Memorial Day: A New Meaning For the Armes’ Family

Just coming off of what was probably the most brutal session of my career, I was gathering my thoughts as I looked through my calendar for Memorial Day celebrations which started on Sunday and ended on Monday evening. As I organized my schedule and planned my route, it kind of hit me that my first stop would be the Veteran’s Cemetery in Elgin. Always before, I went and paid my respects as we all do, to many faceless grave markers with brief histories of each serviceman. All of a sudden, it hit me like a ton of bricks, one of those is my dad. He rests in one of the hundreds of spots in the cemetery, most of whom I never knew. As always, we gather to honor them for their service to our country. It dawned on me all of a sudden that not only am I going to go out and honor many veterans who gave their lives for our freedom, but at the same time my dad is one of the many. It puts a whole new perspective on that visit and on that cemetery. I have been so wrapped up in the legislative session that I have not even had time to think. Many of you mourned with us last November through this column when we buried dad after a long stay at the Veteran’s Center. We received lots of cards and love from our constituents and neighbors. Those thoughts and prayers were very much appreciated.

It took on a sudden realness when I stopped and thought about the fact that one of my many stops on Sunday and Monday would be to see and honor my dad, along with the many of veterans who served our country. It does change your perspective when you realize that it is one of your own. I have been so busy that I have not visited since January. It is not that I had forgotten, I just have not had time to think about much else. As I mapped my route, it took on a whole new meaning and, as you might imagine, brought back a lot of memories. I have always been proud of my dad’s service to our country. As I said earlier, he served during the Korean War, was on a destroyer in the Sea of Japan as well as an air craft carrier. I remember growing up seeing the cigar boxes full of pictures and trinkets from his days at sea, but they took on a whole new meaning as we made the video for his funeral. Those old grainy black and white photos tell his story of his service to our country. One of dad’s favorite stories was about the time he rode out a storm in a flat-bottom shell vessel. He would always brag to my buddies, some of whom were hurling over the side of the boat, that he was a seasoned seaman and never got seasick, except the time that he did. We still laugh about that trip when we went to the Gulf of Mexico chasing tuna 60 miles out, and he hung over the side of the boat like the rest of us. Dad, as with most people, wasn’t perfect but I was always proud of his service to our country. He did his part and his job and earned his placed in one of the most beautiful veteran’s cemeteries anywhere around. He did his part so that we can live in a free country. I have always been very proud of that. To many people, Memorial Day is a very special day. From here on out, it will always have more of a special meaning for the Armes’ family. As they say in the song “all gave some, some gave all”. I will always be glad of the part my dad played in securing our freedom. So, thanks dad to you and the many, many others for doing your part so that we could live in this great country that we call home.

If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.

And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:

“If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a soldier!”