10/06/07 1:23 pm
I came across you website while looking up as many things as I can to be more
knowledgeable about this war and our Veterans.
I have the privilege of working in a nursing & rehab center and have slowly
developed relationships with many WWII Vets whom I admire and have the utmost
respect for. Being I am a female, much younger and can leave when my work is done
many of them put up walls that has taken me some time to chip away. I sit with
those that want me around one on one and just listen. These men cannot recall the
anniversary or some birth-dates but they can tell me in great detail stories that
should be written for the future. I know these men with white hair, shaky writing,
using a wheelchair and needing help they probably never imagined they would. But I
also know them as hero's. I have told some of their stories to people in my family
and seen the tears swell in their eyes as they listened. I wish more of younger
America would open their own eyes and see that not many of these great men are
left.
I was 15 when my brother Paul was born, so I wasn't always around to see him grow.
From a young age every year he dressed as a solider for Halloween. I have pictures
of him hiding in a bush with his camouflage on and pretending to be serving our
country. After failed attempts of trying to talk him out of it, Paul is the baby
of our family, he finally did what he always wanted to do and joined the Army. He
left in January and trained to be a Combat Medic. Yesterday, 10/05/07, Paul left
on the biggest plane he has ever seen to start his 18 hour journey to Kuwait.
November 1st he is going into downtown Baghdad to take over a new sector with his
unit. My heart breaks knowing this but I am so proud of him and the change I hear
in his young voice.
Please tell other to never stop supporting our troops they need us, whether they
are now fighting as a solider, training to become one or just trying to do simple
things in the last fight of their life in a nursing home.
Thank You - Cher Stanley |
