Friday JohnKu – Remembering our Veterans

~ John W. Howell

This day always brings to mind grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, and siblings. All those in my family who served their country in the armed services and medical corps. Their service not only helped defeat America’s enemies but ensured that each of us had the freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

Today is the day to remember all who have served and those whose service also meant their ultimate gift to our freedom.

God bless our veterans. Today’s JohnKu is about just one.

Grandfather by John W. Howell © 2022

Your destiny was,

Fulfilled long before my birth . . .

Freedom was your gift.

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

86 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – Remembering our Veterans”

  6. Lovely, John. My brother was a surgeon in the Air Force…retired just a few years ago. Saw lots of horrific things during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. So grateful for his service and his sacrifices.

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  12. A huge thank you to every person in your family who served our country, John, and blessings to every one of them. Your tribute is beautiful, and much appreciated. My husband spent a year in the jungles of VietNam, so this day is one of special significance to us. too. Hurricane cleanup will have to wait another day, I’m afraid. Happy Veteran’s Day, my friend, and thank you for the poem and for sharing the poignant photograph.

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    1. Thank you, Marcia and thanks for your husband’s service. I have a special place in my heart for those who served in Vietnam. (I had one nephew and two cousins there. Two purple hearts and a bronze star among them) The unforgivable treatment of those vets is a shameful period of our history.

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  15. A beautiful post and JohnKu. I’m grateful to every person who has fought on the side of freedom. It’s so unutterably sad we have one of the biggest struggles for our freedom now, especially after all these years and effort in seeking peaceful coexistence with others. Thanks for sharing, John. Have a wonderful weekend 💕🙂

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  17. It is my hope we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice – and their families – today and every day. My father served during the Korean War, and while growing up he told me how very proud he was to have served his country during that time. Thanks for honoring those who served, John.

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  24. The older I get the more I understand and appreciate and the more I get all swollen throated… It feels a bit odd to be the first generation of many who didn’t serve, but then again that’s why they did. Thanks John; I don’t normally get much out of haiku but yours rang true

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