Dear Reader:
Every year on Memorable Day I always wonder what is the correct way to thank a veteran? Even with my own brother… knowing how his life was changed forever … I usually just tell him how grateful we are that he came home and how appreciative we are for his service and sacrifice to his country.
According to Memorial Day regulations … the intent of the day is to honor only those who gave the ” ultimate ” sacrifice, their lives, and as such leave ” Thank you’s to living veterans for Veterans Day. ”
I do understand the logic in the separation but what about our young boys who physically survived but left parts of themselves in Vietnam and were never the same again? Isn’t this a type of death?
The suggestions given me on one Memorial Day website were: Thank you for stepping up and serving your country: Thank you for the sacrifice you made being away from your family and finally Thank you for putting your life on hold to serve our country.
The problem with so many returning soldiers was that their lives just weren’t put on hold during their Vietnam experience but it followed them home…throughout their lives.
Like Ben… many soldiers tried to forget their memories from the war, pretend it didn’t happen and resume their pre-Vietnam personal and career dreams … but with little success. And even if like my brother… he could pull it off successfully for awhile… the tell-tale symptoms of self-isolation, phantom physical symptoms began appearing until he was finally diagnosed as having a clear-cut case of PTSD. It’s a lonely path to follow.
Today neurologists are studying the links between PTSD and dementia… it is an on-going new study and starting to show more and more connections to catalyst predispositions to this emotionally wrought disease.
I am still so thankful I was able to persuade Ben to tell his story… he was more ” alive” during that time … for the first time. A special shout-out to Libby for helping him tremendously with the book! ( He finished it before dementia began to settle in permanently.) A Great Memory Treasure!
Even though Summer doesn’t officially start until later in June … Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and I know a lot of school children are happy about that!
It is also the second most popular cook-out grilling day ( just behind Independence Day!) And here’s a fun fact… Over 800 hotdogs are consumed PER SECOND on Memorial Day- 72 million to be precise! ( The problem that most consumers …who wait late to buy …find themselves in-they can always find enough hot dogs but not enough BUNS! ) Those 4 two-sided 8 packaged hot dogs ( that stick to the inside of the bag) run out quickly.
At 3 PM Americans are supposed to pause and have a moment of silence but most gatherings don’t realize this or if they do… by then they are in a hot dog induced coma! 
So until tomorrow… Even with ” iffy” weather… Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day and do stop to remember those brave souls who traded their lives on and off the battlefields , for our freedom! God Bless!
