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Memorial Day 2025

Memorial Day 2025 Soon Memorial day will be upon us once more, And unhappy memories of the past will be excavated again. My younger Brother was a highly decorated soldier rising to the rank of Master Sergeant in his twenty-three years. He did four tours in Vietnam and each time he came home I could see a change. After he retired he just drove away from the house one evening and never returned. For thirty years family searched the internet, contacted the Army and once after a family death we had to send our letters to them and they in turn forwarded them to him for his signature. We had no family problems or ill will at all. He abandoned his family and his four children also. He just chose to live alone for whatever reason. Only God knows why. Another brother who had cancer couldn’t sleep one night and thought he’d search one last time. He found his name in the obits where he had died that week and was in a mortuary in Texas. I contacted them and was told he had a power of attorney and would give her my number. She did call and I assured her that we wanted nothing that he had, Just his ashes to bring home to the family plot. She first said it was a go. We made plans to leave the next morning but she called back and said after talking to her man he said no and ditched his phone. She said his wishes were to be cremated and ashes scattered on another soldiers grave. I had shadowboxes made for his children as well as self. But I tell myself there are tens of thousands of cases like this or worse. I don’t know why things were like they were. War is about self preservation. A soldier can’t undo, or unsee, or forget the stench of war. They do the things they’re told to do in defense of this great country. This Memorial day I will be mindful, That “all gave some, Some gave all.” Tom

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 5/19/2025 8:26:00 AM
Wow, Tom. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. It is hard to see a loved one change and we don’t understand and ask God why. I am glad you shared his memory. These soldiers should not be forgotten. Like you said, they can’t undo, unsee or forget… God bless you and we all join in to say thank you for your brother’s service. I hope he found peace.
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