Veteran’s Day 2010

(I wrote this last year after Veteran’s Day with my father.)

Today we celebrated Veteran’s Day. All day long I reveled in the memories of the veterans who have touched my life. Being a veteran myself, having but a very minor role in the defense of our country, while ensconced safely behind a bank of computers, while so many of our brothers in uniform were making the ultimate sacrifice in Southeast Asia, I am deeply touched by the many expressions of gratitude shown by people from all over the world.

The Veteran who has meant the most in my life is my precious father, Jim Butler. He served unwaveringly in WWII and in Korea. He left his young bride, my amazing mother, at home alone to take up the cause in the Pacific theater. In the years to follow, he was called upon to leave her again and again, once when my older sister was but a day old, and then again later when I was an infant. I was hardly more than a toddler but I remember well the day Daddy’s ship pulled into port in San Diego for what would be for him, the last time. The docks were flooded with wives and children waiting for their loved ones to come down that gangplank. I looked up at the sea of sailors standing at the rail of the ship and all of a sudden, there he was….MY DADDY.

Daddy had served 11 years in the Navy and had sustained an injury aboard ship which the doctors kept insisting needed surgery after surgery. As his re-enlistment date neared, he made the decision that it was enough. He came down that gangplank in San Diego and swept my mom, my sister and me up into his strong arms all at once. It is a memory that is indelibly etched in my mind.

Daddy is now 89 years old. He is blind and suffers from the usual maladies of old age, but he is still the strongest man I know.

Today he donned his old Navy uniform, which still fits him like a glove, and went to Applebee’s, one of the many restaurants which were honoring our veterans with a complimentary meal. As he entered the door of the restaurant, everyone in the place rose in a standing ovation for the old sailor. My heart almost burst with pride and the grin on Daddy’s face was priceless.

After being seated, the manager of the establishment approached and asked if she could have her picture taken with him. He playfully asked her what time she got off work, which prompted a jocular reproach from Mom.

As we were leaving, the entire staff of the restaurant exited into the parking lot to have a picture taken with Daddy. It was indeed a glorious day. To see the pride and happiness on Daddy’s face as he realized that even all these years later, his service had been appreciated, was priceless.
And so now I have these two wonderful memories of my favorite veteran: my daddy coming home from the war, and the world recognizing him for his service.

To all the veterans in the world, and to those who have given their lives in defense of our country, I salute you.