A Letter to Home

Faded black and whites from years ago and a yellowed envelope waited patiently on the table as Great Aunt Katie talked with Seth, Micah, and I about the old days. She asked Seth if he knew what day today was.

"Um, Labor Day?" He guessed.

She cleared her throat in a disapproving harrumph. I squirmed. This year we hadn't chosen a soldier to honor as we have in the past and he had his holidays crossed.

So she told the story of her husband, Fred. As she spoke of when they met and how they lived, my mind drifted back to when I was his age hearing these same stories. Then I thought of the Uncle Fred I knew. He didn't talk much. Aunt Katie did that for him! But he gave great big "bear hugs" and could sit contentedly just being with a person. I remembered his farm and his kittens in the hay loft. I remember he was proud when I played all day up there without complaint while he worked. Hey, there were kittens. I could have stayed up there all week!

The crackle of paper brought me back to the sound of Aunt Katie's voice. She said she had a letter Uncle Fred had written from overseas. The front was labeled War and Navy Department

V-mail Service March 30, 1944, and this is what it said:

Dear Grandpa,

Just a few lines to let you know how sorry I am about Grandma passing away. I know what a shock that must have been for you. I guess we all have to go someday and it must have been her time. It will never be the same with her gone. That is the first death in our family so far, isn't it. We've been lucky.

Well, take good care of yourself and don't try to outwork the young men like you always try to do. Write when you can and give all the folks my regards.

Loads of Love From Your Grandson,

Fred

I tried to imagine Great Uncle Fred as a young man far, far away from the farm and all that was familiar. Aunt Katie said he never liked to speak about the war. Ever. That brought to mind all of the family members and friends who either have been, or are going overseas again. Thank you is all I can say. Thank you from the deepest part of our hearts. May God bless you, and keep you, and make his face shine upon you, and give you peace this Veteran's Day.