Happy Birthday USA

az, yesterday I went to a wedding at a cottage on a lake a few miles from my home. My 24 year old boy was the best man and I knew the groom and his family though my son.

After the ceremony I happened to strike up a conversation with one of the mothers of the boys who all hung out together. Although I should have, I didn't realize who she was. She bragged about her son exploits with my son and the group of boys who all went through school together and somewhere along the line I realized who this woman was and it was very sobering to say the least.

Now I'm a guy who has been around vets all my life. I'm a life member of the VFW and was an officer of the Elks for many years where I was active in veteran affairs. For once I was with out words and could feel the pain although she didn't express it. This woman who was so happy to be with her son's friends, although he could not attend. You see this woman is a Gold Star Mom and she will never see her son again. We all make decisions and take risks but these decisions have consequences to others. She is rightfully proud of him but she and her husband will carry the pain to their grave. I don't think that I said a whole lot during this conversation, there is nothing that I could have said that would relieve the pain. At the end of the night I went up to her and we embraced without a word but we both conveyed an understanding. This will never leave me. God Bless America and its fine youth. God Bless the parents of these youths who sometimes have to carry the burden.