Canes, walkers, wheelchairs
Old men.
USMC WWII
Army WWII
Navy WW II
Army Air Corp
Korean War
Vietnam war
Now, war in places unknown.
US Navy air craft carriers sending planes to fly off
Army Air Corp, carrying food, supplies,
and bombs—
Women who served,
but hidden.
Men and Women,
not on the front lines,
But at home, making survival
possible.
Gold embroidered
On black.
Proud to wear their caps.
Old men in caps.
Walking away,
Walking on ahead.
Lately, I see very few WW 2 veterans, as most are in their nineties. When I do, I shake their hands and thank them for what they and their comrades did.
Now, the Korean vets are the old fellers. They still walk straight and tall. Shake their hands and thank them for their valor.
The Vietnam veterans are from my era. I thank them and ask how they are doing after their unappreciated service. We talk a while, share our memories of friends and families.
My small county with the rural towns had many men who headed to Vietnam. Some returned, some returned but with scarred memories, and too many found their ways home in caskets.
Now veterans from this era come home and are welcomed by a grateful nation. Too many come home with prosthetics and horrible scars. If you meet one, shake their hands, thank them for what they and their comrades sacrificed.
Try not to cry.
This was originally a re-post from 2013, now re-written.
My appreciation and understanding have grown. I have shaken many hands.
We live near Camp Pendleton.
