Memorial Day

These are some pictures that I took of a few flags that lined our street today...

Today is a beautiful hot and sunny day. After posting that we don't get rain during the day, the past two days were overcast with occasional downpours. Today we woke up to the sun coming in through the blinds once again. A beautiful Memorial Day. As I was thinking about Memorial Day, two thoughts came to mind. The first is a movie that I saw recently, "Taking Chance." It is a true story that was made into an HBO movie. Below is a summary I copied from the HBO website...

'Taking Chance' chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families"

I watched this movie a month or so ago and cried the entire time. It did bring up some emotions of my own brother's death. Not because my brother was a soldier (he wasn't), but because of the journey "home" the soldier took. The movie tells the story of Chance Phelps body being taken from Philadelphia airport to his hometown in Wyoming. My brother died in Wyoming and had to be flown to Philadelphia. The soldier was killed 6 months before my brother's accident. While Dustin was in Alpine, two hours away in Dubois, Chance Phelps was being buried while his family was grieving. And shortly after that, Dustin would be put on a plane by our dear friend DC to be buried by his family who misses him more we could imagine.

Here is the trailer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmiLdzzgGE

Another thought that comes to mind on this day is of my cousin Austin. Austin is going to be deployed to Afghanistan in June. He completed his first tour of duty in Iraq where God protected him and we are praying the same as he heads to Afghanistan. I love all my cousins and am proud of each one...however there is a special place in my heart for one who is willing to put his life on the line in this way.