I don’t often get sappy about military people and military service. But today I am going to, so forgive. My grandfather served in both WWII and Korea, my ex-husband has been in the Army now for over 14 years, my brother was a Marine, and even I served for a very short time (I signed up for four years but left after two when I became pregnant with my first child). My best friend and I were both Army wives, and my son seems destined for a life in the military (I know he’s only 9, but, well, you just got to know this kid to know that I speak the truth).

Every soldier is someone’s child, and that service should be honored. Yesterday, the last living soldier of WWI (The Great War) died. He was 110, and lived most of his life in West Virginia, except for three years when he fought in one of the bloodiest wars- ever.

I don’t normally mention things like this so why do I do it now? Well, excuse as I go get off-subject for a second.

I LOVE Washington, D.C. I love the restaurants, people, social scene and the fact that you can’t walk two blocks without seeing a memorial or a piece of history. I first fell in love with DC while exploring those memorial. By running my hands along the etchings of the names of Vietnam Vets, by standing at the feet of very great man immortalized in granite, by simply standing on a step and knowing a pivotal point of the Civil Rights moments had happened on that very step. That love of history and those reminders of sacrifice that are all around DC was my first brush with this city.

DC lacks a memorial, however. A memorial for WWI. A memorial for men like Frank Buckles, who at the age of 16 fought for our country.

This should not be.

Find out more about Frank here.

Donate to the memorial fund here.

  Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Social Pollen, LLC