Posted by
G Murphy Donovan on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 12:24:19 PM
I woke to the sound of taps on
the radio this morning, a world turned upside down for someone who served in
the military. Reveille usually begins a soldier’s day and taps ends it. Taps in
another time was also the bugle call to signal lights out, literally; or the
end of a soldier’s life, figuratively. Before I could unscramble all those
images in the morning fog, Anna’s cell phone alarm chirped. I hit “OK” and the
text read; “It’s Veterans Day”.
I had forgotten, but she never
does. She, who never had a whiff of gun powder, reminds herself to remind me of
why it’s important to remember.
So here again in another year
where sons and daughters are in harm’s way, we should remember and give thanks.
Give thanks to those who serve, give thanks to those who have served, and give
thanks to “those who sit and wait”. And we say a prayer for those who wait no more; those who went in harm’s
way and never returned.
Yes, say a prayer too for those
who died or were wounded needlessly at Fort Hood the other day. Men and women
who had every right to believe they were safe getting ready to make us safe. The
Fort Hood
warriors were twice burdened; dying for “diversity” and want of leadership.
Indeed, in this wet cold winter of national uncertainty we should all pray that George Orwell’s tribute to
soldiers echoes across every breakfast table; “We sleep safe in our beds
because rough men (and women) stand ready in the night to visit violence on
those who would do us harm”.
For this we should all say thank you.