A Veteran Vignette
A veteran Vignette:
(Part 2) A Cornucopia of Thanks to Our Veterans
by Alice Jane-Marie Massa
At this altitude of gratitude, on this Veterans’ Day of 2015, I am, as ever, thankful–enormously thankful–to all veterans who have served our country during times of war, conflicts, and peace. Midst this extraordinary patriotic group, my dad (James) and his three brothers(Charlie, Johnny, and Jules)–all of whom served in the United States Army, in Europe, during World War II–are especially in my thoughts today. While my father was in a tank destroyers’ unit at the Battle of the Bulge, cousin Dom Lanzone was among those first paratroopers at that famous battle. Among these brave veterans of my family–all of whom came home safe and well after the war–only my Uncle Jules is still living. Additionally, on this day, I think of family members of younger generations who have served in the US military: my cousin Dale Hendricks (Army) and my brother-in-law Ric Fanyo (Submarines). A special thanks to all veterans who have served our United States of America!
A Poem of Thanks for My Dad, on Veterans’ Day:
James F. Massa (1913-1997)
by his younger daughter, with love
Lady Liberty welcomed your parents to this country
and then welcomed you back home, well and free,
to go on with your life,
to leave behind all the war’s perils and strife.
When your service was completed,
those memories, experiences were not shared–
emblematic of the “Greatest Generation,”
emblematic of the greatest dad.
While there are statues
to some veterans in D.C.,
you–the veteran,
hero, father to me–
who always wore a St. Christopher’s medal
and carried with you throughout the war
and ever after
the good-luck silver dollar
given to you by your mother–
you–the veteran,
hero, father to me–
would never have wanted a statue,
but only a permanent place
in my heart
where your valor and devotion
to family and country
touch my
tears of remembrance
on this Veterans’ Day.
God bless all the veterans!
Thank you for your service!
Alice and Zoe
November 11, 2015, Wednesday
alice13wordwalk 
Hats off to you, your family, and all of the brave souls who have served, are serving and will serve. God bless you all. dp
Thank you for your beautiful tribute to our dad on this Veteran’s Day, Alice. Your touching piece brought tears to my eyes. Yesterday another incident brought tears to my eyes as well. Standing behind me in the checkout line at a local bookstore was a young man wearing a Ranger tee shirt. I asked if he was an Army Ranger to which he replied, “Yes, that is, until I was blown up in Iraq.” At that moment I noticed that he walked with a cane and that a small boy of six or seven stood beside him. The young man went on to say the exact number of days he had served in Iraq in three tours of duty–over one thousand days. I thanked him for his service to our country. When I left the store, tears of sadness flowed down my cheeks for the sacrifice of this Army Ranger, his young family, and all those who have served our country so valiantly. I also had tears of gratitude that our Army Ranger–our younger son Eric–returned safe and sound from his tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our military and their families deserve to be honored and appreciated each and every day for their service to our country.
Beautiful piece, Alice.
Really something and it meant a lot to Uncle Jules, Alice, thanks. Mary your reply-post story about the Ranger is incredible.