Let me tell you this story when I first visited the
Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia
and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC
back in the early 1990’s

It was my very first time touring the North East United States with my Mom
and I was very excited to see all the scenery and sites.

As we reached the tour at the Vietnam Veterans Wall, and the Arlington Cemetery,
I must tell you how overwhelming it was
to see the mass amount of names
and graves all around you.

But, as a young man in his early 20’s,
to me it was just another tourist spot to see.
Just another scenery.
Just another place.

And when I looked at my Mom,
wondering why she was very quiet,
I have noticed that she was crying.

Then I began to realize,
The whole experience was different for her.
She was very well aware of how the war affected their generation.

I didn’t see it that way then.
How can I?
Freedom was given to me when I was born.
I didn’t go through the fear, the horror
and the loss of all the lives that was sacrificed for the betterment of the future.

Freedom and Independence truly has its price.

That’s something for us to really think about.
They didn’t have to do it.
But they did.

So thank a Veteran.
Remember the Fallen.

And help the younger generation understand
what has been given to them as well.