Behind Each Name

There are 58,307 names on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial wall in Washington. Graven deep in black granite, each name represents a person who died doing his nation's will. Each name represents a story. Four of the names belong to sixteen-year-olds. Their stories ended way too eearly. Eight of the names belong to women, nurses charged with caring for the wounded. Their stories were also cut short. 508,307 names, 508307 lives, and 508,307 stories, all cut tragically cut short.

Vietnam was my war. I know the persons behind some of those names. Long ago, they touched my life and became part of my story and my story a small part of theirs. When I visit the wall, I find the names of those with whom I served. I find a name and say it aloud. If it is within reach, I touch it, reaching back to when our stories ran in parallel and were the same.

And then I tell the story to my wife, kids, grandkids or whoever is with me. I tell them about the person behind the name, who he was, how I know him, and what I know of his story. By doing this, I keep both their stories and mine alive. It is, for me, a very solemn and emotional experience.

Some pacific islanders believe a man lives as long as his name and story are remembered. My comrades and friends are kept alive by me saying their names and telling of their stories to others in hope they also will remember.

They were taken from us too soon. May their lives be celebrated in story and song.

To absent brothers!

What are you doing to keep the story alive?

Day of Remembering

Memorial Day is not about hamurgers.

Memorial Day is not about cookouts, picnics, or the unofficial beginning of summer.

I am a combat veteran. I am certain to be thanked for my service and welcomed home may times this week end. I will politely acknowledge the good wishes, but Memorial Day is not about me.

Memorial Day is a day of remembering. It's about holding in solemn remembrance the soldiers, sailors, airman, marines and coast guardsmen who gave thieir lives fighting for this nation. It's about remembering their names and faces -- Tim, and Mark, Dusty, Dexter, and Fred from my war. It's about remembering brothers, sisters, fathers, uncles and cousins who went to war and never returned. It's about remembering those interred in military cemeterys here and overses, those resting in quiet church yards, and whose resting places remain known only to God. Some have their names carved in stone. Others' names are lost to human memory. Yet we must remember.

We remember we owe them a debt. We owe it; we cannot pay it. How can those who live repay those who are not?

We pay our debt by remembering. Abraham Lincoln said it best in late 1864 in Gettysburg, PA when he urged that

"...from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation under God might have a new birth in freedom, that nation of the people, by the people and for the people should not perish from the earth."

This week end, remember those who died making our freedom possible. Thank them for that freedom. Then, enjoy your hamburger. Enjoy your picnic. Enjoy the time with your family.

Enjoy your liberty, for it cost much.

Remember, and give thanks.

Who and what will you remember this memorial day?

George Washington Remembered

We have all probably seen the image of General George Washington at Valley Forge, alone, kneeling in the snow in fervent prayer to his God. However, few of us are aware of the prayer he sent to the governors of the the states of the new nation he helped found. He wrote it 1783 while Commander and Chief of the Continental Army at his headquarters in Newburgh, New York. He sent it as a circular to the governors of the states of the new nation.

Today, as we remember George Washington on the anniversary of his birthday, it is fitting that we join in the words of his prayer. I have replaced words referring to the states with the words "The United States." Otherwise, the words and spellings are those of General George Washington of the Continental Army.

Shall we join him in prayer for the people of this nation?

"I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have the United States in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be please to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Devine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these thing, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.

Amen."

Well said, General.

Happy Presidents' Day!

How is That Working Out?

Three weeks ago we welcomed a new year. We welcomed it in hope. We welcomed it believing "This year, things will be better. This year, I will be different. This year, I will do different things. This year, I will do better things."

Some of us set goals. Some of us even considered actions to reach those goals. 

A lot of us purchased apps, notebooks, journals, day planners, goal planners and task lists to help us track progress to our goals. Some of us took the time to set them up. Some of us use and carry them every day. Some of us don't. And some of us have forgotten the purchase and leave our planners, journals, and lists lying neglected on a shelf or in a drawer.

