A Post from the Past
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| Papaw’s Flag Outside of our Home |
We can trace the legacy of service in my husband’s family back to the Civil War but alas there is no photographic evidence, so I will start with the man who was/is so near and dear to my heart…
My husband’s Papaw…isn’t he dashing?! He served valiantly on the USS Mills for three years during WWII. And he loved to remind us regularly… i.e every time we were together.. how often he traveled across the ocean on this Coast Guard destroyer. I will now list it for posterity…once across the Pacific and 14 times across the Atlantic!
| USS Mills |
As most women across the world can attest to, we often wonder would I have the strength to watch my husband or son leave our family to serve his country. Today, there are cell phones, internet connections, webcams. But when Papaw left, there were very few ways to communicate that everyone was ok. You would have to wait, and pray, and wait, and pray and hope for a letter. I want to honor Mamaw Bessie for her strength. I would love to think I could be that strong living in the unknown…but I wonder could I?
Papaw Ray never lost an ounce of love for his country. He was the most patriotic man I knew. He had more flags, military and coast guard mementos than his room could hold. His pride swelled with the knowledge that his son-in-law (my father-in-law) would also be serving his country.
| My handsome dad-in-law |
This man dedicated his whole life to military service as a Marine and then as a Army Officer and Helicopter Pilot. This man served two tours in Vietnam. And my mother-in-law waited for him not knowing..as all military wives have in the past, but with the added blessing/curse of daily news coverage. Where one heard about helicopter crashes but had to wait to find out… was it him?
And those two wonderful people were blessed to be the parents of this man….
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| Be still my heart! |
who left college when his country asked him to, to serve during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Who has served his country in one form or another his entire adult life….he belongs to me. And I am so thankful that I can always know where he is and how to reach him…thank you God for modern technology!
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| Three Patriots! 4th of July Service |
So here stands three of the most patriotic men I know. They all have/are serving their country. However one may feel about the current state of America, it’s still a country worth sacrificing for.
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| Papaw’s Funeral |
And, when Papaw passed away on a 4th of July(!) and we laid him to rest, I wondered would the little boy on the left serve his country this same way, someday…
Because that little boy is mine…and it changes everything when they are your child. Are all bets off when they belong to you? When you held them in your arms and they looked at you with newborn eyes? The time is counting down fast to manhood, he just turned 17, and there is so little time left. I will be proud of him whatever he chooses to do; as long as he keeps that servants heart that was passed down to him from the great men who have influenced his life. But if he does choose to serve this way…will I let him? Can I let him? My answer is yes. And it looks like I will have to, because my little boy spent four days this spring, doing this
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| Michael (on left) at Cadet Leadership Course North Georgia University |
And my heart aches a little, but I will let him go, and will be proud…and I will call him everyday…because I am his mom.
Thank you Papaw, thank you to my dad-in-law, thank you “my love”, thank you to the men and women everywhere serving their country right now, this very minute and thank you to the families of those who sacrificed more than we can imagine. In memory and with honor…we say thank you.
Happy Memorial Day! Thank you for sharing a part of your day with us At The Picket Fence.
Happy Memorial Day! Thank you for sharing a part of your day with us At The Picket Fence.
It would be so hard to let our boys go off to serve. We have boys that are the same age and I completely understand your feelings. What a great tribute to PawPaw.
Have a good Sundy.
Sorry, that should be Sunday:)
I am in tears reading this post. Thank you for reminding me of how important those who serve our country are. I cannot imagine letting your baby go. I will pray for you.
Heather, what a sweet post. We have been by North Ga. college many times. It is only an hour from where we live. So hard to let them grow up.
What a wonderful and appropriate post for this weekend….a good reminder of all the sacrifices that have been made. Thank you.
What an absolutely beautiful post. Bought tears To my and a chill down my spine, because I have a ten year old son who may serve someday like his grandfather and both great grandfathers. Thank you to them for their service. One of them served in the Pacific in WWII and the other liberated Dachau. There aren’t enough words to say thank you to them for doing that.
Stacy
Heather, how many tears did you shed while writing this post? I only had daughters, but we first met our youngest daughter’s “very serious” boyfriend the night before he left for Army boot camp. We watched them become engaged when he was on leave from serving in Iraq. We sent him to Afghanistan just months after they married. We love him like a son, and I know how torn I felt recently when he chose to go the “career military” route. Proud, so proud, but wishing… Yet I never held him as a baby or wiped away his little boy tears as you have with your son. It’s different. Very different. But you’re a strong woman, and you already know that together you and God can handle anything. Anything. Please extend to Bama Boy and his Dad my biggest thanks and admiration for their service – and for the service of the brave men and women in their lives who led their way.
What a beautiful tribute to those who have, and continue to sacrifice so much to protect us.
Awww.. Heather it sure is hard to let them grow up. My son is going to be a freshman in the Fall. He signed up for ROTC, and his favorite hobby is air softing. Although, he tells me all the time, he has no plans of the military. Hmmmm…I think he may be stalling my emotions. I love this story and so very touching. Enjoy Memorial day.
Touched my heart…
What a beautiful post! My father in law served in the Navy for 24 years. He had a military funeral when he passed away last year. It was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Heather- A post to put tears in your eyes and a lump in your throat. I love it- if you get a chance pop by and read the little tribute I did to all our service people…My own father was a WWI medic…unbelievable, isn’t it? Hugs and Happy Memorial Day to you AND your sister! xxoo Diana
Heather what a beautiful post and beautiful story!! Martina
I was in tears by the end of this post. So inspiring. I too have a son and have often wondered how I would handle it if he was called to serve. Not sure…I’d like to think I would graciously let him go but deep down I just don’t know. You are a strong woman and should be proud of yourself and your family. ~Ann
On a different note…I clicked the top commenter widget on your side bar but it went to a page no longer available. I tried to go directly to the blogger busters website but the HTML code wouldn’t show up. I tried Firefox, Chrome and EI. Any suggestions?
Oh this is so hard. I ask myself a lot – how will i reach if one of my boys chooses this path? The path of many members of our family? I don’t know.
I want to be brave and say “i’m proud” but it scares me to death. Thankfully, i have a few years left to push these thoughts out (mine are 10 and 11) but time flies and those decisions will have to be made long before i’m ready for it.
This is a great tribute and I’m in awe of your bravery 🙂
Your post tugged at my heartstrings for so many reasons. I recall as a little girl of three and four years of age, waiting by the mailbox during WWII for a letter from my dad. And you were so right about no communications then and the wondering if your loved one was okay. I am very proud of your men, and the service to America they have given. If someone reading the words you have written does not feel gratitude, love and pride for those who have sacrificed so much to keep us free, then there is no hope. As I read, I was saluting the American flag, singing the national anthem, and seeing Fourth of July fireworks all at the same time. God bless you for writing this and for sharing.
This is such a wonderful tribute to the men in your life. I too now have a son-in-law who is serving in the army and my son, 17, is set on being a marine, It is hard to let them go, but I am learning…
This is a wonderful tribute and I love the pictures! I am very caught up in family history! It is so much a part of who we are! The thing that touched me the most was about your son…I am having to pray NOW that I will let mine go when it is time…I struggle so much with that and yet, I know it is the right thing, it is the healthy thing and it is God’s will. This is beautiful and makes me reflect. Thanks, Christie
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