Remembering

Today my mind and heart took a journey back to my childhood. I was born and raised in San Antonio Texas just down the road from Fort Sam Houston. San Antonio is home to many Air Force bases and Ft Sam Houston Army base.Fort Sam holds a very special place in my heart. My dad served in the Navy and fought in the Korean war. He was honorably discharged because during that time he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and it damaged his heart. He had to stay at the Brooks Medical Hospital at Fort Sam several times for long stays because of his heart. During those stays he would meet young men who were severely burned or wounded and if he felt we could handle it we would have the honor of meeting these wounded warriors. I was about 8 or 9 when my dad brought home 3 young Green Berets for a home cooked dinner. Gary, Sammy and Vinny. They became my older brothers. We would go down to Hondos Texas and watch all hundreds of Green Berets parachute out of the planes during training. I still remember all those parachutes in the sky and trying to see if I could see one of my "brothers." I was so proud of them. I loved them.
One day my dad told me that the guys wouldn't be back. They were going to Vietnam to fight. My heart broke. I never saw them again and have no idea if they made it home. I often thought of seeing if there names were on "The Wall" but I can't remember their last names.
That time in my life taught me that our freedom came at a cost. That family and friends leave to fight for our country, our rights and sometimes we never see them again.
It taught me to never take this freedom for granted.
Remember, when you say what you want, watch what you want, go where you want, worship where however you please it came at cost.
To my son who is a Marine and chose to fight for America thank you son I am so proud of you. To my nephews Ryan and Mike who also chose to fight for America thank you. And to Gary, Sam, and Vinny wherever you are thank you for being my big brothers and for fighting for America. And for familes who have lost a loved one to war given thank you and my God give you peace.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13