In one of my earlier blogs I talked about my grandfather or "Poppy" as I know him! This weekend I had the opportunity to once again celebrate this special man! Not just this man but several men. This weekend was my grandfather's WWII Army reunion which was once again held in Cookeville by our family. We had the privilege of spending three full days with these men and their families as we all visited. It has not just become about these men but also about the families of these men. Some that have already lost loved ones still come to get together with special friends they have made over the years. As I was talking with Ms. Agnes this weekend she said that they started attending the reunions in the 1950's...wow! Ms. Agnes said that this was their vacation every year and they always planned their vacations around when the Army reunion would take place. I am so thankful and feel very blessed that I have been able to be a part of this special time for the last few years. I am also very thankful that Lord willing we will again host it in Cookeville next August. There are only a handful of these men left and we only had three of the veterans out of my grandfather's unit there this year with one not able to attend because of a family sickness at the last minute. We still had around 40 people there who were family of these men or family of ones that had passed on there to celebrate and enjoy this special time. They lost three men this year which has taken its toll on all of them. I know that everyone leaves the weekend with a heavy heart because they are all in their 90's and they all realize that next year there is always fewer and fewer able to be there. What a life they have had and what a blessing it is to celebrate them!
This is a poem I wrote for one of the first reunions I was able to attend. I wrote it at the same time that I wrote the one for my grandparents 60th anniversary (in 2002)...they kind of parallel each other...so I wanted to share.
These Men
Sixty years have come and gone
But the lives of these men
Have changed us all.
They fought for our country
With all that they had.
Some lost their lives
Who did not understand.
Each year they come together
With family and friends.
To remember the times
They spent with armed hands.
They tell stories of each other
And of friends lost.
The laughter of men
Who know life comes with a cost.
So few left of so many.
Some day they will all be gone.
Their stories will live on
In their families.
Their lives in the hearts
Of us all.
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