Today we sent my Daddy off on his dream adventure. He bought a Harley for Christmas and is now riding it with hundreds of fellow veterans to Washington D.C. It was wonderful being there for the big send off. The motorcyclists rolled in to the Jefferson Barracks VA Hospital this morning. Me, my Mom, my sister, and our 4 daughters were there to support Dad. We met lots of sweet folks. I was surprised that there weren't many children there. Maybe two other families had grandchildren there to see their Pa Pas off. The veterans were so sweet and generous with our girls. They posed for pictures and gave them pins and flags.
It is always upsetting to see how veterans have and continue to suffer. I think it is awesome that the bikers make a point of stopping off at VA Hospitals to spend time with other veterans. Some were stuck inside the hospital, but a lot of patients came outside. I guess seeing people suffering is hard no matter what the circumstances are. If you go to a regular hospital you have a huge mix of people, but at the Veteran's Hospital, they all have one unifying thing in common-they have served our country.
It just makes me think of our latest batch of veterans and the war they are fighting. I feel so bad for them and their families. The pain and heartache they will go through the rest of their lives just dealing with what they were a part of and witnessed. My own Dad was an alcoholic the first 20 years of my life. He still can't talk about Vietnam. It is an official closed subject. I hope the men and women who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan will have the support they need to live better, healthier lives than the veterans of the past. Here is to hoping for something better.
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