A Poem for Memorial Day

I wrote this a few years ago and think it is very appropriate for Memorial Day.

The Flag That Flies Above Us

The flag flies above us
Do we ever stop and look
Do we notice the blood red stripes
and the blood those stripes took

Do we see that feild of blue
or the fifty stars of white
Each shine individually
but together, infinitely bright

What do these show me?
They show the price that was paid
For some it was but a brief service
For other, the greatest sacrifice was made

These few did stop and look
With Respect and honor in their eyes
Because of their courage and valor
The red, white, and blue still flies.

I must be doing something right

My brother that is getting deployed overseas in about a week texted me asking what my kids wanted for Christmas.  I told him I would have the girls email him.  I tell the girls and get a text about 5 minutes later telling me how mature and sweet they are.  My response was "Mature? My Kids?"  So he sends me the email that they had sent him. 

Dear Uncle Wayne,
I am sorry that you cannot make it to us, or us to you this holiday season.  It's really hard to ask much of you when you will be overseas, working hard for us.  So, if you really DO want to get us something, then anything is fine. 

Wow, that blew my mind.  I don't know exactly where Jung and I went right as parents, but it is one of those times as a parent that you are super proud of your kids.  I am pretty sure my brother is going to spoil them again this year (he does every year).  I think I may spoil them a bit this year as well. 

The Manchu Mile

When I served in Korea back in 1998/1999, I was given the opportunity to participate in a legacy of my Unit.  I was assigned as a scout to 2/9inf.  The 9th infantry apprently marched 85 miles into battle during the Boxer Rebellion in China.  When the commanding officer was shot he passed on the guide-on (unit flag with battle streamers) to the man beside him and shouted, "Keep up the Fire!"  The shout is so legendary, that it was how we would greet officers.  Instead of saying "hello, sir," we would say "keep up the fire, sir!"  The march was the harder part.

To commemorate the gruelling journey that these soldiers took just to arrive at the battle that they would then have to fight, we did a 25 mile road march through the mountainous terrain around Camp Casey.  They tend to change the route from year to year and our Sergeant Major must have been a masochist.  The whole route was up and down.  Who were we to complain?  At least we didn't have to do the whole 85.

We did train up for this by doing much shorter marches, one of which took us up a mountain to buddhist temple that was very beautiful.  On the night we were to begin, there was some hubbub about who should take point.  We made the arguement that the scouts should as that is where we were supposed to be.  It was in our job description.  It was conceded and we took point.

The thing I remember most about that night was being told to slow down.  Not me personally but the scout platoon.  The first time we stopped was probably for half an hour so everyone could catch up and then rest for the ten alloted minutes.  This was repeated at all the appointed stops.  Then towards the end, word came that we had to take another stop because the Mess Hall wasn't ready for us.  The mess hall would go all out for the breakfast feast that would welcome us home, but the food wasn't ready, so they slowed us more.  It turned the last few miles into agony.  Everyone wanted to just finish.  Sure we were all tired but we still had something left.  The last mile was marched in formation, which was the worst part of all.  I am sure it looked cool to see a bunch of march weary soldiers finish the 25 miles in step and singing, but we didn't really care how we looked. 

When you finish, you don't just get to go eat breakfast.  You have to wait and get your belt buckle.  Thankfully they didn't make us wait for the whole battalion and we were able to go through the ceremony without much delay and go eat.  The belt buckle is the only authorized unit buckle in the Army.  Once you earn it, you can wear it wherever you go.  It is kind of a mark of distinction.  Before you get it you think it is pretty lame, but after you get it, it does mean something to you.  12 years later, I still have mine and still wear it, even though I have been out of the military since right after I finished the Manchu Mile.  I earned that baby. 

Veteran’s Day

Today is Veteran’s Day.  Our military is voluntary, and a lot of people forget that.  The men and women that pledge their lives to the service of their country do it because they want to.  Some may do it for college, others for adventure, and still others because they don’t have any better options, but they all sign that line and take the oath of their own free will.  It is a beautiful thing.

While I was in I served with a great group of wildly diverse people.  My wife was asking about my friends from the Army, I told her that the guys in my platoon were more like family.  They really were, I lived with them, ate with them, worked with them, and took really weird camping trips that we called field problems with them.  I was with these guys for work and play day in and day out.  I never served in combat, but a lot of those I have served with did.  I don’t know of any that have died in combat, and I am thankful for that. 

Today, several restaurant chains are offering free food for our nations veterans.  But it sucks to eat alone.  So, I ask anyone that reads this.  Take a veteran to lunch or dinner today.  Check the link and take them to a place where they will eat free. take them somewhere else, or just invite them over for a home cooked meal.   It doesn’t matter as long as they know they are appreciated and are surrounded by friends.  If you read this late, Golden Corral is doing free food on Monday.  Also veterans appreciate appreciation any day of the year. 

From one veteran to all the others.  Thanks for your service. 

Yesterday, I went to lunch with a guy named Joe.  Joe served in Iraq and came back paralyzed from the waist down.  He went to Walter Reid where they told him he would probably never walk again.  Thankfully, he defied the odds and now has full use of his legs.  Joe is a great guy. I am glad that I had lunch with him and got to know him better. 

My Pride In My Family Continues

My brother has just signed up for the National Guard.  He leaves for basic in January and will got to OSC (officer candidacy school) sometime after.  Of my mother's three children, all three will have now served in the armed forces.  This is something that my brother has wanted to do all of his life.  It is his childhood dream and I am glad that he is going to get a chance to live it.  He will be the first officer in our family's history. 

I guess you could say that our family has a military tradition.  I myself did four years in the Army and our sister is currently serving in the National Guard.  Our grandfather was career soldier and we all looked up to him as the example of what a man should be.  I would not be disappointed if one or both of my daughters wanted to serve their country in the same capacity. 

It is a hard, dangerous choice that I am glad that my family and I have made.  I don't think some people will appreciate this service.  It is politically correct to say that you support the troops, but that is just lip service.  I know people that think the military is everything that is wrong with this country and would forbid their children from serving at the threat of injury or disowning them.  This thinking is completely foreign to me.

For the record, my brother is 26 year old bleeding heart liberal (he voted for Kucinich) with a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania (one class away from second masters).  I don't think he rushed into this decision and would dare say that is fairly bright.

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