STILL MAKES ME CRY & CRY & CRY Happy Father's Day Dad

[BigBearJohn]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1447836&mesg_id=1447836

[dubeskin]

1. Wow!

Thanks for posting my topic!

[BigBearJohn]

2. It is *I* who should be thanking you!!! from the bottom of my heart!

[OneBlueSky]

3. we must start talking about PEACE . . . as an antidote to war . . .

in the 21st century, weapons are SO destructive that we have no choice . . .

either we (the world) will embrace Peace as our foreign relations standard -- OR we will all perish . . .

let us lead the way . . .

[Billy Burnett]

4. How do we communicate this to the young generation?

I am at a complete loss as to how we do it in an effective way.

[BigBearJohn]

8. It starts with love

[havocmom]

9. Went to Nam Jam in Tucson one year, with a vet friend.

Wanted to watch people and try to understand some things for a piece I was writing at the time.

Music was great. Festival. Lots of guys my age who were in Nam. Some there alone. Some with younger wives and little kids, second families. A few with contemporaries and grown kids.

There was a Huey there. When the crew from DM Air Force Base cranked that up to take off, people-watching really got interesting. My friend looked at the big lumbering machine with the distinctive rotor sound and his face changed. He knew my purpose for the day was to study emotions of people. He choked back something and said, "That's the sound that takes you to your death. If not today, then the next, or the next... Now, look at the people NOW!"

And I saw them, all the men of a certain age range, heads down, shoulders pulled up. Many had hands shoved firmly in their pockets. All were walking away...

The young men at the busy festival... most were running to that damned machine.
They smiled wildly, eyes wide, like kids on Christmas morning. Most were running to that damned machine as it lifted slowly.

I kept looking. The whole mood had changed. There was not unity anymore. There was a split. Young/older. There was one small group, I had been watching them all day. They stuck out even more as that chopper headed to the base.

There were young men, of a certain age range, and they were haunted by a need. We watched as they drifted through the crowd, looking at the vets we were there to celebrate. They looked at each face in passing. I could hear their unspoken questions... Did you know my dad? What was he like? Did he save you? Was he alone and scared? Were you there? Did you know my dad?

It wasn't what I had come to learn, that the young ran to the danger while the older, sadder men walked slowly away, alone with the past in their hearts. But after seeing those young men seeking a way to reach their fathers, my friend decided I had had enough and needed to call it a day.

I went to try and learn something about the warrior. Instead, I just added to my knowledge about the price of the war. Those young men all haunt me, especially on the third Sunday of every June. I hope their dads all know they miss them. Maybe the shades allow some love through. Let's hope.

[Mnemosyne]

5. Me too BBJ, me too.

:hug:

And have a beautiful Father's Day!:hug:

[BigBearJohn]

6. Thanks doll! Kiss kiss! and a BIG BEAR JOHN Hug!!!

[Mnemosyne]

7. Thanks for that hug! I needed it!

Hope it's been a great day for you.:hug::hi: