Scrutinizing the crowd at the Forest Lawn Veterans Day ceremony two weeks ago, it struck me that the meaning of the day was dramatically different for each of the groups in attendance.
For those who had not served, the occasion and the day represented an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices of our fellow citizens who have served, or are serving. Those veterans present undoubtedly recalled the friendships that made the harsh demands of military life bearable.
And those special veterans who experienced the fire of combat probably reflected with mixed emotions upon their lifelong affection for the comrades with whom they shared the terror, loss and horror of war. Families with loved ones serving at outposts around the world would understandably have been preoccupied with the potential dangers faced by their soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or coast guardsman. And the families of those who did not return — or have come home physically or emotionally scarred by their experiences — were likely made ever more conscious of the burden they continue to bear.
