A Proud Son

I waited until he posted about this first, and now I want to share it with you. It brought me to tears.

First, let me say the pride a father feels in his children. The father-son bond is a special one. All too often, we lose sight of the pride that a son has for their father. Our dad is our hero. He is our role model. He is a teacher and giver of advice. My dad is all of that to me and more.

I have written about my dad and his time in the army here before. He was in Vietnam. I didn’t learn till I was older all the things he went through there and back home. When I came to partially understand those things, I felt more pride for him than ever. Well, that pride grew a bit more this weekend.

Let me let my dad tell you what happened. Here is his Facebook post:

Yesterday after around 11:15 am, a car pulled up in front of my house it had QOV on the door of the car. I had no idea what this was about. She came to the door and Rose opened it her name was Lynn Lebeck and she asked for me. So I came out to the front room and in her hand she had what looked like a flag inside of it was a quilt. This organization is the Quilts of Valor. Rose nominated me for my service in Vietnam. I was chosen to receive this quilt after they reviewed information about my service. When she pulled it out of the case I was without words, Rose broke out in tears and hugged me and said “Welcome Home, Sam”. I almost lost it, and told her and Lynn, that I felt I didn’t deserve this. Lynn said “you are so wrong Sam.” Rose found out about this organization because I did a Veterans Day presentation twice at our Elementary School.

What a tremendous honor for my dad! He has often told me that he was “just doing my duty.” He is quite humble, as many veterans are. His service to our country is nothing to take lightly, in my opinion. He deserves to be recognized for it (as do ALL veterans)!

This quilt is just beautiful and will forever be treasured by my dad and our family. How awesome to think of the work it took to produce it and the love that is behind every stitch!

I have never heard of this organization. If I had, I most certainly would have nominated him for it. I am glad that Rose did and that he was chosen to receive one of these amazing quilts.

Rose is not one who likes her picture on the internet, but know that before it was cropped, she is standing proud next to me dad as he wears his quilt of valor.

I am so proud to be my father’s son. Dad, I love you and I am happy that your service was recognized. Thank you for all that you have done for me, my family, and our country.

If you know of a veteran who is deserving of this honor, you can submit a nomination at their website:

https://www.qovf.org/

Wednesday Worries and Thoughts

Covid-19

Am I the only one that starts to freak out if I get one of the symptoms related to Covid-19?!! Monday, I got one of the symptoms (I will refrain from saying which one, but I visited the bathroom often), and my first thought was “Please don’t let this be Covid!” I called in to work on Tuesday, and around the time we normally punch in, a co-worker texted me with one word: “Covid??” I told her I was freaking out about it, and she told me when she had a cough recently, she was doing the same thing! Needless to say, I didn’t have a fever, I was able to taste and smell coffee, and have recovered.

Recently, a co-worker from another lab, a former co-worker, and a co-worker from one of the radio stations I work at were all diagnosed with Covid. One of them works from home, so how she got it is anybody’s guess. My neighbor (who had asked earlier in the week if he could borrow my lawnmower – but never did) texted this morning to say he just got a positive Covid test. I hope he keeps it down at his house!

Looks like this is gonna be around for a while longer ….

Classes

Over the past few months, I have been reviewing an entire year of Bible classes that I took years ago. I am finally in the finally weeks of the last semester of that year. Once I finish reviewing those, I will enter the first semester of the second year, which is where I left off. I am beyond excited to continue these classes. I have found the time in God’s Word to be exactly what I needed. Reviewing the classes is taking time, and I am glad that I chose to review instead of jumping right back into the classes where I left off. There was so much information that I had forgotten, yet so much information that I remembered.

I’ve also found myself watching live streams of church services on Sundays when the baby naps. I am lucky to have met many pastors through Bible conferences, and other believers through mutual friends on Facebook. Many of their messages have been applicable to my daily life and have been helpful to me. It’s been a while, but I am glad to see some growth in my spiritual life.

9 Months!

Ella turned 9 months old on Tuesday. It’s hard to put into words just how much we adore her. With each new day, it seems she’s doing something new! She’s got 6 teeth, crawling, standing, and will be walking in no time. It’s already a challenge keeping up with her! LOL. If you look at her and pucker up like you are going to kiss her, she will lean in and give you a kiss. It’s my new favorite thing that she does!!

Every year, we head to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth and get a new ornament for the Christmas tree. We got one when we got engaged, we got one when we got married, we got one last year when we were expecting, and this year it was “Baby’s First Christmas.” I think that we’ll be putting up the tree this weekend. I can’t wait to tell her the story of her first visit to the store.

Incidentally, for those of you who don’t live in Michigan, this week was a great example of how we experience more than one season in a short time. We had great weather last week and right up to Tuesday (it was almost 80!). This morning, it was about 45 degrees and windy (which made it feel a whole lot colder). You’ll notice Ella wearing her warm sweats this morning in the picture below!

She was a bit tired as we walked through the store. We knew exactly what we needed, so we were in and out. The place was a zoo! We were thinking, “Who goes to Frankenmuth at 10am on a Wednesday?!” Obviously, a lot of people! Anyway, we had to document her first visit there…

Veteran’s Day

Lastly, I wanted to say thank you to all of my readers who have served in the armed forces! Whenever I am out anywhere and see someone wearing a hat that says “Veteran” or a branch of the military, I always say “Thank you.” I know that the freedoms we love in this country came at a cost. I thank every man and woman who have proudly wore the uniform and served out country. I am especially grateful to my dad (on the left) who served in the army , and my Uncle Tom (on the right) who served in the navy. They both served during the Vietnam War.

Thanks for reading!

Only 55%?!

memorial-day-mgn (1) While prepping for my radio show this afternoon, I stumbled on something that just sickened me! According to a new survey, only 55% of Americans know the real meaning of Memorial Day. Just over half? This just angers me to no end! HOW do people NOT know what it really means? It’s IN the name of the holiday for crying out loud!!

I’ve got news for you, America, this weekend is NOT about camping trips, bonfires, drinking beer, cook outs, or mattress sales!!! In case you are in that 45% – Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, commemorates U.S. Service Members who died while on active duty. First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars. It is a day of remembrance and a day of honor.

MEMORIAL

For what it is worth, 27% of those answering the survey thought the day was to honor all military veterans both living and dead. The rest of the respondents gave other answers about what they thought the holiday was about, or just flat out had no idea. This is sad, and it just makes me angry. My dad is a veteran, my uncle was a veteran, and I have many friends and family members who all served this great country. They all served with someone who paid the ultimate price while serving.

Your freedom – my freedom – is NOT free, my friend! Brave men and women have died to protect and provide that freedom. They must NEVER be forgotten! RJ Heller said, “In the aftermath, we are because they were.” Martin Luther King Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Joseph Campbell said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” THAT is who we need to honor and remember this weekend – the HEROES!

When I was working in radio full time, I read a poem on the air every Memorial Day, and every Veteran’s Day. I found that the first few times I read it, it was very difficult to read and not get emotional. I eventually recorded it with “America the Beautiful” playing behind me. I am no longer on the radio every day, so this is a good time, and the appropriate blog to share it in.

Just a Common Soldier (A Soldier Died Today)

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won’t note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It’s so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

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If I could ask you one favor today, it would be to take a moment over this holiday weekend to remember them. Remember those who gave their life for their country, and for your freedom. Remember those from all of the past wars and conflicts who fought bravely to keep this country free. Be thankful that they have provided you and me with the freedoms we enjoy each and every day. Remember them. Honor them. They deserve it!

“We don’t know them all, but we owe them all” – Unknown

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