Today the forth weekend in May, Memorial Day Weekend is beautiful here in the North Carolina country side just outside Zebulon, NC where my thoughts are on relaxation and getting chores done.Well the chores can wait and while I relax I'll just ramble on about how beautiful the weather is and the scenery just outside my window overlooking green pastures fenced with horses and barns and old glory flying in the foreground with just enough wind to give it that flap and spread.Those stars and stripes remind me of my twenty something years of military service and those who did not make it to enjoy this day. My thoughts are on them and their families this weekend and I honor their service through these comments of thankfulness and respect.Thinking back I remember the first soldier I remember seeing in uniform was my cousin who had come back from the war, WWII, in his Ike uniform with starched pants and jacket. He was the most daring Black man I had seen and wearing a uniform too. I at that time had not ever seen a Black man in uniform and I don't remember seeing anyone else in one, this being before we had access to television and I was not old enough to have been interested in magazines. Had I seen a picture of a man in uniform before I don't remember it.Well Earnest was dressed in uniform and he had survived the conflict and came home a hero in the eyes of the small Black community. It was many years later that I learned he was a truck driver and may have been in an artillery unit. Whichever it did not matter because he was a hero and a soldier who served in WWII for his country and for us the Black community and we were proud of him if no one else were.
That was a long time ago and today I think back and it may have been that vision and that image that caused me to serve. I know that all doing the time I was in uniform it was for God and country but the idea may have been installed by that childhood vision and picture of a towering Black soldiers in uniform.Well today we have other towering images, just think back to when we had no thoughts that there would one day be a Black President or Secretary of State or Black woman running a top ten Corporation like Xerox. Yes baby we have come a long way and maybe today is just the day to recognize it and be proud of the fact that it has taken not just a few of us to make it happen but all of us.I know among us there are many who do not see the advantage of all of us being in the same pot or sharing from the same spoon but life has a way of getting its way. Yes, we can, accomplish so much when we work together.Working together will get us into a more prosperous life and economy. Working together will give us cause to strive for excellence and keep us from making so many mistakes along the way. Working together will help us enjoy the beauty of the day and a more joyous out door bar-be-q on the grill.Speaking of bar-be-q on the grill, I think this is an opportune time for me to get the grill started and reflect on the taste of hot dogs, burgers and cold drinks this Memorial Day weekend.Yes while I'm getting the grill ready I will be planning on an anniversary of sorts. I will be inviting all those who grew up in our little community to share in an outing this summer and enjoy each other while reminiscing about times past. I expect it will be a ball so if you are from my home town and know where I grew up you’re invited. Give a call at geobarn@gmail.com and participate.
That was a long time ago and today I think back and it may have been that vision and that image that caused me to serve. I know that all doing the time I was in uniform it was for God and country but the idea may have been installed by that childhood vision and picture of a towering Black soldiers in uniform.Well today we have other towering images, just think back to when we had no thoughts that there would one day be a Black President or Secretary of State or Black woman running a top ten Corporation like Xerox. Yes baby we have come a long way and maybe today is just the day to recognize it and be proud of the fact that it has taken not just a few of us to make it happen but all of us.I know among us there are many who do not see the advantage of all of us being in the same pot or sharing from the same spoon but life has a way of getting its way. Yes, we can, accomplish so much when we work together.Working together will get us into a more prosperous life and economy. Working together will give us cause to strive for excellence and keep us from making so many mistakes along the way. Working together will help us enjoy the beauty of the day and a more joyous out door bar-be-q on the grill.Speaking of bar-be-q on the grill, I think this is an opportune time for me to get the grill started and reflect on the taste of hot dogs, burgers and cold drinks this Memorial Day weekend.Yes while I'm getting the grill ready I will be planning on an anniversary of sorts. I will be inviting all those who grew up in our little community to share in an outing this summer and enjoy each other while reminiscing about times past. I expect it will be a ball so if you are from my home town and know where I grew up you’re invited. Give a call at geobarn@gmail.com and participate.
Until next time.
Gbarn
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