By "Gracie" |
Being that today is Veteran's Day I wanted to take a moment and reflect
upon what this day means to me. I have uncles that were in the Viet Nam
War and other acquaintances. Until I married in to the Denton family I was
not really familiar with what it was actually like to know someone well who
is "military". As a young girl I always respected Veteran's Day and would
take moments throughout the day to be humble and quietly give thanks to
those that have sacrificed so much for our country.
Over the past five years between letters to home and leaves from duty I
have had the opportunity to get to know and become close friends with my
stepson, Sgt. Dustin Denton. Some of you may recall from an article in The
Chattanooga Free Press that he visited home December 2007 as a
recepient of the Bronze Star Award. Needless to say his father, Roy and
I are so very proud of "Dusty" for accomplishing such an award. In 2004
he was stationed in Korea and then has served two extended tours in Iraq.
There were times when communication via the Internet was silenced and
Roy did not hear from Dusty often days at a time. These were the most
difficult because it means that there has been a casualty/casualties and
communication is silenced from Iraq to home until the next of kin are
properly notified by the military first. There were many days I remember
us constantly checking Yahoo to see if Dusty was logged on or if there
were any offline messages stating that he was okay. Eventually we always
heard from him and that he was doing alright but someone indeed had
died. It is a helpless and confusing feeling to hear from someone you love,
thankful that it was not them, and then a guilt filled moment in feeling
relief that it was not someone you love or know personally. Then there is
always the sadness you feel because you know that the life that was lost,
someone else was getting a knock on their door instead of an email or a
quick "I'm okay" message via the Internet. You are grateful yours is okay,
but sad that someone else's is not.
When Dusty and his dad would chat on the Internet after one of those
periods of no communication I often thought of the ones that had died and
the family that was left behind to forever miss them. So each Veteran's
Day I am truly grateful that my stepson has been able to make the military
a successful career without being physically harmed or killed. I beam with
pride over what he has done, while on the inside I mourn for mothers and
stepmothers, and all who have lost a soldier they loved.
This Veteran's Day please take a moment out of your busy day to honor all
veterans from the past and present. The sacrifices they all offer to serve
their country is immense. I cannot describe how I am inspired by their
courage and honor. I pray for the loved ones they must leave behind to
serve their country in far off lands. I pray for their safe return. To all
veterans far and wide, thank you for your duty to our country.
upon what this day means to me. I have uncles that were in the Viet Nam
War and other acquaintances. Until I married in to the Denton family I was
not really familiar with what it was actually like to know someone well who
is "military". As a young girl I always respected Veteran's Day and would
take moments throughout the day to be humble and quietly give thanks to
those that have sacrificed so much for our country.
Over the past five years between letters to home and leaves from duty I
have had the opportunity to get to know and become close friends with my
stepson, Sgt. Dustin Denton. Some of you may recall from an article in The
Chattanooga Free Press that he visited home December 2007 as a
recepient of the Bronze Star Award. Needless to say his father, Roy and
I are so very proud of "Dusty" for accomplishing such an award. In 2004
he was stationed in Korea and then has served two extended tours in Iraq.
There were times when communication via the Internet was silenced and
Roy did not hear from Dusty often days at a time. These were the most
difficult because it means that there has been a casualty/casualties and
communication is silenced from Iraq to home until the next of kin are
properly notified by the military first. There were many days I remember
us constantly checking Yahoo to see if Dusty was logged on or if there
were any offline messages stating that he was okay. Eventually we always
heard from him and that he was doing alright but someone indeed had
died. It is a helpless and confusing feeling to hear from someone you love,
thankful that it was not them, and then a guilt filled moment in feeling
relief that it was not someone you love or know personally. Then there is
always the sadness you feel because you know that the life that was lost,
someone else was getting a knock on their door instead of an email or a
quick "I'm okay" message via the Internet. You are grateful yours is okay,
but sad that someone else's is not.
When Dusty and his dad would chat on the Internet after one of those
periods of no communication I often thought of the ones that had died and
the family that was left behind to forever miss them. So each Veteran's
Day I am truly grateful that my stepson has been able to make the military
a successful career without being physically harmed or killed. I beam with
pride over what he has done, while on the inside I mourn for mothers and
stepmothers, and all who have lost a soldier they loved.
This Veteran's Day please take a moment out of your busy day to honor all
veterans from the past and present. The sacrifices they all offer to serve
their country is immense. I cannot describe how I am inspired by their
courage and honor. I pray for the loved ones they must leave behind to
serve their country in far off lands. I pray for their safe return. To all
veterans far and wide, thank you for your duty to our country.
| Remember our heroes this Veterans Day 2008 |
| Gracie's |
| Gripes, Griefs, and Gratitude |
 | |  | |  | |  |
