Conspicuous Gallantry
Days of relentless gray up here. Clouds have blanketed the sky, I'm starting to forget the color blue. The trees, the squirrels, the birds, all seem to be carrying extra water weight.
After a morning of soggy soccer up in the hills of Danbury, the turnip and I decide to brave a short break in the rain. We bike though our neighborhood, I drive as cleopatra navigates from her cushy toddler seat.
We live in a sleepy maritime burg. Our house is a mile from the beach. In the summertime, the salty sea air travels all the way up to my block. It smells alive.
We cruise down to the beach as a steady drizzle kisses our cheeks. The giant gulls look confused. They know it’s a summer weekend, but nobody’s around. No free hot dogs? No free fries? They'll have to work for their food today.
We come across a war memorial about 100 yards from the shore right next to a weather-worn shack: home to our local windsurfing school. I’m guessing the memorial was built after WWII. It’s a large, flat concrete patch with an enormous brick wall jutting from its mid-section. Placards inscribed with the names of fallen soldiers are set into the wall.
Cam says, “walk.” I oblige.
As she’s doing laps around the wall, I take in the inscriptions. It’s dedicated to all the boys from Norwalk who sacrificed their lives for our country’s beliefs. About 100 or so names for WWII, probably 20 for Korea, the same number for Viet Nam, and one, lonely name for Iraq.
Each war has its own placard. A quote from the president in office signs each of them. For example, FDR said “It's better die on our feet than live on our knees.” That may not be the exact quote, but it was something inspiring like that.
No quote for the Iraq placard. I suppose because the war isn't over, or maybe W is still thinking it up. I wonder what it will say. Will it sound profound and presidential like FDRs? And if it did, would you believe it?
GM
After a morning of soggy soccer up in the hills of Danbury, the turnip and I decide to brave a short break in the rain. We bike though our neighborhood, I drive as cleopatra navigates from her cushy toddler seat.
We live in a sleepy maritime burg. Our house is a mile from the beach. In the summertime, the salty sea air travels all the way up to my block. It smells alive.
We cruise down to the beach as a steady drizzle kisses our cheeks. The giant gulls look confused. They know it’s a summer weekend, but nobody’s around. No free hot dogs? No free fries? They'll have to work for their food today.
We come across a war memorial about 100 yards from the shore right next to a weather-worn shack: home to our local windsurfing school. I’m guessing the memorial was built after WWII. It’s a large, flat concrete patch with an enormous brick wall jutting from its mid-section. Placards inscribed with the names of fallen soldiers are set into the wall.
Cam says, “walk.” I oblige.
As she’s doing laps around the wall, I take in the inscriptions. It’s dedicated to all the boys from Norwalk who sacrificed their lives for our country’s beliefs. About 100 or so names for WWII, probably 20 for Korea, the same number for Viet Nam, and one, lonely name for Iraq.
Each war has its own placard. A quote from the president in office signs each of them. For example, FDR said “It's better die on our feet than live on our knees.” That may not be the exact quote, but it was something inspiring like that.
No quote for the Iraq placard. I suppose because the war isn't over, or maybe W is still thinking it up. I wonder what it will say. Will it sound profound and presidential like FDRs? And if it did, would you believe it?
GM
posted by Greg Monaco at 10:04 AM
2 Comments:
Just saw the weather news. You've got 48 hrs. more of rain. You'll make it.
Seems like the Big Man's got the supersoaker aimed straight at us. Spread the wealth, I say.
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