Reply #22: Excellent Posting....

[rasputin1952]

Far too often, we fail to see the things that have happened in the past that have held this nation together over the years; sadly, these occasions have often been wars and conflict. However, most of these conflicts have, in many ways been "necessary". The Civil War is a prime example, and why Memorial Day came about in the first place.

Here in my small city in Nebraska, there are several cemeteries that have CW vets buried in them, but one has a portion set aside, with a small statue of Lincoln, well weathered and cold, that stands at the spot where these CW vets are buried. They came here after the war to find a new life in the rich soil of the Plains. They came here to leave behind the horrors of that war and begin life anew, hoping that such a conflict may never again darken the skies above this nation. As with all wars, they thought theirs would be the "last war"...for who could comprehend that other generations would wish to visit such horror on themselves.

Every year, Boy and Girl Scouts get small flags from the VFW and American Legion to place on these, and other graves of our veterans. They do this quietly and with reverence, asking not for a thank you or a nod, although we give them both. This year, we have buried 17 Iraq War soldiers in Northeast Nebraska, I have tried to get to all of these, but have only made it to 12. In the distance, Taps is heard, it's lonely and mournful notes bring tears to my eyes as I think of the lives lost, the dreams that will go unfulfilled.............the pain a vet feels for his fellow servicemember.

Someday, those notes will play over my remains, a flag will be folded into the tradition tricorn and handed to my son....a tear will well in the corner of his eye, and I pray that he will remember me as a good father and a recall that I had said that wars must end, and I pass that responsibility to your generation.

:patriot: