to be an arsonist.  The boy always loved playing, jumping over, starting, or experimenting with fire.  He is another reason I know without a doubt that God and angels exist.  I had to reach out to them daily just to get Brandon to adulthood.

Once he decided to be a volunteer fireman I breathed a sigh of relief.  They would at least train the 15-year old to be safe and temper his enthusiasm.  They trained him well but the enthusiasm remains. Brandon loved fire school and is now a Captain in the Beaumont Fire Department. He loves being first in, falling through floors and then calling his mother about it.  Brandon is a great father to his three girls, I am always so proud to see his interaction with his family.  He brings even more enthusiasm to being a husband and dad.

My two boys!  Brandon on the left, Mac on the right.

Our son Mac joined the Navy.  He did this on his own and actually skipped school one day, traveled to Houston, and completed the enlistment process.  He is the baby of the family and it broke my heart to let him walk through those doors to leave for Chicago.  I am not sure how I made it through the rest of that day. In the end, ,he met the girl of his dreams, married, had a baby so cute all my tears were worth it.

He just made E7, Chief Petty Officer 1st Class, very early in his career, so we are just about to burst with pride at his accomplishment.  Mac too is an excellent father and husband.  He loves his wife and son Gideon with an ardor that makes his mom happy.  No mom wants to think of one of her children far away and alone.

So there are my four real life good guys.  I am proud to have been raised by one, loved by another and part of raising the other two.  Add in two sweet daughters, a lot of grands and my Memorial Day will be spent
thanking those who lost their lives for me to be free. We may have our problems in the US but we are still free.  Happy Memorial Day!  Never forget!