Jewells of Thought

I remember being a teenage girl in High School and hearing the Star Spangled Banner had a different edge to it after Grandpa Leo died. It’s when I really noticed my emotions revealing themselves to me from those words and the music.

There was one song before ‘The Banner’ that the lyrics hit me in Elementary School though. ‘God Bless the USA’ the fact that the words were explicitly saying a man would lay his life down for my safety, for any American’s safety was powerful. Literally as powerful as Christ doing it for each and every person powerful.

Becoming a writer was not my initial goal in life. When Grandpa died my other Grandpa encouraged me to interview Veterans and to listen to their stories and everything complemented the next task I learned. Researching certain facts, making Scrapbooks for each Veteran writing out their story for their family in their own words at first.

That was how all of this writing, journalism and curating history came to be for me. I was documenting my family’s history. Then my Church family became a part of that process and I then started making Powerpoint Presentations for the annual Church Veterans Day at Fellowship. It was a privilege and an honor to give our Veterans this Special Day of Honor for many years.

Grandpa Freddy threw me in the deep end with his big brother and I was a nervous mess. The next time I came up with a list of questions for the next gentleman and it went a bit smoother, but Grandpa saw something in me I didn’t see or know how to get towards. That one step brought me amazing stories and adventures leading me to Bob and Betty McClure and those amazing interviews.

Afghanistan was tragic. Lt. Colonel Scott Mann said at the hearing that suicides have been up 80% because of failed leadership and decisions. We cannot let leadership destroy our Veterans accomplishments and the fact that they were fighting for the American Ideal of Exceptionalism and Excellence.

We must Honor these Men and Women who have given us their all! We cannot let them be forgotten…