I hope that Veterans day is much more meaningful to all of us than a shopping day when there are good sales, somehow that just bugs me to see our Veterans and their memory being exploited like that.  On the other hand, if it is done in the spirit of celebration, celebrating what our Veterans have done for us, that is different, but I’m a little skeptical? Correct me if I’m wrong.

It is hard to find enough words to thank all the Veterans that are now serving our Country, and those who have served in the past.  Some will never hear our words of thanks verbally, and are forever young in our memories because their earthly lives have been shortened, but their families need our love, comfort, support and appreciation.

I post this as they are laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

I have done posts in the past sharing about some of my family members who are Veterans, and other links that are special to me:

Veterans in My Family - A Post I did last year about my father-in-law, father and grandfather.  Includes links to a few other good sites.

Wounded Warrior Project - Serving those who have given significant sacrifices, both soldiers and their families.

Soldier’s Essay on the War in Iraq

The only true Veteran Candidate for President in 2008 and his story.

And finally, a post I did just in the past couple weeks by a Veteran, please watch it through to the end when he walks away.

There are numerous ways to support our Veterans, do something.

I never get tired of looking at the following photo.

I was delighted to hear a quote stating that the following video is the most watched video of this election year.  I am the 11,797,882 viewer.

I just heard a heart-warming story today on TV about a woman, Martha Roskam, who has spent the past 7 years returning Dog Tags to the families of the Viet Nam Veterans they belong to…whether it be the original owner of the tag, or surviving family members. I had never heard about this before, though it appears from their website that it has been in the news…she has a son who is an Illinois Congressman, former State Senator, who was able to help get the effort started. Just another one of those relatively quiet things that people do that make a difference.

Mrs. Roskam was in Viet Nam on a business trip with her husband, and like any woman, decided to do some shopping. She passed someone selling things on a street in Ho Chi Min City in a flea market setting. She came upon a wicker basket full of coins, and on top of the coins she found 37 dog tags strung on a plastic string, she was deeply moved as she looked through them, knowing what they meant, but wasn’t certain what to do, so left them. She went home and told her husband about the dog tags, and he insisted that she return and pick them up the next day, which she did for 54 cents each.

She returned the last one to it’s owner last week, a 7 year mission that started in August of 2001.  Some dog tags were returned to families that had lost their sons, many to the original owner.

For more on this effort and story, please visit roskamdogtag.com. I can only imagine how many hugs you have enjoyed, Mr. & Mrs. Roskam, and may I add my virtual (((hug))) and thanks for what you’ve done to bring smiles to faces of those who gave, and saw so much during a very difficult time in our history, heroes that didn’t necessarily receive a heroes welcome when they returned home.

This weekend we mark 4000 deaths of American Soldiers in Iraq, after marking 5 years in Irag since the invasion of that Country.

It hurts my heart to hear of the deaths, I’m a mother and feel the pain of the mothers who have lost their sons and daughters…based on that pain, it is so tempting for me to want to turn against the war, wonder how it all started…so much time has passed, that I tend to forget, as I’m sure many of us do.

My husband, the one who inspired this blog because he has more of a handle on political things than I do, has a way of bringing me back around by tracing how it all started, how it all fits together, and why we are there today. I hate the deaths, but by the time I’m done listening to him, somehow, as hard as it is, I .. can .. see .. that .. they.. have .. not .. been .. wasted .. deaths…or do I? It was really hard to type those last few words, so maybe I’m struggling, maybe I need to have him talk me through it again..and when I do, I’ll post it here for all of you.

Until then, my heart hurts for the loss, and at the same time is thankful for the freedom that we have brought to Iraq at a great price.

Today is the anniversary of McCain’s return to freedom after approx. 7 years as a POW in Viet Nam’s well known Hanoi Hilton, I already did a post back in December with a written interview done shortly after he returned home.

I’ve tried to add a video that is great, but am having trouble getting it to work, so click here to be taken to a great YouTube by John McCain reflecting on his experience.

I want to express my thanks to John McCain and so many others that have experienced what he has, as well as those who are serving in the military today, and those families who have said goodbye to loved ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

It’s been a treat to hear about the wonderful soldiers who are happy to go back to Iraq and finish the work they have started…yes, you heard it right, they’ve been there, and they want to go back. Today it was Wayne Leyd who won a million dollars with a scratch-off ticket, he wanted to go back and it was in the plans before he won the million…he feels blessed, and wants to pass that blessing along by continuing the good work being done in Iraq.

Then there are the soldiers who return to active service after having lost limbs. Oh sure, the media says that’s because the military, who used to let these guys come home for good, are now rehabilitating them just to get them out in the field again…but be careful with the spin they put on this…wounded soldiers are given the option to return, and many chose to. If you had joined the military by choice (remember, no more draft), had been in active duty, and lost a limb, would you just want to be sent home as someone who is now pretty much useless to the military? I don’t think so…I’m not sure I’d be half as brave as these men and woman, my thanks to you all!