Remembering

Today would have been my sister's and brother-in-law's 61st wedding anniversary.

Words cannot begin to say how much I miss them.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Happy Birthday, Johnny!

Memorial Day

Thank you to all who protect. My hat is off to all who have served and who are serving now.

It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training. Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.

The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque. My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time.

All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped. A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove. I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I couldn't wait to see the butt-chewing that he was going to get for making me late. He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again. Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off.

I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures. That simple salute -- that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag --encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier." I thank God for examples like that.

And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.

True account written by Army Captain John Rasmussen

http://www.saintsandheroes.com/stoptosalute/

Family

For those who have been wanting a picture -- here it is. This is from around 2005. The wonderful people sitting are my sister Ruby (Sissy to me) and my brother-in-law Johnny. The two gentlemen standing are Bob (on the left) and Mike (on the right) who are my nephews. The old lady in the middle is me (I used to be skinny until I got older). My sister is 22 years older than I. My brother-in-law passed away in 2006 just after their 56th wedding anniversary. Throughout his life he would forget and introduce me to people as his daughter. I loved it! My nephews are more like my brothers because I was born first, then Mike (a year and 10 months later) and then Bob (two years and two months after Mike). We grew up together. We are very close to this day.