When he was two and a half, I told him the people whose names were on the brick pathway were people who had tried to aid people in faraway lands that needed someone to help them and didn’t get to come back home.
When he was three and a half, we talked about how the memorial celebrates those people from our town and wanted to help others and didn’t make it home. They ended up dying where they were helping. I didn’t talk a lot about death although he understood that what death meant that year. JDaniel’s GranDan died the winter before and he really wanted to see him. I explained to him that while he might want to come see him he wasn’t able too.
As we started down the path on the memorial grounds to check out all the flags that had been set out, we found someone who could answers some of his questions.
If you look closely, you will see an man down by the tree with rust leaves. We caught up to him and talked to him. He fought in the Vietnam War and had recently moved into our town from Kansas.
He told JDaniel he didn’t know any of the people that are remembered at this memorial. He came because being here helped him remember the friends he had lost in a faraway land. He told him that our country had sent him to help others and that was just what he had tried to do.
JDaniel seemed to understand a little more about why the memorial is important after that. For awhile he just walked down the path by the flags. There were hundreds scattered all across the lawn on both sides of the path.
Eventually he decided walking on the slope of rocks that leads up to the train track on the edge of the memorial was more fun and he was no longer quiet. He giggled and scurried up and down the slope. For a few moments though he took in all that we had told him.
So many have passed away serving our country though out the years.
JDaniel and I also talked with a lady who had stopped by the memorial to take a picture to send to her husband in Kuwait on our way to the car. Her husband will be serving there until just after Christmas. She said he would be thrilled to see how their hometown remembered its veterans. She also said she can’t wait for him to get home.
If you have would remember to hold my sister and her family in your prayers while he is gone, I would be so grateful.
How will you be celebrating Veterans Day?