So, how is all that working out for you? 

Where are you on the path to achieving your goals?

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Have you considered what the first step will be? For example, if you intend to get in shape, have you considered how to do it? You could, for example, join a gym, hire a personal trainer or design your own exercise routine.

Having identified a first action, have you taken it? Have you made the phone call, visited the gym or trainer, or done the research to design your own routine?

Having taken the first step, have you identified the next one? Have you allotted time to do it? If I were to look at your calendar, would I find time scheduled to do the research, visit the gym or trainer or perform your exercise routine?

Do your schedule and your actions support your intent? 

How are you doing keeping these appointments?

If so, you're moving toward your goal. Keep it up!

Or is your goal stuck in the realm of "things I intend to do"?

Intentions are great, but attaining a goal requires action.  It's easy to say "I want to lose weight", but losing weight takes actions like limiting food intake and increasing activity to make the loss happen.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions; the road to success is paved with actions, and therein lies the difficulty. Actions are not always easy. Actions can be be repetitious and boring. Taking action requires an act of will and altogether too often, it's easier to not act that than to act.

By not acting, we are saying in effect "Our goal is not worth achieving." We say to ourself "It would be nice to achieve this, but it's not worth the effort." And with that admission,  achieving our goal becomes as likely as winning the lottery.

Without action, we will continue doing what we've been doing and getting the results we've always gotten.

It is written "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." You've had the intention. You've set the goal. You've mapped out the actions you need to take to get there.

Are you tough enough to get get going and get there?

If you've taken the first step, are you tough enough to keep to the next step and the one after that all the way to the goal?

If you take action, you will move toward achievement. If you don't take action, it is certain you will not.

Are you tough enough to take action?

If you're taking action, how's that working out for you?

Inspiration and Guidance from Dr. King

Today, we celebrate the life and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader and soul of the civil rights movement in mid twentieth century America. More than a leader, Dr. King was a minister of the Gospel, an orator and inspiring speaker. He is probably best remembered for his "I Have a Dream" speech delivered on August 28 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. 

Even today, we are lifted up and inspired by the strength of Dr. King's dream, excerpts of which are below:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood. 

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. 

I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character... 

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places plains, the crooked places straight, and the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

It was, arguably, the most significant speech of his career, but to my mind, his most useful speech was made not to crowds in Washington, DC in 1963, but to the students of Barrett Junior High School in Philadelphia, PA on October 26, 1967, practical words of advice to all who have ears to hear them.

"What I'm saying to you this morning, my friends, even if it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, go out and sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures! 

Sweep streets like Handel and Beethoven composed music. 

Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. 

Sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, "Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well!"  

If you can't be a pine on the top of a hill, be a scrub in the valley, but be the best little scrub on the side of the rill.  

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.  

If you can't be a highway, just be a trail.  

If you can't be a sun, be a star.  

It isn't by size that you win or you fail; be the best at whatever that you are!"

In my life, my mother urged me to "Be the best you possible."

The Army challenged me to "Be all that you can be!"

My church preaches "Whatever you do in word and deed, do it with a whole heart, as to The Lord."

We are to seek excellence, to over deliver, to do above and beyond the minimum.

Aristotle is quoted as saying "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

Follow the words of Dr. King. In whatever it falls for you to do, be excellent.

Are you the best you can be?

Is excellence your habit?

Tree, scrub, highway, trail, sun or star, are you the best at whatever you are?

Why or why not?

2016: Looking Forward

"We know not of the future and cannot plan for it much."

          -- Josiah Chamberlain

Happy New Year! 

I wish you the best year ever! 

I love New Years wishes. I want them to come true. I want to end 2016 healthier, wealthier, and wiser than I ended 2015. 

I want to be a better husband, father, grandfather, and friend than I am now. I want to become a better and more consistent writer. I want to grow a more productive garden both at home and for others. I want to visit new places and have adventures with family and friends.  

