Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

Veterans Day 2020

11/10/2020

19 Comments

 
Picture
Today is Veterans Day, and to all the veterans, I extend a heartfelt thank you for your service. Though I did not serve, my dad, my husband, my brother, and many cousins served or are currently serving in the military.

During WWII, my mom and her twin joined thousands of other young women to work as a Rosie the Riveter. It was the “patriotic thing to do,” my mom explained.


This day, this week is always emotional for me. The friends who did not return and the friends who still carry the weight of war, bring me to a place of sorrow and yet profound gratitude. I wish I could repair the hearts of mourners, the minds of the traumatized, the bodies of the broken. But, I can’t. I can only honor their courage and their efforts by how I live.

When our National Anthem is played, my thoughts are focused on the courageous masses who have offered me the gift of freedom. For them I stand, for them I sing. The hope, the dream is liberty and justice for all. It is a weighty dream, but collectively, there is the possibility that it can become a reality.  
​

19 Comments
Joan Hall link
11/11/2020 04:34:20

Beautiful tribute, Gwen. I'm grateful for all those who have served and are serving.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 10:53:40

Thank you, Joan. I share your gratitude.

Reply
Kathleen Pooler link
11/11/2020 05:09:08

Thank you for this beautiful tribute to our veterans, Gwen. My father served in the Navy during WWIi and lived out his love of God, family and country his whole life. Today I honor his memory and all veterans who have served our great country.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 10:54:22

God bless them all. Thank you, Kathy.

Reply
Staci Troilo link
11/11/2020 05:45:27

Lovely tribute, Gwen.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 10:54:48

Thank you, Staci.

Reply
Jill Weatherholt link
11/11/2020 05:57:03

Thank you for this beautiful tribute, Gwen. I'm thankful for our veterans, both past and present. xo

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 10:56:05

Thank you, Jill. I'm with you in honoring our vets - past and present. 💗

Reply
Marcia Meara link
11/11/2020 07:04:51

Beautifully said, Gwen! I feel exactly as you do, and am thankful every day for the courage of those who have served and are serving now, to keep our country free and protect all that is best about America.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 10:56:51

Thank you, Marcia. Big hugs...

Reply
John Howell link
11/11/2020 07:09:55

Terrific post, Gwen. We have a great debt to our Veterans. You expressed that so well.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 10:57:31

Thank you, John. We've much to be grateful for...

Reply
Frank link
11/11/2020 07:13:08

Excellent reminder to all about veterans. Although my grandfather was a WWI vet and my father in WW II, I didn't realize until much later the meaning of their service.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 11:01:15

Thank you, Frank. I worked with vets in California, at a small college near a base. It was then that I developed a deeper understanding of their sacrifice.

Reply
Jan Sikes
11/11/2020 09:28:34

A beautiful tribute to our Veterans, Gwen. Thank you!

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/11/2020 11:01:41

Thank you, dear Jan.

Reply
Vashti Q link
11/12/2020 11:38:37

A beautiful post dedicated to our veterans, Gwen. That video was powerful and heartwarming. Thank you.

Reply
Gwen M Plano
11/13/2020 08:03:42

Thank you so much, dear Vashti. I video had quite an impact on me as well. 💜

Reply
GP Cox link
11/15/2020 05:10:56

We would not have the life we enjoy today without them. Beautiful post, Gwen.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama