A moment November 11, 2005 ~ 11:04 am
Posted by Julie in : Deep Thoughts , trackback
Pastoral. Lake George, NY.
It’s November 11, the great unmentioned holiday in New York City. I kid you not, this city takes Columbus Day off but Veteran’s Day goes by with barely a mention. This pisses me off to no end.
Where I grew up, we had the day off school for Veteran’s Day. Those of us in the band would go to various places around the county and play in a Veteran’s Day parade, and our band director would tell us each year about how at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Armistice was signed, and how we were damned sure going to observe a moment of silence at that minute, no matter where in the parade we were. And at 11:11, we would always stop playing and marching and observe that moment of silence, in respect for those who had served and sometimes died for freedom.
Men like my father, my uncle, and my grandfather, all of whom served in World War II and came home afterwards. Men like my father’s college roommate, Dick Drury, who didn’t get to come home alive - he’s buried in Arlington. There are those who served honorably during peacetime, like my boyfriend and Vince. And there are those who didn’t get to serve in a “good war,” but have put their lives on the line like my cousin Matt, who served in Iraq, and like Lori’s brother Ryan, who is on his way over there right now.
At some point today, whether your town comes to a standstill for Veteran’s Day or barely acknowledges it, take some time to think about all of these people. People you know or may not know, who have served to keep us safe. No matter what you think of the current war (and we all know what I think), the men and women over there are putting their lives on the line daily. That takes a kind of courage most of us will never have.
And if you see a Veteran today, thank them.
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