How Do You Say 'Thank You'?

'Thank you' seems so inadequate.
Inappropriate.  Awkward, even.

How do you thank someone whose
child has died?  Thank them for

their loss?  For a pain none should
bear?  Ridiculous!  But if not for

them, their sons, their daughters,
we would not be free.  'Thank you'

might not be what I want to say,
but it's all I have.  THANK YOU. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gold Star Mother's Day

This sucks.  While other mothers get
flowers and phone calls on Mother's
Day, Gold Star Moms get tears.  This
Mother's Day is not a day to celebrate.

Nothing about it is happy.  It's a day to
give honor where it is due, to let them
know they and their Hero are not
forgotten.  Oh, what they would give to

hear their son's, their daughter's, voice
one more time, to hold them in their
arms and never ever let them go ... no
Mom should outlive their child.  Let's

hold them in our hearts and let them
know their service and sacrifice wasn't
in vain.  'Thank you' is not enough, but
it's all that I have.  That, and many tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't Know How You Do It

Don't know how you do it.  Don't
know how you put your feet on
the floor, drag yourselves through

the day.  Holidays must be hell.
You are much stronger than I
would ever be:  what keeps you

going?  Is it your Hero?  Is it ...
God?  What??    Know this:  your
service, your sacrifice, will not be

forgotten as long as there is breath
in my body.  'Thank you' is not 
enough ... it will never be enough.