Y'all had me remembering two things I wanted to share.
In a local retirement home, not a nursing home, they have a wall dedicated to veterans who live there
They are young and in uniform. All are dedicated. The men are strong, brave and proud. The ladies are beautiful, confident and strong.
It's just VERY inspiring to see them now and back then.
The other is I had a patient in his 90s. He's since passed.
He was spry and mentally sharp as a tack. His son took him back to the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. Up on a hill looking down to a body of water. They had black and white photos from back when and took new photos from as close to the same spot, now.
When he was there, they were dug into foxholes. The trees were giant oak trees. The Germans used (if I can remember) artillery that was 240 mm and shells that were like 350 pounds. They would shoot the treetops out and they'd fall. Weighing 1000 pounds or more, they would fall on troops in the foxholes and impale or crush them. They called them widowmakers.
As they were gazing down the son said his father, suddenly, said... Listen... Do you hear that? He said listen... Tanks. Can't you hear the tracks squeaking and the motors?
He was remembering what he had experienced as a young man. It was completely real and occurring. His son took his time and convinced him that he was remembering. His son said that, as they left, his father would stop, hold his hand up, and turn and listen and look back.
The gentleman told me he was just sure of what he was hearing, but understood it was just a memory coming back. And, that he wasn't crazy. Just an experience that was deeply embedded in his life.
He had so much wisdom and understanding and could express to to what was truly important in your life and what was insignificant. And... That people are so fortunate nowadays and can't comprehend what it's like to be almost 5,000 miles from home and family and not really know how the war would turn out, or if they'd be alive in 24 hours.
I miss him very much.
And.. Let me tell you... He was quite the ladies man. Dressed sharp, clean shaven, hair combed neatly. No cane and only reading glasses. The lady employees were drawn to him and he was a gentleman. Younger ladies would come and take him to lunch and shopping several days a week. They were not gold-diggers, they just admired him and looked to his stories for wisdom and understanding of what wasn truly important in life. At his funeral, it was packed with so many young people who knew him. Most people at that age, may not have many at their funeral, except for family as there friends have all passed away
When I think of him and my parents and aunts and uncles and their friends... And, I get older and see young people.. There are still good young people, but too many are self serving and don't understand what others suffered thru and died for to have what we are BLESSED with... FREEDOM.
When I was in highschool, my first presidential election to vote in was for Ronald Reagan. He and Jimmy Stewart came thru campaigning. My mother went underneath the ropes to get close for a hug, no simple handshake. The secret service was caught off guard. But, President Reagan said... No No... She's my kind of voter! She was 5'2" no possible threat.
I will always remember him saying...
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
Thank you for indulging me in sharing these things.
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