Today my family got to experience something that not everyone has the opportunity to see. We are in Ludington, enjoying the Labor Day weekend. In the square downtown is an attraction that has been up for the last 3 days and 4 nights, guarded by former service men, who are still protecting and serving.
This attraction was the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall. I was humbled to see the names of the 56,286 people that died to preserve the lives of others. Some may call this a "conflict", all I can say if there are this many fatalities, it can only be war.
I am glad that my children got to see this wall, to see the names of those who died, to see pictures with the names of people's loved ones who gave their all that were propped against the wall. I hope this image stays with them forever. There is nothing more important than knowing your country's history.
At the closing ceremony a bugler played Taps, it brought tears to my eyes. This was played at my dad's funeral and I cry every time it's played. To see the flag lowered and folded with such reverence, then presented to an elderly soldier took my breath away.
Thank you to the event coordinators for bringing such a moving tribute to a small town in Michigan. Thank you to the service men who were there to answer any questions, to help find names of deceased loved ones on the wall, for your support of the deceased soldiers families and to be a source of strength to those who have not yet come to terms with their part in this war.
God bless our soldiers, past, present and future. If it were not for your sacrifices, there would not be the freedoms that we Americans hold on to so dearly today.
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