What We Leave Behind

Only one thing is certain in life, to quote Jim Morrison, "no one here gets out alive." As much as we would like to think we are invincible, we must come to grips with the fact that we will not live forever.  

The last two years have been tough on everyone. I have set more profiles to deceased than I care to count. Sadly, many of them have been almost empty. All they may have in them is their rank and service years. There is nothing in them that tells their family about what they did in the service. Where they went, who their friends were, their memories. All they become is a name on a leger.  

Like most people, they thought that "when I retire, I'll get around to it." "When things slow down, I'll complete it." "I'll do it tomorrow." Well, one day, your tomorrow never comes, and what will you have left for your family? 

A few months ago, I worked with a member and encouraged him to complete his page and do his Reflections. He sent me an email that says it best. 

"Again, THANKS for getting me to do what I should have worked on a year or so ago. I might not be able to finish my profile. 
 
Right kidney, urea tube, lymph node removed plus bladder re-sectioned (cancer). More may still have to be removed. 
 
PLEASE advise members to work on & finish their profile regardless of Time spent in service...be it six months or 30 years. 
 
Please don't let my note burden you. It is meant to get TWS MEMBERS to complete their Profiles. Life is fleeting & unpredictable."

I have had family members join us, hoping to find any information on their family members. Some are looking for photos they have never seen. Some are looking to talk to people who knew the relative they never got to know. Many of them were children of Vietnam Vets.  

Though you may not feel they would be interested, or that it is a hard story for you to tell, please tell it, for them, for your family and future generations. We have had so many sons, daughters, and grandchildren trying to learn of their loved one's military service, to know that part of them. It does not matter if you were in combat or not. You signed the dotted line; we all played our part to support our brothers and sisters. Your history is what your family wants to learn.  

We want to encourage you not to lose this part of your role in service to our country. Sign in today and complete your profile. Tell your story in Reflections on Service. If you currently have what we call "one-liners," a single sentence answer, please consider who you are writing this to. It's your voice, in your own words, to your family.

I know over the years, many of you have gotten back to me and told me that finally writing down your story was cathartic. It was like releasing the dragon that had been buried inside for so very long. It's okay; you're here among friends who understand. Your story may help someone else heal. 

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Do not leave your story untold.