Poppy anyone?

Last Saturday, the kids and I had the opportunity to take a 2 hour shift at a local fundraiser on behalf of their 4-H club. The local VFW post was selling poppies in honor of Veteran's Day and they were taking donations to raise money for our Veterans. It was fun to see the kids interact with strangers and to see how grown up they have become. It was also a great way to teach them about community service and giving back. The thing that stuck with me most, however, was the wide array of customers and their stories. Here are just a few that touched me the most...

• An elderly lady stopped to speak to us and we discussed how the weather drastically changed that day for the worse. Rather than complain, she said "I thank God every day that I live in Nebraska and get to enjoy all the different weather we have. I would hate living in the South where it was just sunny all the time!"
• Since we were stationed in front of the grocery store, we got to see all types come in the door. One lady had her hands so full of reusable water jugs and grocery bags that she could hardly walk. I commented that being environmentally conscience takes a lot of effort and she said "Yeah, but it's soooo worth it for my grandkids to have a better place to live!" Sidenote: there was only one other person in the two hours we were there that had reusable bags to get their groceries. That should be our next project!
• After one gentleman donated money, the kids and I thanked him for his generosity and he said"No, thank YOU for spending your Saturday afternoon contributing to such a good cause!"
• A lady came in who was obviously pregnant and had two little kids in tow. She appeared to be disabled because she had a handicapped parking permit and could hardly walk. You could see the struggle with every step and she seemed overwhelmed with the little ones and the task at hand. But instead of grumbling, she had a smile on her face the entire time. She even brought her cart back into the store when she finished loading her car, while 90% of the capable individuals just left them all over the parking lot! Clearly, positive attitude goes a long way.
• The most touching interaction was with a gentleman who asked what the donations were for. When we told him it would go to the veterans, he said that was a good cause because he was a veteran. He proceeded to completely empty his wallet which happened to be a rather large sum of money. When I asked what branch he was in, he told me he served in the Army in Vietnam and that when he came home his brother was sent over. His brother didn't make it back.

And suddenly I realized it wasn't so much about the money we raised, but the act of showing respect and honoring our veterans. It is beyond comprehension what sacrifices they make for us. Veteran's Day should be celebrated every day in this country!

So on day 19 of thankful 30 month and a week after the official Veteran's Day celebration, I hope you join me in continuing to be thankful for our Veterans!