on Veteran's Day

My dad lied about his age to join the Marines when he was 17. To get away from my Grandmother, the story goes. It was only when he was dying and beginning to catch up on the stories of his life that he talked much about it, and those stories are overshadowed in my memory by the cancer. After he died, I sent for his records. He was in Korea, just after the war ended. He went AWOL once for a few days. I know he told me that story, he went home for some reason, but I can't remember why now. It's really hard to imagine my dad as a Marine, or rather as that kid who wanted to leave home and chose the Marines as a way to do so. If there is a Marine "type" my dad as I knew him didn't fit the mold, but he earned that veteran status. They sent me a flag when he died.

Our most famous family member, and the man who will always remind me that one person can make a difference, is my Great Uncle Roger. Most people know him as Roger Durbin, the man behind the WWII Memorial. Even without his bit of fame, Uncle Roger was one of my favorite family members. He had been a black sheep in his day too, and knew what I was going through back in my wilder days. I acquired my love of politics from him and my dad. I missed them both during the past election.

For years, the Memorial was his obsession. I can remember the first time he brought it up, insisting there would be a memorial in Washington one day, even though no one backed his dream at that time at all. I hope the look on my face didn't reflect what I was thinking, "If they haven't built one by now, one crazy old man from Berkey Ohio isn't going to make them." Over the years, he never gave up. He brought out the scrapbooks of the letters he wrote every chance he could, made many trips to Washington, my Aunt Marian along in her red suit. Eventually he was able to hang a drawing of the design on his wall, and you can go there today and see how it all worked out. Who wouldn't be proud to be related to him? I would have never believed it would be possible he would die before it was finished, but he did. At his funeral, one of the cousins read a letter from Bob Dole. His son and grandchildren received condolence letters from President Clinton, among others.

And now the combat veterans are my daughters' friends. Another aspect of life passed on over time.

Is the correct phrase "Happy Veteran's Day?" Seems unlikely, but either way, Dad and Uncle Roger, I'm thinking of you.