A Strange Night

Last night I received an E-mail from my brother with a link to Youtube regarding the Vietnam Moving Wall coming to Omaha. I played that short video a couple of times with tears in my eyes. I then went up stairs and channel surfed and came accross a program following a pilot in the Air Force coming back to the states to meet the family of a service member that died in Afganistan. The pilot was the last person to speak with him before he was killed. He wanted to meet the family and tell them what a Hero their son was. When the pilot got back in the states he first stopped to Salute and pay his respects at the Airmans grave. He then walked the last mile meeting up with two of the Airmans Friends who were also in the service. He reached the home of the dead soldier and through tears spoke to his parents. He and the parents were crying, and huge tears were falling from the fathers eyes. He then gave them a flag which was hoisted on a flag pole. Later the mother stated just how difficult the last four months had been and just how much it meant to her family that the pilot had come and paid his respects. The show ended with a number of photo's of this 19 year old soldier who loved and gave his live for his Country.

I was crying and felt such sorrow for this young mans family. And it also brought such sadness to me for those who died in Vietnam so many years ago. Those young Vietnam GIs fought and died for their Country, but a Country that didn't really seem to care. And I again, as so many times in my life. apologized to them that I am living and that they had died.

I went to bed shortly after the program and layed in bed praying for our Veterans and those who have died in the war. However, I seemed to fall into a fast and hard sleep. With this sleep came a dream with me being back in the Army surrounded by my fellow GIs. It brought me such peace and comfort to be surrounded by them and speaking with them.  This dream seemed to fill my entire night and as I finally began to wake up I found myself fighting to remain asleep and stay with them. Unfortunately that was not to happen and I was soon awake, lying in bed, trying to remember every detail of that dream and what we spoke about.

It seems that from time to time when things seem so sad and unbearable I have one of these dreams where my brothers are there for me and I'm longing to be with them. As I think about these dreams I wonder if they were a dream or real. I guess all I  know is that I spent time with them and am thankful for that.

Well it's time to hit the sack. Good night my brothers.