This year on Veteran's Day, we celebrated my fathers service in the United States Army. The girls made him posters and compiled lists of questions to ask him. I made him his favorite meal-pinto beans, meatloaf, sliced tomatos, friend potatoes. and corn bread. Sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen! When he arrived, he proudly layed out the photographs he cherished. The girls started asking him questions. Listening to them talk back and forth, I suddenly got a lump in my throat and stomach. It hit me, I never knew anything about this period of his life. I started thinking to myself, don't feel bad-he never talked about it. I stood there trying to justify my guilty feelings. Here I am 36 years old and I knew nothing about this part of his life. I quickly sat down and just took in what he was saying. The next thing I know, I started asking question after question. The girls could barely get a word in! I so enjoyed getting lost in the moment, just listening to him recall his days in Korea. He talked about how lonely he felt when he showed up for basic training. How he never felt so alone in his life. He talked about how he felt being drafted. He contimued to tell us about being on leave one weekend. Him and his buddies went to a local bar for a drink. The bartender told his friend to get out because he was colored. They all got up and left. They were serving their country but couldn't sit down together for a drink.
Pieces of my life started fitting together in ways they never could before. I suddenly understood my Dad a little more than ever before. Freedoms I take for granted were not so long ago against the law. I cannot imagine living in a country where I could not sit with my "colored" friends.
I learned a lot about my Dad that day. He truly is a wonderful man. I love him so much. I am so proud to call him my Daddy.
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