They do this every year my beautiful town
put up flags and the names of honored soldiers
with which war they were in.  

These were hometown men who gave their
lives for our country.  Sitting on a bench looking 
out over the sea of crosses and flags, I think of 
my father and my father in law, my brother, 
my uncle, my cousin, my brother in law, 
my husband and my friends who have served or are currently serving in some fashion.  There is something honorable in these people who choose to give up freedoms we take for granted.  

As the wind picks up and the flags unfurl, my heart floods with love in memoriam for those that served in US military.  Those who have died and those who've come back to heal from their wounds.  

May we honor your wartime sacrifices by working harder for peace.