Note

A minor note of humor. My ancestor is likely smiling.

Today I visited the grave of my paternal great great grandfather, an early associate of John Brown's, and a staunch abolitionist, who enlisted twice in the Union Army, was wounded twice, and honored with a number of medals.

The local American Legion has volunteers which place American flags next to the grave of each veteran of all wars. They always have a shortage of civil war specific flags (and also generic flags which indicate no specific branch of service).

Once again, apparently due to the shortage, my great great grandfather received an American flag intended for a veteran who served in the United States Air Force. He died eight years after the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk....but he is still honored by the American flag and that's the important thing.

He's buried in a small, out of the way, rural cemetery. There are three other veterans buried there. All of them were Civil War veterans as well. Each of them got an "Air Force" flag. But at least some kind volunteer made a special trip to the cemetery to see that each of the veterans was duly honored.

There are no visitors to the cemetery other than my family as no flowers are left on other graves except for my great great grandparents and a few of their children. But it's not a "lonely place" on Memorial Day weekend when someone cares enough to bring four flags to decorate those who served on behalf of their country.

All were fluttering in the gentle breeze. All the veterans buried there are remembered such as we honor our fallen heroes from more recent wars.

At a larger cemetery where most of his descendants are buried, there are four veterans of WWI and WWII. Three served in the U.S. Army, one in the Marine Corps. One, an uncle of mine, was in the Army and this year had an "Army" flag. At the foot of his grave is one of those military markers. It indicates he received one Silver Star, Two Bronze Stars, and four Purple Hearts, all in the Pacific during WWII. Actually we don't know how many purple hearts he did receive as he's known to have thrown several away. It's believed he may have received one other citation, perhaps a third Bronze star, also thrown away. He wasn't a man fond of medals. His military record in terms of his service awards is a bit of a mess. Finally when selecting the commendations my Aunt settled for the ones she found in his things when he came home. He was a quiet hero, not one to brag about a Silver Star and a few months service in Vietnam like one of our presidential candidates.

The Marine, another uncle, has a similar stone at the foot of his grave. He was awarded a Silver "Star, a Bronze star, and two Purple Hearts. He also wasn't fond of medals and didn't bring them home from the Pacific. Only when his military record was obtained by his family were the commendations known of. The original stone had no mention of them, but the government provided a new stone at the request of the family when the records were produced.

This is already a long post, but let it be known that these three heroes, among others in my family, were quiet men. They were unassuming and cliamed no special rights nor discussed their military service. My great great grandfather fought to free the slaves. He was involved in numerous "border skirmishes" with Missouri pro-slavers who raided his farm across the Kansas border on at least two major occasions. He lost a brother, a sister, and several in-laws in these "skirmishes," fighting to make "Bleeding Kansas" a non slave state.

The two uncles mentioned fought to make the world a non-slave world, free from the oppression of Hitler and the Emperor. The other two veterans, one my maternal grandfather, fought at Beaullah Wood and other places in France in WWI and received the Croix de Guerre from the French and the Distingished Service Medal from the U.S. The other soldier, his (much) younger brother, was a Lt. in the Army and served in Italy. He led a platoon of the famous Nissei (Japanese) units, the most celebrated and honored unit of WWII. He received a Bronze star and two Purple Hearts.

I didn't know my great great grandfather. But I knew the other four. All were quiet, unassuming, hard working business men and farmers who, above all, loved their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

I am always proud to see the small American flag next to each of their graves. I don't care if someone gets it wrong and doesn't match the correct service with the person. What's important is that American flag.

My family is proud, on the paternal side, to trade soldiers from the French-Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Blackhawk Indian War, Civil War (all four of my most direct grandfathers fought in the Civil War), the Spanish War of 1898, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the War in Vietnam (myself). Due to date of birth of my descendants and others we've "missed" having someone in Desert Storm in 1991 and in Afghanistan-Iraq. Had we had someone eligible to go they would have gone.

All of my ancestors enlisted. I came to do the same thing at the time of Vietnam. A majority of those who fought in the Civil War were drafted as in later wars. That did not occur in my family. I had three (including my grandfather) who enlisted in WWI (maternal side) and two (both uncles) who also enlisted in WWI. Four from my family, both side, enlisted in WWII as did two who fought in Korea.

Why all this business of "enlistments?" Because ALL of our military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq are enlisted personnel. I salute them on this weekend of remembrance and wish them well.

The memorial dedication for the WW II Veterans was well done. My husband's brother gave his life in France, my husband was in England for his tour of duty in the army. Thank you for your tributes to those fallen heros. I am so proud of the young people who have enlisted to provide us at home our freedom and safety. God bless you every day so that you may return home to your loved ones. The troops and our president remain in my prayers. The Iraqi people have been blessed by your service as have we.

Greyhawk, Thanks for everything. Your blog which we enjoy so much, your family-I am sure that they are fine people, and your service which keeps people like us safe and free.
My Dad served in the RAF for 42 years and his Father served in both World Wars. He was a rarity, got gassed in the trenches and lived to tell about it.Amazing men, and their example is just a little hard to live up to!
Anyway, you are in our thoughts and thankyou sincerely from the bottom of our hearts.

Today I watched a video of my grandson's graduation from Marine boot camp, and composed a letter to my nephew who is packing up for Bosnia.
And I thought of Pop Gittleson, the first casualty in my unit in Korea. Pop. He was 26, and a vet of WWII. The half century I got, he didn't. I hope my grandson gets a half century and more.
Men don't cry. But we moisten up sometimes.

The General Assembly actually had session this evening (Sunday), and it will have to be in session tomorrow, despite it being Memorial Day, so I will have to go (I have an internship). Because of our state's budget crisis, the Illinois legislature may actually have to go late tomorrow, like until midnight, or after. How's that for a Memorial Day?

Anyway, despite the fact that many who work at the Capitol here in Springfield will be at work tomorrow (actually, now today), I hope that all of you have a great Memorial Day, and are able to reflect on the meaning of this day. God bless all of our current and former military personnel!