Back Story (A Memorial to Veterans)

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.  

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.

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

Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War

Civil War

World War II

Korean War