I miss my youngest son incredibly, which would be an understatement of magnificent proportion. I always knew he would be one of two things once he was grown, either an automobile mechanic or a soldier.  From just about the time he could venture into the store with me and make demands as to which toy he wanted, it was either a car/truck or a toy soldier.  Even as a toddler he would sit with his matchbox cars and line them up with precision .... row after row. As he grew older the battle fields that took over the floor in his room and dresser tops were strategically planned and fought with sound effects and sometimes lighting.  Well ... call it mother's intuition but after he graduated high school, he attended Wyotech and graduated as a certified auto mechanic, and soon went to work as such. He was happy, but not content or fulfilled ... it was obvious. 

............. and so only one thing this mom knew would fulfill his ambitions ... to find his way to the armed forces.  Which he did and today he is a Marine and an aviation mechanic, specifically helicopters.  Much more beyond that I can not say, except he is to be deployed soon, to the sandbox. 

I wonder sometimes where this calling came from ... so obviously from the beginning of his life. I am proud of him, as I am others serving in the U.S. armed forces.

My pride does not however come without reflection and sadness, knowing that my father served in WWII(retired from Navy after 30 years), my husband in the Vietnam War and now my son in The War on Terror. 

Just a mother's thoughts in this crazy world ....

But in the meantime here is a slide show of last year's Veterans Day Parade in San Jose, CA.  It is long, but San Jose has an awesome parade ...... and if you want to feel the pangs of pride and gratitude watch it all the way through.  You truly won't regret in.  My husband in the last slide, you will know him because he is wearing a cap that says "My son is a U.S. Marine."
...... and if you want to share with me in offering thanks to our troops visit me my site Old Glory Parade:

http://oldgloryparade.jeannerenepoetry.com/

Enjoy the slide show!

Hum... Well, I couldn't seem to embed the slide show .... so the link above is to just the slide show.  You can also find it at Old Glory Parade.  If anyone can explain how to embed stuff here ... I'd appreciate it ....... :)