I think that every day we need to be thankful and recognize what are veteran’s have done for us as well as those actively involved in the military. Many have given their lives, many have suffered physically, many have suffered mentally and many are homeless. They are still struggling with whatever they had to experience and they have lost their life because of it.
This year, my farmer and I had a chance to take our first vacation together. I stood in an airplane hanger with a veteran that had been in that very same hanger when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I watched as at least 30 people walked by him not saying a single thing or acknowledging him.
He sat right below windows that had the sun shining through bullet holes. He sat at a desk working on his crossword puzzles right next to a large sign that shared about his service to this country. AND still… everyone walked right on by.
People stood next to planes, helicopters, climbed in side the ones where it was allowed. They took pictures of themselves, I am sure to upload to the latest social media site. Then they would walk right past this guy and on with their day.
I walked into one of the planes and on one of the control panels was a spot where men had signed their names. I couldn’t believe all these men that had signed their names had been siting in the very same spot that I was now standing, defending our country. I had no idea who all survived out of all those small little scribbles. All I knew is that it made me feel so much appreciation for our vets.
As we went to walk out, we stopped at his desk. We had a conversation about what he was doing the day they were attacked. He described it as complete chaos. I wish I had all day to just talk to him and hear his stories. I tried my best to hold back the tears as I shook his hand and told him thank you. What else do you do? What do you say to a hero?
We continued our tour to the battleship Missouri. We were unable to see the battleship Arizona because of the government shut down. But it was OK… I didn’t need to be standing above the sunken ship to feel completely overwhelmed with emotions.
We were then told the story of the Arizona. How they had been at the battle of the bands the night before the attack. How they won and were allowed to sleep in until 8:30 the next morning. How they were attacked around 8 the next morning. How many of them were still in their bunks. How many are still in their bunks to this day.
As we finished off the tour by exploring the battleship Missouri, I climbed up in one of the bunks and I have to say that it was one of the most humbling(for lack of a better word) experiences of my life! To think of all those young men going down with the ship in those coffin like bunks. It honestly broke my heart.
I didn’t want that tour to end. I wanted to stay longer, I wanted to learn more and I wanted to meet more veterans. I wanted to tell them all thank you! I wanted to know how many of those “scribbles” made it. But as all good things do, it came to an end. As we rode back to our hotel all I could see is planes, smoke and chaos. I tried to imagine what it was like, no amount of stories will ever allow me to know what it was truly like. I will never know what so many have sacrificed so that I could live free in the United States of America.
With that said…
Next time you pass a homeless person on the street. Just know that they are not all worthless individuals as many often think. Just know that 1 in 4 homeless are United States VETERANS. Those that have made this country FREE. They are the reason that you have the freedom to chase the American dream.
Look beyond the outward appearance and look at what is on the inside…
Krista Stauffer
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today is armistice day 11 hour of the 11 day of 11 month. (the day world war one ended) and a day of remembrance of soldiers. So this post is really relevant 🙂
This is so good! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! AND feel free to share it if you would like. 🙂