Memorial Day

Memorial Day.....it means so much to so many. My grandfather, my husband, & my brother have all been in the military. None have seen action. For that I am thankful. For those that have.....I AM THANKFUL!!! So many have given their lives for what we believe in. To those families, I am so sorry for your loss, but celebrate the bravery & honor that your loved ones possessed. Below is something my husband wrote several years ago in honor of Memorial Day. I hope you enjoy.


IN REMEMBRANCE


I began to meditate on the meaning of Memorial Day which will be remembered soon. The date may appear to some as just another day on the calendar; however, the significance of this day is contained in the sacrifices made by the men and women of this nation. The tombstones of American military service personnel scattered throughout the world stand as silent witnesses to this fact. This letter is dedicated to those both dead and alive. Your display of character, courage, and heroism on behalf of your country is unparalleled and second to none.

Although the years have gone by and time may cloud the focus of your deeds, I am compelled to read about and remember the places you have served. There were many theaters of war, but a few particularly stand out in my mind. “Bloody Ridge” on an island named Guadalcanal where 1600 men were lost. Iwo Jima, that after 26 days of heavy fighting, the enemy was overcome at a loss of 6800 dead. Anzio, with a German victory at hand, the weather cleared and the tide of battle was reversed. These scenes would be repeated again and again at Omaha Beach, Cassino, and a conflict called “The Battle of the Bulge”.

Korea, a small frozen country, may be forgotten by some, but not by me. I have read with amazement, the accounts of places like Inchon. After 40 days of hand to hand combat, your spirit could not be broken. At Chosin Reservoir, outnumbered 8 to 1 in subzero temperatures, you fought your way out of the trap set by the enemy. Finally, at Heartbreak Ridge and Pork Chop Hill, you refused to be overrun by an experienced army. The war may be forgotten, but you are not. You were very young and green; however, you became a force to be reckoned with as the conflict continued.

The places you have gone are numerous. I watched with tears in my eyes at the horror that Vietnam had become. Young men doing their jobs at places like the Ia Drang Valley, Hue, during the TET Offensive, and Khe Sanh during the enemy’s 70 day siege.

I have read and heard the complaints and charges made against you. They are untrue. You are American and you are mine. If it were possible to change the way in which you were treated when you came home, I would do it. You have a special place in my heart.

There have been and will be other places that you will be sent to serve. It would be wise for all Americans to reflect on this day and give thanks for those that have gone on behalf of this nation. Personally, I cannot begin to thank you and your families for the sacrifices you have made. The freedom that I enjoy today is a direct result of what you did yesterday. You are not forgotten and with a great love for you, I say “THANK YOU”!

Herb Gossett – MM1(SS)

DEVASTATION

Good Friday was not so good for my family. We had to go check out the damage that a fire caused at my dad's farm the night before......he is devastated!

Although he didn't live on the farm, my grandparents house was there & the barn that my grandpa had built was there. They are both now gone. Totally gutted!! Nothing salvageable.

The good news is that all of the cattle are safe!! A neighbor was able to get them to a different pasture. The water pump was burned so my dad will have to find another water source for them ASAP. The gates, corrals, cattle chute were all saved!! Another good piece of news! There is one line of fencing that will need to be replaced, but my dad had planned on doing that anyway. So all in all, God was good! No one was hurt!! But the pain of seeing my grandparents hard work in ashes will stay with us for a long time!

Here is my Dad, my son, Jeremy, my brother-in-law, Gid, & my cousin, Tyler making sure the cattle had something to eat.

It was so weird! The cab of the tractor was totally destroyed, but the John Deere green paint wasn't touched!

They are looking for hot spots. There were a few that they had to put out.

My son, Jeremy, sitting on the steps of the house. I have a picture of him & his brother & cousin sitting on this porch when they were little.

This is a miracle!! My grandpa's faithful companion, Sam (a beautiful German Shepard) is buried under this stand of trees. If you'll look closely, it was not touched!! There is a ring around the trees where the fire stopped!

We are all sad for the loss of those possessions, but we are also thankful that God spared so much!

Mother

My Director's mother went to be with the Lord last night. She was 90 years old & had lived a full life. It was tough seeing a man that can make me laugh & turn around & make me want to quit my job, so subdued. My heart goes out to him & his family.

It has brought to mind the death of my own beautiful mother. She was only 39 when she went home to be with the Lord. I was 21 & with a baby. The devastation I felt at that time still hits me hard. She was the backbone of our family & her smile lit up the room when she walked in. Her singing could make Angels weep from the sheer beauty of her voice. I have felt my mother with me at times. It is so comforting to know that I can still feel her presence at times. But there have been times when I have felt her absence so keenly that it brought me to my knees. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her & wish for her guidance & to hear her sweet voice.

All of this to say that if you are still blessed with the presence of your mom, give her a hug & tell her how much you love her. You never know when it will be the last time.

Mom, I love you!

My Name is Karen & I'm a Food Addict!

It's true! I LOVE food! I love to cook it, look at it, & especially EAT IT! That is why I am in the
condition I am in today! BUT! I have joined Weight Watchers (WW) & the YMCA (Y) & Monday night when I weighed in, I had lost 5 lbs! You may be asking why I am telling you this....well, I figure that the more people I tell, the more reason I will have to be accountable!

But I do have to say that part of my weight problem was due to the fact that I was born into it! LOL! My sweet grandmother (Nanaw), on my mother's side, probably weighed 350 lbs. She made the BEST potato salad (see, food again)!! And she gave the best hugs! Now, on the other hand, my grandpa (Pa), was as thin as a rail! There is a children's rhyme that comes to mind when I think of those two. "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean." But, my Pa could play the harmonica like nobody's business! One of my favorite songs that he would play was "Shenendoah". He had a laugh that would put a smile on anyone's face!

So, anyway, that was a small intro to my family. I LOVE my family!