This week’s journey is moving toward Memorial Day when we honor the memories of our fallen servicemen and women. Service to the nation has a high price, which we who have served never forget — the valor of the brave.
Veterans feel a comradeship and a brotherhood of warmth when they meet. The trigger for mutual recognition is often the baseball-style ‘gimmie’ or ‘hero’ caps we wear. I have had some interesting exchanges while wearing my cap:
Fort Benning, Ga. — after a group of us veterans had met for breakfast at IHOP, I heard a friendly “thank you for your service” as a stranger reached for my ticket. I said, “Sir, it is more than just me — this bill is $90.” The stranger just smiled and paid the entire ticket.
New Paltz, N.Y. — An older lady at a KIKOS saw my cap and said, “My husband was in the same 25th Infantry Division many years before. She smiled and said, “Thank you for the memory.
Brownwood, Texas. — Grabbing a quick meal from Burger King, I was touched that every one of the young servers said, “Thank you for your service” — they didn’t have to do that.
Portland, Ore. — Young soldiers in uniform at the airport recognized the division patch on my cap and gave me a friendly exchange. I wondered where they were heading.
Kingston N.Y. — Browsing in a Barnes and Noble bookstore, another veteran wanted to talk. He said, “The VA will take care of you. In Iraq, burn pits and uranium bullets are making people sick.”
San Marcos —Hays County Veterans Memorial site, where I was meeting Richard V. Cruz, local community leader with both of us wearing our Twenty-5th Infantry Division caps. As a San Antonio family of nine came to view the memorial, a sweet little girl from the family approached us to say, “Thank you for your service.” It made our day.
Caps typically denote our branch of service — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine; area of service — Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, whatever; and when we were there. Specialties like Ranger, Airborne, Recon, Purple Heart, etc. are often shown and we all bask in mutual trust and respect. Valor awards are not included on caps, and very seldom does anyone ask, “What did you do?”
My ‘hero’ cap has been a good passport. I must admit, one time when stopped by the law for a traffic infraction, the officer looked at my cap and instead of giving me a ticket just said: “Be a little more careful.”
Whatever cap you wear, remember 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV) “But the Lord said unto Samuel… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
