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"...and some did'nt make it."
This is a Memorial Day thred, inspired by a recent experience I had. There is an organization that I have the privilege of being a member of, the Warriors Watch Riders ( WWR ). On the last Saturday of every month our local chapter visits a Veterans Home to give smiles, handshakes, a pair of listening ears and an occasional salute to many Vets who otherwise do not get many visitors. It is only recently that I have been able to go on these monthly "missions". About two months ago I met an old gent who rambles on about his WW II days and D-day and Normandy Beach. Now, to be honest and fair, he usually rambles on about himself and how rough and tough he was back in the day. But then, aint that what most "War Stories" are all about any way? 
This last Saturday, 05/15/2013 we made our monthly visit, and towards to end of our time there, met this old gent again near the entrance. We listened as he started talking about his training days leading up to Normandy. Mentioned he was at Camp Rucker ( now a day's called Ft. Rucker ) which is in the SE corner of Alabama, just a bit north of here. Of course he was going on about how hot it was marching through the piney woods of SE Alabama and how he always made it through the hikes. He mentioned that as a farm boy from north Alabama it was kinda easy on him, but them "New York boy's" had it rough on them. He started to go on about country boy's verses city boy's, then in mid sentence he stopped. His face contorted up, his eyes welled up and tears started rolling down his face. After a second or two he said ".. and some didn't make it." After another second or two, he started to continue on where he had left off the previous story. Then he mumbled a name, and was talking about "we were on Normandy beach". Then he was telling about how they were digging little foxholes trying to take some cover on the beach. He again mumbled out the name he had said before, stopped a second and said that a mortar landed in his buddy's foxhole. He paused again for a second or two, and said again "...and some didn't make it.". He rambled on for a bit longer saying a couple more times that same exact phrase, ".. and some didn't make it.", with tears streaming down his face each time.
What ever else I may see and do in life, I know that on that day I came face to face with living History. What I also learned, and saw, that day was WHY we have Memorial Day.
Here is a picture of the Vet while telling us his stories that day.
He's a bit hard to see but he's the gent in the wheelchair. That's me in the black tee-shirt, and he's just to my left.
This last Saturday, 05/15/2013 we made our monthly visit, and towards to end of our time there, met this old gent again near the entrance. We listened as he started talking about his training days leading up to Normandy. Mentioned he was at Camp Rucker ( now a day's called Ft. Rucker ) which is in the SE corner of Alabama, just a bit north of here. Of course he was going on about how hot it was marching through the piney woods of SE Alabama and how he always made it through the hikes. He mentioned that as a farm boy from north Alabama it was kinda easy on him, but them "New York boy's" had it rough on them. He started to go on about country boy's verses city boy's, then in mid sentence he stopped. His face contorted up, his eyes welled up and tears started rolling down his face. After a second or two he said ".. and some didn't make it." After another second or two, he started to continue on where he had left off the previous story. Then he mumbled a name, and was talking about "we were on Normandy beach". Then he was telling about how they were digging little foxholes trying to take some cover on the beach. He again mumbled out the name he had said before, stopped a second and said that a mortar landed in his buddy's foxhole. He paused again for a second or two, and said again "...and some didn't make it.". He rambled on for a bit longer saying a couple more times that same exact phrase, ".. and some didn't make it.", with tears streaming down his face each time.What ever else I may see and do in life, I know that on that day I came face to face with living History. What I also learned, and saw, that day was WHY we have Memorial Day.
Here is a picture of the Vet while telling us his stories that day.
He's a bit hard to see but he's the gent in the wheelchair. That's me in the black tee-shirt, and he's just to my left.
We are Ancient Spirits
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