Memorial Day – Pathway Journey

Memorial Day is distinguished from Veteran’s Day. We honor all veterans, living and dead. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for the ultimate sacrifice of one’s life. From what I have read, there have been over 1.1 million Americans who have died during wartime. Some from combat and others from disease.

My 4th-great-grandfather, Shadrack Whitt died at Valley Forge from disease (mostly likely smallpox). He was buried in a mass grave in May of 1778. He left behind a widow with two small boys, one was William Whitt, my 3rd-great-grandfather. Who knows the great sacrifice my long-ago grandmother and her sons endured after his death?

There was a great sacrifice of those who died in war. We honor them. There is also a continual sacrifice of the families that remain. The warriors fought and died. Their families weep and continue to grieve.

I married into the Stanley family in 1977. Robert Houston and Annie Sue Stanley blessed me with their daughter Jennie as my forever wife. They warmly embraced me as their son. This family was a Gold Star Family. By marriage covenant and love, I joined their ranks.

My father, T. V. Whitt was on Okinawa when the Japanese surrendered to end World War II in 1945. I heard him recount with tears that when he left the island headed for home, he looked at the graves of the fallen and thought, “I am headed home to my two little children, but these will not be going home to their little children.”

He came home and continued his family to add three more kids and live to within seven days of the age of ninety. The moment was not lost on him of the great sacrifice given by the dead soldiers, marines, and sailors.

The victories of life afforded our children are won by tears (pain and suffering), sweat (labor and toil), and blood (the sacrifice of injury and ultimately of life).

Category: Memorial Day

Lasting Sacrifice Lingers on this Memorial Day

Blood, Sweat, and Tears (Memorial Day)