Having goals is necessary but having a goal does nothing to get me where I want to be unless I take actions to make the goal happen. If I keep doing what I did 2015, I will keep getting the results I got in 2015. If I want 2016 to be my best year ever, I need to either do things differently, or do different things.  

• If I am to be healthier, I need to make it a habit to exercise regularly and watch what I eat and I need to put specific actions on my daily class list to make sure these actions get done every day. 

• If I am to be wealthier, I need plan actions to track spending and encourage savings and frugality.

• If I am to be wiser, I must dedicate time to reading and study.

• If I am to be a better friend, I need to do more things a friend would do.

• If I am to become a better and more consistent writer, I need to make writing and publishing a habit. I set aside time to write every day, and I need to publish on a schedule. 

• If I want a productive garden, I must prepare the soil, plant at appropriate times, water and weed. If so, I should be rewarded with a harvest.

• If I want to travel and enjoy adventures with family and friends, I need to do the research and make the arrangements. 

And I need to track my progress in accomplishing each task. 

Situations may change. Circumstances will almost certainly change. Goals established early in the year may become untenable. If so, I can and will adjust. But, if I translate my goals into every day doable actions, and track my progress doing of those actions, then 2016 can very well be the best year ever.

How about you?

What are your goals for the New Year?

What actions do you need to take, what habits do you need to establish to make your goals for 2016 happen?

2015: A Retrospective

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

-- Omar Kayyam

The Moving Finger has written. 2015 passes from us. 2016 takes its place. Tomorrow morning, we start learning to write 2016 on all of our checks.

Some will rejoice the passing of the old year. Others will rejoice at the coming of the new. Some will awaken and wonder what happened. Some will make resolutions to be thinner, better, or happier in the new year. Others will mourn the non-accomplishments of resolutions made in 2015. And for some, the change of year will make no difference.

For me, the passing of the old year is a time of reflection and assessment. The Moving Finger has written. The old year becomes part of the unchangeable past. What was accomplished? What events made it memorable? What do I want to do again and what is best left behind?

In 2015 I settled farther into retired life and decided retirement works for me. Since retiring, I have touched nothing about my former profession, but maintain contact with the people. Sometimes I miss the work. Always I miss the people. I never miss the commute. 

In 2015 I continued to learn to live within physical limitations imposed by pulmonary fibrosis. I am still learning. I'm learning I can still do most of the things I enjoy, only not as fast. I've learned that rather than blithely charging ahead, sometimes I need to stop, catch my breath, and enjoy the moment. I learned that sometimes I really do need supplemental oxygen, and to use it when needed.

I also learned the absolute necessity of maintaining aerobic fitness to slow progression of my disease and to maintain lung capacity. I walk a lot. Walking is pleasant. I enjoy watching changes of weather and season in the neighborhood. And I'm finding the enjoyable part of the walk is not necessarily the walk itself, but the things I see and the people and dogs I meet while walking.

2015 was a great year for gardening. The eggplants and peppers produced prolifically, as did the bush and pole beans. White potatoes were a disappointment, sweet potatoes a pleasant surprise. The charity garden also did well. I may be slow, but I will plant a garden when spring comes. Gardening is therapeutic, and you get vegetables.

2015 was not a good year for writing. I neglected this blog and made faint progress on my Vietnam memoir. Both remain goals. I hope to do better in 2016.

But mostly 2015 was about family, friends, and church, all of which are dear to me. It was about going places and doing things. It was about enjoying kids and grandkids and grand dogs. It was about eating together and laughing together and working together. It was about sharing a pizza, eating ice cream and celebrating a grand daughter's first birthday. It was about watching a grandson play baseball and remembering why I loved the game so much. It was about seeing all four kids and all but two grandkids over the recent holidays. And it was about so much more.

2015 was mostly good. 2016 promises to be better.

How was your 2015? What did the moving finger write for you?