GIG LINE
By Marsha M. Brown
First and foremost thank you. Thank you all for your service to our great country. And…however it came to be that you all served…through volunteer enlistment…or through draft…and if you’re active duty today…or if you’re retired…you all deserve equal respect.
To be honest…I’m so very grateful for everything people do to show gratitude for our veterans…but…I give pause whenever I hear an advertiser or promoter offer enticements or rewards for ‘active duty’ and ‘retirees’ yet fail to acknowledge veterans who served period. What about the countless men who were called up in the draft years ago? Those guys had little to say…and to express their displeasure at being ‘invited’ by Uncle Sam to serve would not have gone like this…”Uhhhhh, well actually no, I’d rather not serve…and no, I won’t be reporting for duty at said time and place!” Yeah, right!! Sure…no problem. (Joke, joke).
It goes without saying that some vets who were drafted were anti war; some were passive and not aggressive; some had little to no experience with firearms and had never even killed a deer…and the thought of combat? That word was of another language all unto itself…but they went…most of them anyway…they went…they served…they fought…they faced death…and they made impossible decisions in order to save not only their own life but the lives of others too. Maybe I’m overly sensitive or the only one that has an issue with this…nonetheless, I feel that while unintentional…folks should simply thank all veterans and not distinguish vets simply for their service longevity. Folks who praise veterans do so because they care…I know that…I just hope at some point the acknowledgment will be inclusive of each and every man or women who has ever served…period…because only dirt should ever fall through the cracks.
My goal in the coming weeks is to address a range of topics including the courage of our military women and the strength of the women close to our military men who wait at home for extended and uncertain periods praying, hoping and longing for the day they know their husband, son or fiancé will return home safely…for good.
I also want to write about the veteran widows that we know and love whose lives have changed forever…now facing the rest of their life without the men they love; having seen so many local vets (in particular Vietnam) pass away within the last two years. Their wives? They’re tough, strong and they’re doing the best they can. It’s odd you know…to see our friends in the grocery store and know that now…they’re only shopping for one. I can’t imagine for a second not having Billy here with me to face this thing called life together. I am addicted to my Billy.
I want to write about the children who look up to our men and women in uniform; about those who aspire to serve; about young people like our grandson Ben (a seventh grader next school year) who loves and respects his ‘Pappy’ and who talks to him about his service in Vietnam. Ben thirsts for knowledge about duty to country and through his extreme gift in art he draws UH-1 Huey(s) on a 2’x4’; cuts it out; sands it down and then he details it from there using unique household items to embellish it to a remarkable likeness of the real thing. I will show you a picture of his work because wants to honor his grandfather and all of our veterans who served over there.
Sharing a story with you all about three young men from Hatteras Island (within the last two years) who at 18 joined the U. S. Army and the U. S. Marine Corps in spite of all our nation faces right now…is also on my list. I want you to know the names of those who joined to serve…to protect and to honor…because those young men are awesome. And I want them to know also that we notice what they’re doing…that they make us proud…and that yes, perhaps they are young but even before they’re awarded medals and promotions in the years to come, they are our heroes today.
So much to write about…so much to say…so much to thank God and you for. My dear sweetie pie Billy and all of you make me happy and it is my pleasure to write about you and for you all regularly. Please call us if we can help you, O.K.? My cell: (252) 202-2058 or write to me at editor@giglineheroes.com
Thank you for reading GIG LINE; thank you for your feedback and suggestions and please remember to call us about getting your Dare County Veteran I. D. Card (in fact three more new businesses signed up again this week to offer our local vets discounts on their goods and services for you …check out www.darenc.com and search under DEPARTMENTS & SERVICES, then VETERANS…check out the list because its growing!
Until next time, love each other…love and respect our military…pray for our deployed troops safe return home…remember all of their family members too and thank them for their service if you get a chance. God bless you all. Stay tuned…