For My Veteran

Reposted from last year with a new ending

Today is Veterans Day, my love, and this is my dedication to you.  I am so proud of you for your service to our country.  When you graduated from high school, you and your friends were lined up and ready to enlist.

Your father was unable to serve during World War II, because of a health issue.  Instead, he learned how to build airplane engines.  Thus began your love affair with flying.

You went into the Air Force so that you could fly the planes you loved so much.  You loved taking care of your planes.  You were and are enthralled by the feel of controlling the plane.  You had such a great time.

After a couple of years, Vietnam started and you were sent over. You were all of 20.  You helped drop the Marines and G.I. Joes into their positions and picked up the healthy, the wounded and the dead from their worst nightmares.  You never once turned back – you were always so brave.  Everyday you knew could be your last, but you kept going.  You were so proud to serve your country.

You are the first Vietnam Vet I have ever heard discuss all of the good things that our folks did over there.  You and other soldiers adopted orphanages and brought them gifts and showed them what Christmas was.  I loved the pictures of the kids and your friends.

You never expected to return from Vietnam, but you did.  Unfortunately, there was no hero’s welcome for you.  You were spit on, verbally abused and called a murderer.  I know that you still resent that.

When you came home, you wanted to continue to serve but chose to do so on a local level – you became a police officer.  Over the next 25 years, you worked your way up to detective.  You still fret over one of the cases that involved an 11 year old boy being sexually assaulted and murdered.   You knew who had done it but the man had fled the state and there wasn’t enough evidence to get him back.  It haunts you to this day that the boy’s killer was never punished.

One of your stories appeared in True Detective.  It was the story of a beautiful new bride who was killed by her new husband not long into their marriage.  You were so adorable in the pictures.  You were so proud of your job.

You never looked at your time in Vietnam as a bad experience.  You loved being “in the shit,” both there, and here at home.  You would love to go back in one more time.  I think you would be so happy to go out in a blaze of glory.  Of course, I am selfish and want you to stay here forever with me. 

You wonder why men and women aren’t so eager to serve today.  You can’t comprehend refusing to serve.  I never understood that until I was with you.

I love you with all of my heart and I so appreciate what you have done for us.  I wish I could go back in time and give you the homecoming you deserved.

To My Veteran and to all of the veterans who have served and are currently serving, my deepest, warmest gratitude.  You have done or are doing something that many, including myself, are not brave enough to do.  You faced the worst and came out the best.  Thank you.

Note to the Unknown Soldier by Five for Fighting

I don’t know you
I never met you
For laughs I’ll call you Sam
You were the son
Of Mrs. Someone
I hope she understands
Sam you were all that you had
Are you happy or sad
I never knew you
But I’m told you’re the best we had
Were you so tall
Did you play Basketball
Was there a sweetheart at home
Did you write her letters
Did it make you better face the great unknown
Sam did you feel alone
You were so far from home
I never knew you
But I know you’re the best man I know
Could you tell it was time
See it coming in the back of your mind
When it was over, was it over
Sam I’m glad you’re on my side
I don’t know you
I never met you
Can I call you Sam
Did you have a son
A daughter with a little one
I might go and thank Sam you’re the best that we have
You make me happy and sad
If you were here, I’d buy the beers
I’d shake your hand and say good man
And though the sun would shine about the same
It’s a better world because you came
Sincerely yours, my kids will know your name