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| Global War on Terror |
At the end of May I had the privilege of attending the dedication of the Nevada State Veterans Memorial. It was a moving event, but there is also a power in the Memorial itself. Later that afternoon, once the crowds from the dedication had dispersed, I walked through the Memorial contemplating the service of so many ordinary people that were willing to sacrifice so much for others. In an attempt to capture the power of the sculptures, I snapped a number of pictures.
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| Family and Predecessors |
For days I've thought about how to capture my thoughts regarding those that serve. This week I came across this poem by cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell. The story told is representative of what so many have experienced-veterans, families, and those on the home front. I hope this might touch others the way it touched me.
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| Vietnam War |
Back Story
by Waddie Mitchell
Who
the fella was eluded us
Nobody in town knew
Just
showed up that mild winter
Back in 1982
He
became our burg’s first homeless
Proving harmless in his ways
Hanging
near the bins and benches
In our city park all day
‘Til
the sheriff came and told him
He must move around ‘til dark
For,
we don’t want people loitering
Or begging in our park
So,
move he did, perpetually
He marched our small town streets
From
can ‘til can’t he constantly
Made rounds around his beat
Well,
season passed as did the years
He’d melded in our ‘scape
Though
he’s talking, now, as walking
In his never-changing gait
Then,
with time, he starts expounding
Using gestures and raised voice
We
were sure he’d be committed
Seemed they’d have no other choice
But
he made sure that he checked out
Before that’s what they could do
And
our country, then interred
The strangest man we never knew
‘Twas
time and lots of query
Finally found his next of kin
Who
had given up on
Ever hearing anything of him
So,
they wrote and sent an obit
That was printed in our rag
Which
filled a lot of gaps in
With its all too tellin’ tag
Seems
he’d been his high school’s quarter back
And top of his large class
Won
a scholarship to Stanford
But he humbly took a pass
So,
he joined the U.S. Army
Scored high on all their tests
Finished
jump and Ranger schools up
Where they only take the best
Then
OCS, then off to war
Where he was in its hell
The
Bronze Star and a Purple heart
Ain’t half there is to tell
Returning
home he found he
Couldn’t acclimate or cope
And
his family prays, he’s finally found
A bit of peace and hope
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| Revolutionary War |
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| Revolutionary War |
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| Civil War |
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| World War II |
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| Korean War |
