Veteran's Day, a time to remember

Dear Diary,

I just finished watching the Ken Burns highly acclaimed documentary, The Vietnam War.  It was a ten-part series of over 18 hours so it took a bit of time to get through but it was a stunning achievement.  It was a very difficult time in American history and I remember feeling very conflicted.  I opposed the war but my brother was fighting in it so I kept my thoughts to myself.

This is a photograph of my big brother at his going away party.  He was off to Officer's Candidate School around 1968.  He would become a first lieutenant and spend a year in Vietnam.  He looks so young here, it brings tears to my eyes.  He was one of the lucky ones to make it home relatively unscathed although I doubt any one who fights in a war is completely untouched by the experience.

His two sons would join the military as well and one is still in the Army, a colonel now in military intelligence.  I worry about him all the time with what is happening in the world.  My dad was in WWII, landing in Normandy and fighting right through until the end.  I am proud of all my family's contribution to our country and today we thank them and all who served or are serving for their service and sacrifice.