REMEMBRANCE Picture taken from http://grunt.space.swri.edu/thepast.htm Sorry folks no Thursday Thirteen today. I did have one - 13 things that you will hear out of my kids mouths at any time, will post next week. Something has happened this week and I feel that it is important that I post about it. This is something that is really bothering me... Monday, after I get to Pulaski, I go to Sonic and get some lunch. I am ordering my lunch and see this man, around the age of 65 - 70 who appears to be homeless, walks in front of my car and over to the outside table and sit down. One of the girls that works there came out, called him by name and said something that I couldn't hear and he responded. Next thing I know she is bringing him a coke out. He shuffles through his pocket and hands her some change. A few minutes later another girls comes out with my food. I ask her... "Is that man sitting there homeless?'' "No", she replies. "Does he have money for food", I ask She says, "We give him food and sometimes people will give money and we put it in a box in there for him." So I hand her some money for his food fund. It wasn't much as I didn't have much cash on me but it would buy at least a couple meals. I've had this man on my mind all week... TODAY.... I go BACK to Sonic for lunch and there he sits again. Today, he is eating what appears to be a hamburger some fries and a coke. I order my food. The girl, who appears to be no older than 19 or 20, brings me my food and I ask again about him.... She tells me that he lives in a Veterans Group Home here in Pulaski. She tells me that his name is Eugene and that he is a very sweet man but when he came back from the war that he was really messed up. I ask her from what war but she didn't know. I thank her for the information and give her some more money and told her to put it in his food fund. She said that she would and gave me a very nice thank you. As I drive away I'm thinking that it had to have been the Vietnam war. That was the only war that this gentleman could have possibly been in because of his apparent age. Once I get back to the plant, I e-mail friend SARGE CHARLIE because I know he will be able to tell me. He e-mails me back and says - "Yes, there is a lot of Vietnam Vets that live under bridges, drug addicts or drunks, he would be the right age. Homeless vets is a big problem, some of us had the support to get through it, others did not." Ok y'all this really bothers me. We have veterans who have bravely served our country that do not or did not get they help they needed when they came back. Therefore they are having to live like this - under bridges, homeless shelters or group homes. Let's get real folks... animals are treated better than this. I know that I'm just one person and that there is really nothing that I can do. But if we all worked together maybe - just maybe it could make a difference. I guess you can call me a softie if you want, I don't care ... but it truly breaks my heart ... it truly bothers me to know that there are people out there who do not know where their next meal is going to come from or where they will lay their head that night. Finally from the same website as I found the picture posted is a poem What is a Nam Vet? Guy L. Jones (110801) Co A & Hq,43d Signal Bn, Pleiku Vietnam 68-69. He is a man who once was a boy who loved to joke and play with his buddies. He is a man who once never believed in fear or death. He is a man who in one day learns that fear was real. He is a man who grew up very fast in a world of real life death and not the games you play as a kid when you play cops and robbers. He is a man who learns to cry when fear over took him. He is a man who learns to have faith in his buddies to help him survive in battle. He is a man who came home to hate and scorn from his friends. He is a man who now must live with the demons of his past. He is a man who must now live in a world of life, love and pain. He is a man who must deal with his wounds that he brought home from a war far from home. He is a man who must stand sometimes alone but always with the love and faith of his family and those who have been there also. What is a Nam Vet he is a man who still can stand tall in his heart and who still believes in his country.