Veterans Day– Freedom is not free

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This is my father — Vietnam

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This is my uncle Gus — WWII

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These are friends and relatives, including mom’s first fiancĂ© who was killed in the war

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This is my life as a military brat, transitioning from base to base, hugging daddy when he finally comes home and enjoying a rare family get together…..

FOR ALL THOSE WHO WALK THE WALL, THANK YOU

A letter to my mom…

Toora, loora, loora
Toora, loora, li
Toora, loora, loora
Hush, now, don’t you cry
Ah,
Toora, loora, loora
Toora, loora, li
Toora, loora, loora
It’s an Irish lullaby

Over in Killarney, many years ago
My mother sang this song to me in tones so sweet and low
Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way
And I’d give the world if she could sing that song to me this day

Toora, loora, loora
Toora, loora, li
Toora, loora, loora
Hush, now, don’t you cry
Ah,
Toora, loora, loora
Toora, loora, li
Toora, loora, loora
It’s an Irish lullaby

Dear mom…

You’re right down stairs, yet I can’t make myself get out of bed and go to you. I can’t ask you to hold me in your arms and stroke my hair and sing this song to me until I fall off to sleep. I’ve grown too old for such things.

Oh, but how hearing this brings back such sweet memories. Bittersweet feelings rise in me as I know I can never have those days back. The bed time stories, the lullabies, the soft sweet way you had in sending me off to my dreams, I remember them all. I remember the tenderness.

It’s one of my most treasured memories and one of the things I will miss the most until the day I die. Thank you for giving me such a precious thing to hold on to.

Love you