GOT INSIGHT?

Photo of my son.

This weeks Got Insight is all about Those who choose to stand on the wall and protect our freedoms.

Welcome Got Insighters!

This may or may not be a politically correct topic. I unusually don’t talk about political things in any blog, but frankly as the mother of a two tour Iraqi vet I thought is was a good day to show my appreciation and I don’t care if I’m politically correct. It never stops to amazing me that a great number of United States citizens can so easily forget those to lay their lives down to secure our freedoms. When my son joined the marines we were not at war and 9/11 had not happened yet. When he came to us and said the wanted to go into the service of his country we were unsure. Not because we objected to the idea but that he was 17 ½ and we were unsure he could grasp the dangers he was about to face, with or without war.

After more then a month of discussion we finally agreed and he scheduled to go to boot camp. He was excited and nervous but proud of his decision. Then 3 weeks before he shipped out for boot camp 9/11 happened and many things in our country changed. Including the level of danger my middle son was about to experience.

Memorial Day has been observed since the time of the Civil War, but it was Lyndon Johnson in 1966 that made this a national holiday. A day set to honor those brave men and women that have laid their lives down to protect out country. Here is to all the solders, firefighters, police officers and others, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of others. Thank you will never be enough.

I also wish to take a moment to tell the readers of a strange thing I have witnessed since my son’s return from serving his country. It doesn’t matter what side of the political debate about the war you are on our solders deserve and have earned our respect and kindness.

Since my son has given up so much to serve his country I thought I would pass on one thing he has told me flips him out every time it is ask of him. He doesn’t understand why anyone would ask this question and feels it is a unkind and prying thing to ask a solder. But he has been asked over 100 times since serving by those who know him and by strangers on the street. “Did you kill anyone?” Yeah, well you can close your mouth now. It is true I have seen it happen. During several of these exchanges I have seen my son go from having a good day to being withdrawn and hurt. We have talked about this at length. Let me tell you it is rude to ask a solder if he had to kill in a war. Why would anyone do that. Stop trying to satisfy curiosity at the expense of someone who should be honored and respected.

Now maybe it is because I am the mother of a Marine, but if I can tell someone is a solder I always make it a point to tell them thank you. Thank you for your service, your sacrifice and your blood sweat and tears. It is the least I can do to honor those who survived unimaginable situations and returned to their country.

On this memorial day take a moment to send healing to the survivors and a few moments of silence for those who died in the service of you. Maybe there will come a day when war is not necessary and I look forward to that day. But until then I send my most heartfelt thanks to all who have or will serve this country! May we all be as one! Rhonda R Carpenter