The Day After Independance Day

It was the day after Independence Day. The Picnic Grounds were spotless. It was as if everyone's Mom had cleaned up after them. The air was heavy with the smell of cordite hanging heavy over this field. The night before the sky was filled with color and the sounds of laughter, oooo's and ah's followed each Kaboom. Many folks were making memories and remembering the celebrations of the past.. This cool morning sitting at an empty picnic table was an ancient white haired Marine. A cold cup of Columbian coffee was being ignored and his mind was far far away. Tears were running down his cheeks and his shoulders shrugged with each sob as the pain was washed away one more time.

His uniform still had razor sharp creases even though it had the worn look of a fifty year old uniform. His back wasn't quite as straight when the 'tention was barked by the Master Sargent. His pride was just as strong as the days he was trying to forget. The days when "Charley" was trying to take his life and his way of life. The smell of the cordite had triggered the memories of those sleepless nights filled with fire fights and the morning after, finding children's bodies shot full of holes. At least this morning there were no dead children to deal with.

The ancient warrior scanned the horizon. He didn't see the ball field, the water tower, or the church steeple. His mind's eye saw the jungle with an landing zone cut straight and wide. He didn't hear the chirping birds, the lawn mowers humming. He heard the choppers coming into land, laden with wounded and dead, the gun fire of a sniper trying to take his life. ..he carried a reminder of that "Charley" in his left shoulder and a Purple Heart pinned to his chest.

Tired and devasted this wounded warrior slumped forward knocking his coffee to the ground. Taps were being played and a twenty-one gun salute echoed over the land. God had relieved the pain of one more Marine and his brothers once more stood in his honor.

Independence Day will be celebrated every Fourth of July but it is lived everyday by the men and women in the Armed Services both active and retired. The pride is passed on by living examples and by death. The fireworks, the picnics, the family outings all are but a symptom of the deep emotional pride we all have. God Bless America! Mizpah ;-}}>