My father served in the Navy in World War II in the Pacific.  He was a radioman on the USS Alabama.   The war was hard but he told me everyone went and he wanted to serve.  Life on the ship was cramped and hot.  My father was a very sensitive man and war and injustice was very painful.  But it was important to him that he had been a Navy man and I still cheer Navy in the Army-Navy game.  The Alabama is retired in the port of Mobile, Alabama.  Several months after he passed away, I went to see the ship.  It was majestic.  The crew's name was listed and in the radio room, there was a picture of him with some of his mates.  It was quite moving.  He didn't speak of the war much but I knew the experience had changed him forever.  

In 1968, my boyfriend went to Vietnam and was killed.   It didn't seem real.  Many years later, I went to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington,D.C.  Another moving tribute to our fallen soldiers.  I was able to find his name and etch it onto a piece of paper.  

Thank you all  who have given your lives and to your courage and dignity.  I honor you.