Remember Our/Your Veterans

Today is the day to remember those that have served. Can you ever see a picture of Arlington and not have a lump in your throat?

 I choose to remember my dad-Ken Nottingham, my uncles-Sam McCoy, John and Danny Shadrick and my cousins-Rex and David McCoy. I remember as a boy wearing my dad's old uniform and playing with my Uncle Danny's mess kit. I am thankful for every young soldier,sailor,airmen and marine that loaded a bus and headed off to boot camp. I myself made that bus ride, but due to faulty genetics was unable to pass the physical. I can assure you that climbing on that bus is both scary and exciting. To say nothing of the ride I never took, to hop on a plane that will land in some godforsaken land, and I do mean godforsaken, like Vietnam or Iraq or Afghanistan.

We have been sending our best and brightest since before this country was a country. We sent them to fight a superior force in the British. We sent them to save the world from Hitler and to "kill some Nazi's". We sent them off to Vietnam and Cambodia to slop around in disease-infested rice paddies. Now, we send them into deserts and tell them not to shoot until their heads are blown off and that the people shooting at them represent a religion of peace.

Our young men have freed countless millions from oppression and cruelty and although some despise the military, I choose to honor them. I honor everyone of them that have been shot at, that have helped a fallen brother, that gave food to child that one day would enter the conflict on the other side and most of all have given their lives for flag, country and fellow soldier.

I won't address this here and now, but comments must be made about politicians that use our best and brightest as pawns in their stupid silly Washington games.

My parting thought is I love the scenes of soldiers showing up to surprise their kids at school. I always cry, and I don't know how this could not affect you whether you support the military or not, or you believe in these wars or not. Think about climbing on a plane and being dropped in a desert for a year, think of all you could miss if you missed a year of your families lives. Kids born, hearts broken, home runs and touchdowns, first kisses, drivers tests...I could go on and on. They do this to keep us free. Conservatives and Liberals Free. Democrats and Republicans. Free. Christians, Jews, Muslims and Atheists. Free.

Think of them. Thank them. Honor them. And one more thing...HOORAH!