Remembrance Day/Veterans Day

November 11th is always a time for reflection and remembrance of all of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

For me, it is also a day of memories of loved ones who have died. The tears are falling even though the sun is shining.

My father was a veteran in WWII and even though he was not able to participate overseas, he was responsible for maintaining the aircraft in Canada that carried our pilots and crew into battle, and home again.

My mother's brother was an air gunner who did see action, and in fact his heroism, saving crew from his burning aircraft, garnered him a distinguished medal.

He returned from the war, although not without the cost of suffering from post traumatic stress and alcoholism the rest of his short life.

I personally know only one living veteran today, and that war was more recent.

The horror of any war must stay with the soldiers who were there, wherever and whenever they witnessed, and/or participated in, the brutality of killing other human beings. Healing must come slowly, and I cannot imagine they ever fully recover from the experience.

Their loved ones must feel the effects of this pain as well.

My heart weeps for the living as well as the dead. God bless your souls . . .