Friday, May 24, 2013

Memorial Day

I know that what I am about to write has been written many times before, but I believe it cannot be said enough times.
 
Memorial Day for much of the nation involves a 3 day weekend, picnics, family time, fireworks, horse shoe throwing in sand pits and a few cold beers.
 
But for the two young men in my life it can be a very different kind of Memorial weekend. Both of them served in the United States Marine Corps and both did a number of tours in Iraq.  They knew each other in high school and joined the service within a year of each other.  One is my son by birth and the other became a son when he married my youngest daughter.
 
Both went to war.
 
Neither came home the same man.
 
 
Isaiah
 

Tony

Every day of every year since they served and came home is a type of memorial day for them.  Their memories revolve around special days and special friends.  Friends that may have come home and those they left behind.
 
Playing in the sand can trigger unwanted memories and the sound of fireworks can cause unwanted anxiety that sends them scrambling for cover.

Memory is a different animal for them.  Traumatic brain injuries for both of them can have them struggling to hold onto important information.  It can have their short circuited brains scrambling for the simple thought processes we take for granted.  

But they both came home. 

And they both started living life again.

I am proud of both of these sons.  I have walked the journey from the start to the present with Isaiah and consciously lend my support to Tony.  They both have my love and my appreciation. 

So this Memorial Day take a moment and thank a veteran.  Say a prayer for the families who lost a family member.  And say a prayer for those that came home. 
Their battle continues.

3 comments:

  1. Thank you... pray for them every time they come to mind.

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  2. I'm behind in my blog reading. Still need to catch up on your trip to Ireland. But first wanted to thank you for this beautiful tribute to your sons. So many of the men and women who serve our country are nameless and faceless. It is good to remember that they are someone's father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister. I pray that each of them will lead lives that bring joy and peace. That their nightmare will fade into a distant memory. May your love, and God's love, and our country's love sustain them.

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  3. Thank you for this beautiful post for your sons and all those who came back, and for those who didn't. They are all in my prayers.

    Marilyn www.marilyngf.blogspot.com

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