AMY CLARK: A Veterans Day story

When I was in the eighth grade, we were given a special assignment in November to write a letter to a veteran. I had no idea to whom my letter would be sent, but I remember taking the project very seriously. I had many veterans in my family, and had been taught the importance of military service from a young age. Hearing their stories and looking at their pictures filled me with a sense of solemn duty and pride in my country.

Here is my letter … and the surprise follow-up that came nearly a decade later.
Wherever I have gone in my life, these letters have never been far from me.

They serve not just as a nostalgic momento of childhood idealism, but as a reminder that courage in this life takes on many forms. To know that so many have been willing to risk their lives for the freedom of others should be an inspiration to us all. My fervent prayer remains today, as it was when I was 13, is to live a life of courage worthy of the great sacrifices made for me — made for all of us — by our savior and by our American veterans.

Greater love hath no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. To all servicemen and women — past, present and future: I honor and salute you.

Happy Veterans Day.
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November 9, 1988
Dear Sir:
I would like to express my appreciation for your service. Without you, our country would be lost. I have tried many times to put myself in your shoes, but I just cannot. I cannot even imagine what you went through serving in a war. I know I will never be drafted because I am girl. I am relieved I will never have to take part in a war. I would be very willing to, but I am afraid I am not very courageous. If a war ever came (and I pray it won’t) I would help in some other way. My brother attends the U.S. Naval Academy and I am very proud of him. At least I know he won’t be drafted. He would probably be an officer on a ship. I worry about him and wonder about what would happen if a war came. He is very brave and strong and I know he would defend the country well. I would just like to thank you for risking your life for this country: Without men like you, my generation would have a dim future. Thanks to all that served in the wars, America is a strong nation. Wherever you are, thank you very much.
Sincerely,
 Amy
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April 5, 1995
Dearest Amy,
On November 9, 1988 you wrote a letter intended for some War Veteran in the VA Hospital in Lancaster. My late husband was the recipient of that letter. It was his intentions to answer, however, other things got in the way. His health deteriorated slowly away until on November 23, 1989 he met his Lord.
Now here it is some years later, I am cleaning out some boxes of stored things and I find your letter. I wish to thank you for your interest in thanking those that have in some way preserved our Nation for us. Ralph was some eleven years older than I, therefore he was in the service while I was just a girl about your age. He never talked much about the war, only the Island he was on, the trees, fruit, and way of life. He learned many things to do with his mind and hands. He had an exceptional memory, I regret only that I didn’t capture some of his knowledge in some way. Perhaps I did, his only child, a daughter now lives in Lancaster…
Amy, by now your brother has made some mark in this world and I sincerely hope that is what he truly wanted to do with his life. You, by now should be very close to working on your life. You may be at a point in your life to make decisions. What ever they may be, make them with your heart and be true. Life is not a bowl of roses without thorns, but we can make it a little better, because we try to soften the thorns.
Amy, most likely you are right, you may never take part in a war, but you have courage, never think for a moment that you don’t. Courage is found in everyday life, when we are called upon.
May God Bless and keep you. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. Our paths may never meet, but you have reached out and touched someone.
Sincerely,
 Janie (wife of Ralph, a Navy man of World War II)

**For the record, my brother did go on to serve in the war in Iraq. And he served bravely, as I always knew he would. The pride I felt flying a service banner in his honor is one that is unparalleled in my life. He came home safely to us, and it is to him that I dedicate this column.