Veteran's Day, 2012

November 11 is Veteran's Day.   It is more than symbolic to me.  My grandson by marriage, Landon Cheben, is serving in Afghanistan and I pray that he and his friends will be safe.  My part is sending him prayers and Skittles.  He is a pilot there.

My brother, Dr. James Cooper, served in Vietnam and I spent much time praying for him and for my mother, who never rested the entire time he was there.  Many of my family, including Warren and Harry III also served in the military.

But I have two vivid memories of World War II.   I was seven when the war ended and I remember the horns honking all over town in celebration.   Daddy did not have to go--too old and too many dependents.  But three of Aunt Minnie and Uncle Ollie's sons went --James, Bill, Robert Lawrence--and they were pilots.  When a plane flew over the house, I would run to the backyard and wave and wave just in case the pilot was James, Bill or Robert.

The other memory which is imbedded in my brain is that Sam Henderson and Essie Tarver (black couple who farmed our land on share crop) had a son, Leroy.  We called him "Rabbit Ears" and he was the first man from Mississippi County who died in the war.   Essie asked Daddy to do the service at the Mercy Seat Baptist Church.  This was unheard of in that predjudiced county but he agreed and did so.  I was worried.  I asked Daddy why he was doing it.  He said, "They didn't look at the color of his skin when they killed him."      Oh, Daddy, how much you taught me about everything!  How lucky could a child be to have such a father!