Memorial Day Encounters
I sometimes wish I had more hours in my day, but I'm afraid of where they'd fall and that they wouldn't be of much use, so I'll take what I get and use them as best I can. I just wish I could get back some of my writing time. One day . . . I'll get it one day.
***
I want to share something that happened to Gary yesterday at the cemetery. Don't worry, I asked his permission.
As we all know, yesterday was Memorial Day; a day set aside to honor and remember those who serve, have served, and who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy and too often take for granted. The cemetery where Gary works held a Memorial Day ceremony for which my son, a JROTC, volunteered to be a part. Gary told me it was a touching ceremony and that Ben did a great job. I had planned on attending, but Meg's birthday celebration had to be postponed because Gary had been sick during the weekend. Therefore, I had much to do to prepare for said celebration. But, I digress.
After the ceremony, and everyone had left, Gary noticed a man, standing tall in his Marine dress blues, saluting at the graves of veterans buried in the cemetery. Not wanting to intrude on this man, Gary was unsure of whether he should ask if he needed assistance, but decided perhaps the man may need help locating a grave.
He approached the man, excused himself and asked if he could assist him in finding a particular grave. The man politely said that no, he didn't need any help, that he came every year on Memorial Day and saluted each veteran's grave. Gary was so taken aback that he could barely speak. He'd gotten choked up by this man's respect for each of the veteran's buried in the cemetery.
After composing himself, Gary asked this man if he was an active member of the Marines, to which the man said he was not. He, too, was a veteran. The man then went on to explain that he served in the early '80's, asking Gary if the date of October 23, 1983 meant anything to him. Gary said that nothing came to mind right off hand. This Marine then told Gary that October 23, 1983 was the date of the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, and that he was there. He'd survived. At this point, both men were unable to speak.
Since that time, this man felt that his visit to the cemetery to salute those who have gone on before him, was a small way for him to honor them.
Gary explained how he had tried to join the Marines back in the '70's, but was kept out due to health issues. That is something that has haunted him ever since. He then asked the Marine if he would mind if Gary did something for him. Gary told him he would like to carve the Marine symbol for him (he carved one years ago and it was gorgeous). The man gladly accepted Gary's offer. I hope it's something that will bond the two of them for the rest of their lives.
Later on, Gary noticed a "biker dude" with a handful of flags, searching for graves on which to place them. Again, Gary approached the man and asked if he could assist him. When the guy turned to him, Gary recognized him as a fellow he'd worked with when he worked at BP. This guy was the stereotyped "biker" (he'd lost his job at BP due to failing the drug test), but he was also a Marine veteran who'd served in Iraq. Matter of fact, after losing his job at BP, he'd gone back to Iraq to work and may again go back, due to lack of employment opportunities at this time in America.
They talked for a few more minutes then Gary directed him to a section of the cemetery that did not have flags, as they ran out before they could get all the veteran's graves covered.
I think these encounters meant the world to Gary and they touched me as well. I'm proud of both of the men in my home. They both know the cost of our freedoms and they have nothing but the highest respect for the men and women who bear that cost. My husband wanted desperately to serve; my son is looking forward to service. I couldn't be more proud.
I'm sure I'm leaving out many details and much more of their conversations, but I hope I've at least shared the heart of the encounters. I think Gary is going to write of his experience in order to revisit those brief moments in the cemetery on Memorial Day of 2009. I hope he does and that we can hold the written memories close to hand down to our grandchildren so that they will know and hopefully understand what it means to be a defender of the freedoms we have and too often take for granted.
***
I want to share something that happened to Gary yesterday at the cemetery. Don't worry, I asked his permission.
As we all know, yesterday was Memorial Day; a day set aside to honor and remember those who serve, have served, and who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy and too often take for granted. The cemetery where Gary works held a Memorial Day ceremony for which my son, a JROTC, volunteered to be a part. Gary told me it was a touching ceremony and that Ben did a great job. I had planned on attending, but Meg's birthday celebration had to be postponed because Gary had been sick during the weekend. Therefore, I had much to do to prepare for said celebration. But, I digress.
After the ceremony, and everyone had left, Gary noticed a man, standing tall in his Marine dress blues, saluting at the graves of veterans buried in the cemetery. Not wanting to intrude on this man, Gary was unsure of whether he should ask if he needed assistance, but decided perhaps the man may need help locating a grave.
He approached the man, excused himself and asked if he could assist him in finding a particular grave. The man politely said that no, he didn't need any help, that he came every year on Memorial Day and saluted each veteran's grave. Gary was so taken aback that he could barely speak. He'd gotten choked up by this man's respect for each of the veteran's buried in the cemetery.
After composing himself, Gary asked this man if he was an active member of the Marines, to which the man said he was not. He, too, was a veteran. The man then went on to explain that he served in the early '80's, asking Gary if the date of October 23, 1983 meant anything to him. Gary said that nothing came to mind right off hand. This Marine then told Gary that October 23, 1983 was the date of the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, and that he was there. He'd survived. At this point, both men were unable to speak.
Since that time, this man felt that his visit to the cemetery to salute those who have gone on before him, was a small way for him to honor them.
Gary explained how he had tried to join the Marines back in the '70's, but was kept out due to health issues. That is something that has haunted him ever since. He then asked the Marine if he would mind if Gary did something for him. Gary told him he would like to carve the Marine symbol for him (he carved one years ago and it was gorgeous). The man gladly accepted Gary's offer. I hope it's something that will bond the two of them for the rest of their lives.
Later on, Gary noticed a "biker dude" with a handful of flags, searching for graves on which to place them. Again, Gary approached the man and asked if he could assist him. When the guy turned to him, Gary recognized him as a fellow he'd worked with when he worked at BP. This guy was the stereotyped "biker" (he'd lost his job at BP due to failing the drug test), but he was also a Marine veteran who'd served in Iraq. Matter of fact, after losing his job at BP, he'd gone back to Iraq to work and may again go back, due to lack of employment opportunities at this time in America.
They talked for a few more minutes then Gary directed him to a section of the cemetery that did not have flags, as they ran out before they could get all the veteran's graves covered.
I think these encounters meant the world to Gary and they touched me as well. I'm proud of both of the men in my home. They both know the cost of our freedoms and they have nothing but the highest respect for the men and women who bear that cost. My husband wanted desperately to serve; my son is looking forward to service. I couldn't be more proud.
I'm sure I'm leaving out many details and much more of their conversations, but I hope I've at least shared the heart of the encounters. I think Gary is going to write of his experience in order to revisit those brief moments in the cemetery on Memorial Day of 2009. I hope he does and that we can hold the written memories close to hand down to our grandchildren so that they will know and hopefully understand what it means to be a defender of the freedoms we have and too often take for granted.
What a special and moving story. It's the perfect Memorial Day tribute. People forget sometimes that it's more than a 3 day weekend. It's lives sacrificed for each and every one of us. My 4 Uncles and my Dad were all in the second World War and they were very quite on Memeorial Day and you could tell that their thoughts were with those who did not make it home.
ReplyDeleteThank you and Gary both for sharing that beautiful story and reminding us what it's reallly all about.
Love,
Jo