As a volunteer, I have the opportunity to meet many people, most of them I have never even seen before.
Most are locals from nearby communities and some from neighboring North Carolina. It is rare that I encounter those living outside the Carolinas, but recently I encountered a ‘friend’ from Up North and something he said will cause me to remember him. In fact I told him later that he had made history with a remark he uttered to me in a brief conversation.
But the topic is not about friendship exactly since I probably will never see him again. It’s about those who serve/have served in the armed forces of the United States and the respect they deserve. No, this is not about a draftee who gave 2 year of his life as an enlisted man in the US Army even though he proudly joins the ranks of the ‘real’ veterans who gave up more than a few months of their of their lives to preserve the freedoms that we all enjoy but too often do not receive the appreciation for the sacrifice these uniformed guardians have made possible.
Our community is commended for its day of remembrance when those who have served are honored in a public way.
But then too often their deeds of service are forgotten, unfortunately. No, no one expects to be reminded of his/her service daily but there is ample time in the year when a thank you would be appreciated not just on Veterans Day as important and appropriate as that is. But back to my Yankee friend. He was a native of New York, Brooklyn in fact, a proud lifelong resident at that. I told him that I had never talked with one who actually lived there but had heard stories about the famous borough. Once when I was stationed in that vicinity, I made a trip to the City That Never Sleeps and perhaps I had taken a bus tour through his backyard. He remarked about my ‘foreign’ accent. His was somewhat alien itself.
In the brief conversation, he mentioned about Veterans’ Day (The day I paid my visit.) and I told him that I myself had served in the armed forces. The conversation was interrupted when he immediately pulled his hand from underneath his bed cover, grasped my hand and said with all sincerity, “I want to thank you for your service to our country.”
My service ended in 1952. This was the first and only time anyone has ever offered a personal remark of thanks for my service to our country.
The next time (today) you see a veteran, why not show him/her your gratitude for his/her service. Thanks!
