It is early on a Memorial Day morning. The sun is rising over the forested hills surrounding the lake. Birds are singing. Deer are at the edge of the water for a drink. On a distant hill, a turkey gobbles.
The Vietnam veteran is alone in his boat. His kids and grandkids used to fish with him. They are too busy with their own lives now. Sometimes, a friend from church goes with him. Mostly, he goes by himself.
The sun reflects on the water as his wrinkled hands tie on a crappie jig. He cast the jig to where he knows the crappie will be. It is not long before he catches his first crappie.
A few hours later, he reels in the last crappie of his limit. He looks up and sees an eagle sitting on a limb. It was watching him. He smiles and thanks God for another day on the water.
He sits there in his boat thinking. After all the years, he still wonders why he got to come home from war when so many of his buddies did not. He never talks about what it was like.
He still keeps the things he saw and heard in his mind. The blood, the wounds, and the bodies. The bombs, the bullets, and the screaming. A tear rolls down his cheek. He thinks about how much God and his church have helped him
.
At church the day before, they took time to have those stand who had friends or family who died fighting for our country. He is grateful they take time to honor our veterans. He wipes tears away and starts the motor.
When he gets home, he stops in his driveway to look at Old Glory proudly waving on a pole in his yard. It is there every day, not just Memorial Day.
His afternoon will be at the local military cemetery. He will be there to honor those who served and lost their lives. He will salute each one, say thank you, and God bless you. He will again wipe a tear from his eye.
Please take time Memorial Day weekend to honor, in some way, the men and women who gave their lives so you could have the freedoms you have. Thank God for our veterans that did not come home and for Jesus Christ. They died for you. They gave the ultimate sacrifice