Recently, Mom and I went to visit my father’s grave. It was a few days after Tropical Storm Zeta swept through. We wanted to drop by to say ‘hi’ and check on the flowers in the urn, figuring the ones that were there had blown away in the storm.
To our surprise, the silk flowers and flags were still there. Even more to our surprise, there was a photo of Dad. It was face down in a frame at the foot of his grave. The picture – one of my favorites – had been carefully placed inside a clear plastic frame that was hot-glued on the sides to keep out the rain. Two rocks were hot-glued to the back to weigh it down and keep it steady.
Someone went to a lot of effort.
We haven’t a clue as to when the photo was placed there or by whom; clearly, it had been rained on. Did it weather Zeta’s torrential rains and 50 mph winds or did someone come after the storm to spend a moment with Dad and leave a keepsake?
Whoever it was, we want them to know, we are grateful. It’s one thing to memorialize your own loved ones, but far more special to know others remember them, too.
That’s why Veterans Day is important: It’s that one day a year we set aside as a nation to remember and honor the service and sacrifice of those who make America’s possibilities possible.
So, to all who have served, and to their families, we thank you. This salute is for you.
