Veterans Day

   6,636 American Troops have given their all in Afghanistan and Iraq, 50,000 have been injured, 10's of thousands suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Even though winding down, experts at the Pentagon anticipate more casualties before it is all over.

   Delaware alone has lost 20 of our men and women, never to return to their families.  Not a large number when compared to the National totals I mentioned.  It may not even seem comparable to other States like California who gave 702 souls.

   But it is a significant number when you realize that day's before these brave men and  women set off to answer their Countries call, they were little more than children. Most fresh out of High School, where their biggest worries, no matter how important to them at the time, were nothing compared to the what they were about to face.

   I won't pretend to know what it must feel like for a parent to lose his or her child.  Nor can I fully imagine such a thing.  I do know that the thought of being told that very thing, haunted me for three years, until receiving news that my son was being separated from the Air Force, and that he was coming home.

   As with most of the events in my life, I considered myself very lucky.  My son is home, married and has given me and my wife two beautiful grandchildren.

  Twenty from Delaware are not home. Some of those leave children to grow up never knowing them.  Some haven't had the chance to have children.  But they all leave behind people, who loved them unconditionally.  And a grateful Nation.

   Let's honor the memory of those Brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, by putting aside our political differences and call on our Representatives in Congress and the Senate to give returning Vets the Medical care they need to deal with the problems they will face ahead.   The effort to make a phone call or e-mail to your Representative is minuscule compared to the efforts of our Veterans.

http://veteransupportcenter.org/

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.aspx

   

Chilly Nights

It was a chilly day today, and even a chillier night.  So I decided to give my grandson his first fire. It has become and Autumn tradition with me to start an inaugural fire in our fireplace for my grandchildren.  Every new grandchild born, is introduced to his or her first fire when Fall rolls around.  Their very own, just for them. It's not something I planned, it just sort of worked out that way.  At least it didn't start that way, it has evolved into a tradition.  I will tell you now, that I have celebrated this tradition far to many times for a man my age, but I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world.  There are few things I look forward to more than The Lighting of the Hearth.  For me it rivals the smell of Turkey roasting on Thanksgiving, or the scent of pine needles on Christmas morning.  Surprisingly, everyone looks forward to it.  My wife, even my children who are well into their twenties, get excited.   Each grandchild is fascinated as I place the logs and mesmerized as the flames grow into a glowing ball of warmth.  I remember every expression on every face.  They sit on my knee and, silently listening to the crackle of the wood.  I don't know how long we sit there, but I know it is a fleeting moment in time that seems to last forever.  If you don't know how those two opposites can exist at the same time, then I hope someday you will.  And if you do, well, then you do.