My grandfather at Quantico, age twenty-one
Last time, I wrote about lists. This time, on the day when we honor all who are serving or have served, whether active duty, discharged, retired, lost, in reserves, or supporting service people (such as those amazing military families), here’s a different list.
This is a list of everyone I know (personally or through others) who deserve to be honored on this sacred day.
Note: because some may prefer not to be publicly acknowledged, I am listing them by how I know them.
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Dad, who will always be a Marine
Pap, my mother’s father (pictured), who served during the years of WWI
Uncle Bob, Dad’s youngest brother
Uncle Punch, Dad’s eldest brother
Uncle Dick, Dad’s second brother
Uncle Don, Mom’s brother-in-law
My friend Lee’s husband, Joe
Lee’s dad
Lee’s mom
My friend Donna’s dad
My friend Kathleen’s eldest son and his wife (both retired from service), and their incredible family
Kathleen’s second son (still active duty) and his amazing family, who continue even now to sacrifice so many things the rest of us take for granted in order that he might serve
My friend, Wally, who leads worship at our church
The owner of the local UPS store, who served in Vietnam
My former opposing counsel, Walt
My friend, Kim
My former pastor, Gregg
My friend Yvonne’s husband, Steve
My friend, Al
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I’ve undoubtedly failed to mention a lot of people. Please feel free to add to the list in the comments section, whether they’re people who should be on my list or people who are on yours. They all deserve to be commemorated on this Veterans Day.
To all named, and to all whose names are known only to God:
Thank you.
We are forever in your debt.
My brother Ken, also a Marine, who served in Okinawa in the early sixties.
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