Memories of my Veteran

I remember the first time I saw the WWII memorial in Washington. What a massive structure. Each piece of it was a representation of some significance. Walking around I couldn't help but think of the impact the War had on my family, and the country. There is such a great sense of pride in knowing we were a part of something much bigger than the United States. I love watching movies about WWII, Saving Private Ryan, Pacific series, any Holocaust movie. It pulls at my heart to see the sacrifice we made as a nation during that period in history.

I think sometimes we over-glamorize the era to a degree. It was a period of great pride but also of great loss and innocence. A period of reckoning for many Americans about the fallibility of who we are as individuals and the greatness of being self-sacrificing for the greater good. I look back at that time with a sense of Awe of what that generation accomplished.

My grandfather was a part of that generation. He was very rough around the edges. My earliest memories of him were of his gruff demeanor. He wasn't an easy person to approach as a child. Anytime there was a family project and he was involved he was the supervisor and all the other family members were to do as they were told. Although he was a hard person to get to know over the years I saw much more behind that very tough exterior weathered through war. I saw a father who loved his family. I saw a hard worker willing to provide. I saw a God fearing man willing to make mistakes and who wasn't too proud to ask forgiveness. I saw the free spirit of a hunter and adventurer who loved to find his own short-cuts on trips. In everything I remember about him I saw a picture that to me summed up what it meant to be an American.

That's my Veteran. I can only hope to be as great an American as Elmer Chaney. He's been gone for several years now but the essence of who he was still flows through our family. His sacrifice of service helped make the America I enjoy today. Thanks to all of our servicemen and servicewomen who sacrifice every day to create a better America for my children and grandchildren. You are the soul of the American spirit.

Thanks.

Jamie

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life Interrupted But Blessings Overflowed

 Several years ago I started having some back issues. Fast forward to 2023 and I was losing all sense of where my legs were and all feeling in my legs as well. After several years with local doctors and several non-surgical options (i.e. steroids, injections, shots, etc.) and for the most part being told that losing weight would be the wonder cure or my back issues I chose to go to a different doctor in Atlanta. After several MRIs, nerve conduction study and discussions with doctors I was told that I definitely needed lumbar surgery (L2-S1) and that more than likely I would need fusion. After another MRI on the upper spine I was also told that I needed Cervical (C5-C6) and Thoracic (T2-T3) surgery. Initially I was told that surgery would be almost outpatient in that I would have surgery on one day and I would be released within two days. Surgeries were scheduled and we were on our way. When I arrived for the first surgery which was on the Cervical and Thoracic Spine It lasted longer th
Read more

I Wouldn't Believe It....

Image
I have always held a healthy level of skepticism. I know I don't have a long lost Ethiopian uncle ready to wire a million dollars into my bank account. Money unfortunately does not grow on trees. About five years ago, Lexi was tired of being her doctor's guinea pig for any new drug that came out so she decided to try using a more holistic approach to her health and began using essential oils. At first my skepticism was through the roof. In my opinion, it was all in her head that these oils made her feel better. Other than the great smell when she diffused them... I wasn't convinced. After a few months, I decided to try it for myself. I had always had digestion issues and eating Prilosec daily was my routine. We had bought an oil blend called Digize from Young Living and after much prodding from Lexi I gave in. I was willing to try it if it would curb my constant nausea and sour stomach . I was amazed! In just a little while I felt much better. It became what I reached
Read more

2018

Image
As I close out 2018 and look forward to 2019 I can't help but feel an overwhelming amount of thankfulness and end this year with a single word: Blessed. The year did not start with a feeling of thankfulness and honestly blessed was the not part of my January. In fact I started this year with a mixed bag of emotions and most of them not very pleasant. I began this year with a lot of feelings of hurt and pain. I was about to embark on the biggest change of my life. I quit my job in HR as of February and went to work for my wife in March as the Operations Manager of her quickly growing business, Wholistic Therapeutic Services. I had worked in HR for over 17 years and had honestly thought that would be where I retired but circumstances dictated that I had to make some changes and with a huge push Lexi and I felt it was the right time for a very big change in my career. 2018 saw her business grow from a 2 person office to ending in December with a 6 person office and a change of a
Read more