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My Memorial Day

This is a photo we took at Arlington National Cemetery in late February. It was one of the most compelling things I have ever seen. Our trip to that cemetery has made me much more patriotic, I must say.

This day makes me proud of Randall's Granddad. He was in the Korean War (this is Randall at the Korean Memorial). He told Randall he had to do 75 missions before he could go home. Once he got home he met Randall's grandmother. I am thankful he made it home so I could have this blessed life with my Randall.

This is "the wall". The saddest memorial in D.C. stands right here to the left as you leave the Lincoln Memorial. It is also the quietest and most somber memorial on the Mile. It made my heart hurt to watch loved ones sketch their persons name on a sheet of paper and to see the letters in ziplock bags with photos of the soldiers lining the wall.
As sad as this wall is and as horrible as that war was, I know a lot of good that came from it. That horrible war is why I am here today. It played a huge part in the making of my family and for that I am most grateful. That might sound weird to you or might come across ungrateful for the ugly, huge and unjust sacrifice these men made/paid, yet I do not mean it that way at all. Good came from this war and I am typing today because of it.

This makes me proud to be a Davis, Arkansan and an American. This is the World War II Memorial. My Pawpaw, Joe Davis, fought in this war and then became a German POW. He was a strong, God fearing and loving man who went on to have a beautiful family after his horrible days in Germany. His sacrifice for our country was most honorable. He is buried at the National Cemetery in Fort Smith.

This is what my Pawpaw wore in the war. This was on exhibit while visiting the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.


This is what Memorial Day means to me.

Abby





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Comments

kathy said…
I am most glad that you are here today..
May 25, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Sarah said…
Very well said.
May 25, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Unknown said…
i think a lot of people think of memorial day as a time to be off work and cook out. those things ar great and i do them, but it's so much more than that. thank you for pointing out those in your family, but also all soldiers who risked their lives and made so many sacrifices so we can live in a free country. :)
May 26, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Anonymous said…
Good work, Ab. You are definitely
a patriot. Yes, your grandfather Joe was a hero from America's greatest generation. And, yes, some good did come out of that "Crazy Asian War". The guys of my generation had to grow up fast and we proved that while we were considered a "tad wild" we could still get the job done when it came to holding up our end of the deal for the good ole UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. May GOD BLess the families of every one of my pals and peers who didn't make it home from the jungle.
Y.D.
May 26, 2009 at 12:05 PM
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