Today I was using my well paid work time to surf the Tulsa World, yesterday was the Tulsa Veterans Day Parade. After I arrived home from work I sat down to watch the coverage, as I did I sat at my computer, crying my eyes out. I am grieving for all the veterans of WWII that are passing. According to the department of veteran affairs each day 1,000 World War II Veterans are dying. Tom Brokaw has called them the Greatest Generation. I agree. It kills me when I think of the history, the courage, and the Honor that leaves as they leave this earth. Apparently I am not the only one who feels this way, songs are being written, my favorite is by Neal McCoy called the Last of a Dying Breed. If you are not a fan of country music you wont like it, but it paints a rich picture of my childhood friends and heroes.

Back to the Tulsa Veterans Day Parade. I have marched in it many times. But only one time is firmly planted in my mind. It was 8th grade. I was marching carrying my clarinet. My Grandfather (Pap) was off work that day for chemo and made it to the parade. He was sitting in the back seat of his ford Crown Victoria because he was too weak from chemo and radiation to drive. Each time a flag would pass he would do the respectful thing and remove his stocking cap to show respect. With it being a veterans day parade you can imagine how often that happened. As my band marched past we had a American flag leading us and he once again removed his cap exposing his head to the cold and windy elements of an Oklahoma November. When he did this I saw his bald head or the first time. No one had told me he lost his hair. Then the girl in front of me made a comment about it, a snide and rude comment that I can never forget. I quit speaking to her that very day. Had I not been in full view of Pap I would have taught her such a lesson, but he would not have approved. I was a young lady and as such I needed to conduct myself in a manner befitting. But oh I was mad.

Oddly enough when I think of Veterans Day I think if that moment, leaving yourself vulnerable to the elements knowing it is bad for your health. Doing it anyway because it is the right and respectful thing to do.



Now my husband is once again transiting the Atlantic Ocean returning from deployment. Each time I would like to think that his service will not be smeared with the mistakes of the power mongers steering this country. He joined to protect America from Osama Bin Laden and the likes... but the one thing that I fear will go untouched is that very man. We now have Saddam, we have all forgotten why this all started.

Throughout the Bush Regime I have repeatedly threatened to move to Canada because I do not like the turn this country has taken, but why should I give up on what my family has repeatedly sacrificed to protect.

George W Bush mark my words. You are treading on my ancestors graves, hopes, ideas, sacrifices and love. I will not forget this and neither will so many others from my generation.

Howard Zinn said it best,

“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”