There are wars————and there are wars.

I remember WWII:

…..Gabriel Heatter on the radio at noon and seven, with my daddy and granddaddy glued to his words.

…..my daddy’s whistle  ( intended for basketball refereeing ) hanging on a sconce in our living room for easy reach when the warning sounded and he had to go out in the night because of a possible enemy approach.  He was a civilian volunteer.

…..no chocolate, no sugar, very little gasoline.

…..paratroopers ( 2 or 3 ) from Camp Toccoa spending Christmas Day with my family at the Haley House.

…..PATRIOTISM :  one for all and all for one.

 

I remember Vietnam :

—–the draft.

—–my era , my high school and college friends who fought.

—–” Foggy ” Johnson , North Georgia College cadet and grad, killed during his 3rd duty in Vietnam.  Home on leave following his second tour there, he was stopped for speeding by a Georgia deputy.  ” Foggy ” responded with,  ” Hey, Man, I’m heading home.  Just back from fighting in Vietnam “.  Response,  ” Never heard of it ” and gave him a ticket.

……disrespect and dishonor toward our brave military.

 

I remember the Persian Gulf war :

…..a tree in the main office at Franklin County High School with the names of those grads who were serving.

…..the loss of two  ( or maybe more that we never knew about ).

…..the two memorial services that we had at the high school for these two, assuring that we would not forget.

…..the sense from faculty and staff that our kids never really ” got it ” because they had never known war.

And now :

…..no named war but fighting each other.

…..no ” one-for-all, all-for-one “.

…..no reaching out, no empathy.

Our country is at war.  Our country is fighting itself.  Our country is losing.

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