The 4th of July has offered me many fun times from family gatherings as a child to being in Washington, DC as an adult. All of these are wonderful memories but the one that stands out today was the opportunity I had when in Washington. I was attending a National Speakers Association Convention and we had an event near the Lincoln Monument …so close, Mr. Lincoln was watching us.
There was Power in the People who spoke of their love for America. Each of the speakers had fought for our freedoms in different wars. We heard from US Navy Capt Gerry Coffee, a POW, who lived a horrible existence in the Hanoi Hilton. His speech was nothing less than spell bounding. www.captaincoffee.com
USAR Lt Col. Janis Nark, was the final speaker for the event. She shared her amazing story of being a nurse while serving in Viet Nam. www.nark.com We so often forget about the nurses and medics who serve to help our wounded troops.
How often do we fail to recognize them for being at war? They see things the rest of us could not bear. Her story was phenomenally personal and eye opening.
When Janis’ speech was over, my RN speaker friend, Bobbie Staten, www.bobbiestaten.com and I walked over to the statue in Tribute to the Nurses in Viet Nam. We gazed at the detail in the statues – the love, care, anguish, and horror on their faces. And, as we walked to the area behind, there was a statue of a nurse kneeling in prayer. We cried and simply held on to each other not saying a word for quite some time.
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