Veterans Day - A Father's Reflection

In September of this year, in the wee hours of a rainy, cold morning, a young man, an American soldier, stepped off a plane and into the arms of an elated and significantly relieved mother and father.

For the first time in nearly a year these parents could go to sleep without worrying about a phone call in the middle of the night or a knock on the door. They could check their email without any hesitation and not have to take a deep breath before reading the morning paper or checking the latest news on the war in Iraq.

Immeasurably proud, they watched their son answer a call to duty, setting aside his personal goals and objectives, to answer a greater call, one to serve his country and the weak and defenseless abroad. Instead of long letters there would be longer talks in the living room. In place of care packages there would be a dining room table laden with all his favorite foods. Rather than loved ones of deployed soldiers getting together to support each other, there would be celebrations thanking each other and more importantly, God. Supplications of prayers for protection would be transformed into praises of protection and further supplications for those families who would not be sharing the same experience.

Gone are the nights of a father sitting in front of his computer tapping away at a keyboard trying to convey the many thoughts he has about his son at war. Nevertheless he thinks about how a little boy grew up to be a man and a soldier. He ponders how his son has the courage to step out of a Stryker into hostile territory and confront the deep-rooted wickedness of a hateful enemy. He wonders how he kept his wits about him. All the while he is overwhelmed with pride and finds the thoughts about his younger reflection, doing a job he himself has never done, daunting.

Thank you son,

From a proud father and grateful American