A Brief Encounter

Everyone dreads going to the Dentist even animals.  I suspect that it's one of those good evolutionary lizard brain sort of things that we have retained.  (Of course, there are those of you that have perfect teeth.  We won't even talk about Fluoridation.)  I had an appointment this morning to get four old fillings replaced with more modern materials and so I gritted my teeth (sorry) and entered the office.

When I entered the office the receptionist was sitting next to an older gentlemen.  I smiled politely to her and him and said hello.  Not wanting to disturb them, I picked up a magazine and sat in a chair a little ways from them.  I overheard her mention something about his hat and then her phone rang.  As she left, I glanced over toward him and he was also looking over my way, he clearly wanted to chat.  So, I put my magazine down and moved over to sit next to him.  He was wearing a baseball style cap with the words, "World War II Veteran" and a few campaign ribbons over the bill.  His features are fading from my memory, but I recall that his face was worn, but he still had a quick smile and a sparkle in his eyes.  He asked me if I had seen the World War Two memorial in D.C?  I replied that I hadn't and he handed me a souvenir book with glossy photographs of the new memorial.  He started to talk about Honor Flight Network an organization that arranges free tours for WWII and terminally veterans to the various memorials around the capital.  I thought that I had recently read something about this.  He went on to tell me that it was such a wonderful trip, that this group had taken care of everything.  He didn't have to pay a penny.  They flew him out, fed him, transported this group of 37 (I think he said) vets to Arlington National Cemetery, The Tomb of the Unknowns, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and, of course, the World War II Memorial (among others).  He laughed about not being able to pick up any souvenirs for his wife since they were so busy and tired.  After all, he was 90 years old.

The excitement of the trip was still around him.  He said that the group will keep doing this until the last WWII vet is alive and then move onto Korea veterans.  It made me think of my Uncle, whom I just saw this past weekend.  He's also 90+ years old and served in North Africa during the war.  My grandfather, gone for quite some time, served in the Great War and the Second World War.  My Dad:  Korea. 

I was called into the Doctor's office far too soon.  So, I stood up and shook his hand and thanked him.  We must never forget their service or sacrifice.