wallyw44's Journal

I enter this Veteran's Day in sadness, as do many, over the recent tragedy at Ft. Hood, Texas. At first, my heart was hot within me, and I desired to invoke my wrath upon what I perceived to be the enemy. It was one man, however. I can only pray God's justice is done.

Gone are many young and wonderful people. In grief their families and loved ones mourn. All they wanted to do was serve their country. And so many others wounded. I cannot describe my sadness.

And yet, in the end, I see hope for America. We have been down many times before. We always fight back. We are a nation of fighters. The same spirit that lived in our founding fathers can still be found here. Yes, it is more diluted by those who do not care. By that, I mean illegals who are not here because they love our country, but to get away from a worse one. I guess I can't blame them. I wouldn't want to live in squalor either.

But I remembder. I remember young guys like John Burch, a friend with a '57 Chevy, who was in love with my sister (they never dated though). John's remains were never found. I remember Rob Leader, the first kid I ever drank a beer with. He is gone too. His name engraved on the Wall, in Washington D.C. and in Portland Oregon, where I go at times. To remember.

Gone is my father, who came here, barely escaping the Nazi's in Germany, with his parents. He fought for the Navy in WWII against the Japanese in the Pacific. He did not die in combat. But I remember. He fought for God's Truth.

I sit in church with other vets. We all feel the same right now. I can't even describe it. Tears are in my eyes now, as I write. God in Heaven, let this sadness pass. And Bless our troops and their families. Bless America. Help us to return to what we were. Land of the Free. Home of the Brave.

Please, if you have a flag, put it at half mast on Veteran's Day. And to you that are not of this country, God Bless you, for being our stalwart allies. Wally