Lest We Forget...

[L Verge]

As a soldier's daughter, things related to our true heroes in America touch me deeply. This one hit me hard because I could relate to this young child - only my memories have a happy ending.

When I was seven years old, my father was sent to serve in the Korean War. My mother had a life-long fear of flying, so she insisted that he take the train to the West Coast to report for duty. My father was a private soul, so he asked that we not accompany him into Union Station in D.C. We said our good-byes in the car.

For those of you who have ever been to that magnificent train station, you know how large and cavernous it is -- it was even more so in 1950. I have a very vivid recollection of my dad walking across the broad plaza in front, past the Columbus statue, and in through the huge arches. I also remember standing on the front seat and crying out, "Daddy, don't leave me - please don't leave me!" I think back now how much it must have torn at my father's heart to hear me crying that.

I was lucky; Dad survived and returned a year later. I didn't have to hug his gravestone at an early age.