Two or three times a year some of us older folks get a bit tangled up in memories (or memories of memories). Late April and much of May are my primary dates.<\/p>\n
Late April because my pop was declared KIA in Korea on April 25, 1951.<\/p>\n
Early May because I was discharged from the Navy after spending over a year around Vietnam, on May 9, 1969.<\/p>\n
And then there is Memorial Day. The advertisements for sales and off topic events are difficult to avoid.<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
I was an Army brat the first few years of my life. I have vague memories (or memories of memories?) of several Army posts; in Georgia, in Arizona, and another place or two. Then my dad was deployed to some place called Korea in 1950.<\/p>\n
Three additional memories are a bit more vivid \u2013 the day we were notified he was Missing in Action and, sometime later, that his remains had been recovered, and finally, his funeral. I wasn\u2019t allowed to go.<\/p>\n
I have a Purple Heart.<\/p>\n
He is buried in our home town, and there\u2019s a small memorial in the city park there with his name inscribed. I visit both as often as I can. Even though I was only five or six at the time and will be 68 in about a month I still miss him. I have pictures and memories, and\u2026<\/p>\n
I have a Purple Heart.<\/p>\n
For many others, like myself, Memorial Day has a face.<\/p>\n
We’re past the 50 year anniversary of Vietnam and there is a wall FULL of my brothers and sisters who earned a Purple Heart<\/p>\n
So don\u2019t wish me a happy Memorial Day because\u2026<\/p>\n
I have a Purple Heart!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"