He was awarded many medals for his heroism in WWII. The one that had slipped through the cracks was one he received last week for dragging two of his buddies out of harms way and then being injured himself while saving them.
When we went to his house after the ceremony, he said he didn't remember anything after the injury but awoke with a Purple Heart on his bed. He shared memories of how the room looked, a few people he remembered, his return to his unit, etc.
We asked about the picture they had of him up on the screen. He said it was of him reading the announcement of the bombing of Hiroshima.
This all happened 70 years ago.
He is now 89.
You do the math of how young he was when he lived through these times.
He went on from those young years to find success in the academic world as a Dean at University of Toledo.
But, he never let go of his humble roots nor did he use those humble roots as a reason to NOT succeed.
In actuality, those roots appear to have strengthened him so as to grow and blossom.
Why?
Why did Dr. Perry, Sergeant Perry, Uncle Dick 'make' it?
He is one of the last of what has been named the "Greatest Generation" . There is no way to listen to where they came from and how they plowed through and where they landed without being touched by it.
Oh, some of it is BECAUSE he is almost 90. That in and of itself is impressive.
But, it is more than that.
It is the 'staying power' that one sees.
There is such HOPE in that for those of us who come behind IF we choose to learn from these men/women who have fought the good fight...
...both in war and in life.
Today we honor (as well we should) those who have fought on the battlefield.
Uncle Dick got an award for that (as well he should).
Today I honor not only his fight in WWII but his fight in life because he lived 70 good full fruitful years AFTER that...
...and not many people get medals for all that living...
...but they should.
So, today, I add a thank you to veterans of LIFE who 'made it through' and 'stayed the course'...
....and give me hope for MY years to come.
We BEHIND the 'greatest generation' might well take note at what has been left to us...
...and pay close attention to what WE are leaving for those who follow.
Will they WANT to learn from us? Will they have caught a glimpse of Grace?
Will they feel HOPE?
A few lines from a Susan Osborn song that I often use say it:
I'm making my shoulders strong
For the young to stand upon,
Stepping lightly on the backs of those
Who hold me up.
Thank you, Uncle Dick...
....and ALL who went before us and upon whose backs we stood and WERE held up.
To those who come behind, while I have life left in me, I shall continue to try to make my shoulders...and my heart....strong...
....so that you, too, might glimpse Grace and feel HOPE!
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