SonofaBITCH

[pecunium]

I was walking with Justin (skeetermonkey's son) this morning.

It was a beautiful say, scattered clouds, perfect temps, flowers and the trill of birds. A baby in the sling on my chest and a cool breeze to keep me from overheating.

As I was walking I saw a house with a Marine Corps flag. I like the Corps (my father was in it, and for a while, when he was in the reserves, he was the senior PFC for the entire USMC). I don't mind that the flag was faded; lots of Marines are a little shopworn too.

Then I saw the storm flag, and the little flag above it; the sort one spends hours placing at headstones on Memorial Day. The storm flag was a little faded too. I thought about going up and leaving a note on the door, about seeing to it the flag flying over the porch ought to be servicable and this one was coming close to needing replacement.

Then I saw the flag in the window.

A simple rectangle, white with a red border and a Gold Star.

Comments

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

*nods*
glad you didn't leave a note, I take it.
*sigh*

wish USA didn't make quite so many Gold Star moms.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Once I saw the name, there was no way I was going to leave a note.

I may take them a new flag, but a note... No Fucking Way.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

Damn damn damn.

There's a house we pass on our trips to the coast I always check to make sure none of the stars in the window have gone gold. Not because I know them but because, damn it, someone should notice.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

If you decide to take them a flag, I'd be pleased to help with the cost. Might also be a good idea to get a new Corps flag for them.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

i like the idea of you taking them a new flag.
that idea wins.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Oh. Oh, that's terribly sad.

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

It is the glory of any nation that their sons and daughters are prepared to sacrifice themselves in the interests of the nation.

It is the duty of the nation's rulers to ensure that such a sacrifice is only as an absolute last resort.

What is our duty, we who are neither warriors at the time or politicians? Now that is a question we all need to ask ourselves. Are we doing our duty?

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, knowing the code signals is a hard thing.

[ckd]

I saw that last paragraph coming, and it was like seeing a truck barrelling towards your stalled car...knowing what's coming doesn't blunt the impact one bit.

There are no blue stars in the windows at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, nor at the Vice President's residence. The stars that aren't there will never turn gold.

Dammit.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I didn't see any way (in print) to not have that telegraphed.

When telling it, there were ways to keep that from being quite so obvious, but writing it down... that means there is some narrative arc (else why bother?), and there was only one place for it to go.

In life, of course, there was no such foreshadowing.

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

Like ckd I saw it coming a mile off.

In no way lessened the impact.

One blue, soon (July) to be two.

I hope with all my being they stay that colour.

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

Ladies and gentlemen,

To absent comrades!

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

Absent comrades!

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

My older son is going to DC in a couple weeks. He asked me if "we" (though of course he meant me, as he is only 25) knew anyone killed in the Vietnam War, because he is going to visit the Wall.

Oh, yes, I told him, and gave him the names.

[firedrake-mor.livejournal.com]

My fiancee spent her high school years writing to service members in Vietnam. Her first husband turned out to be one of them. She still is very patriotic, though she's relieved none of her three children have been accepted by the military (one son is blind in one eye, and the other has seizures; the daughter may yet enter the Navy -- once she graduates from college with her double bachelors degree -- Chemistry and Math).

We have friends with blue stars in the window, and pray regularly for their son and son-in-law. Luckily so far, we've not had to attend any funerals for the tight Catholic church and school community her kids grew up in.

My family's already given of itself in great score -- I'm named after two uncles killed at Midway; my father met my mother when he visited the home of his best friend (one of said uncles) to pay respect to his parents on his passing. My mother's youngest brother was killed in a Navy reserve flight. One great-great-etc. uncle died as a prisoner of the Yankees in the Civil War. Oh, yes -- we've been there.

I salute those currently in service, and the families who wait anxiously for their return; I honor those who've given their all, and those who must "soldier on" without them.

Thank you for the article -- my fiancee lives in Monrovia, just over from Sierra Madre.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I know Monrovia. This was (despite the location of the paper with the article) in Pasadena, but Maia's family is in Arcadia, I used to work in Monrovia, and lots of time is spent in/around SM, Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte.

[tenderberry.livejournal.com]

I ache that armed conflict is still used - we lose too many possibilities - and yes - I think taking them new flags would be a very kind and caring gesture to honor their contribution and loss -