Remember the 'Gifts' Veterans Gave Us This Memorial Day: Letter

The following was submitted by Bloomingdale Borough Clerk Jane McCarthy. Have a letter you'd like to submit? Email it to daniel.hubbard@patch.com or eric.goodman@patch.com.

Dear Editor:

I’d like to share a portion of a letter I received from a Vietnam Soldier friend who wrote this about Memorial Day and remembering all those who we have lost and those who are still suffering. I think it is poignant to share with all in the hopes that “we never forget."

“When you have a life full of anniversaries - the memories can be joyful or painful. Some anniversaries begin with a ceremony, a joining, a birth and throughout life you can rejoice on that date every year.

For veterans and Gold Star families there are other anniversaries. These begin with a visit or a call. The day then becomes locked in as the eternal marker of before and after. Before your warrior died or after your warrior died.

Celebrations do not bring an extra chair to the table but rather an empty chair - empty from only but memories.

We trudge on through life and we remember - not forgetting is not the same as remembering. Remembering is active and not forgetting requires a prompt.

Along the way through our lives we try to contribute to make up for the loss of our warriors potential gifts to our world. All had a special talent or skill and forever that is lost to all but those who knew them.

... A marker, memorial or charity is not a substitute for a hug, a smile or a kiss but it's better than whatever is next. So we-they-us carry on."

Peace to you on this day and peace to those who love you and yours.

Tim DeWolf – 2013"

God Bless and Keep all our Veterans.

Jane McCarthy