Posted by
M*A on Friday, March 02, 2007 8:48:54 AM
The Tanker Brothers Rolling Victory Fast...faster... today….is
me. As always, today is for all of our
troops, especially MG and Cav.
I’m also thinking of someone very special to me, my
Mom. We lost her 9 years ago
today. She was a Rosie the Riveter in
World War II. She taught me everything
important. The Lincoln quote, “All that
I am or ever hope to be I owe to my angel mother” comes to mind. That’s how I’ve always felt about her. She is my inspiration.
Marcella Cipra 1916-1998
On September 11, after watching the second tower fall, I
called my husband. I said to him, “this
is the end of the world as we know it”.
In true husbandly fashion, he tried to calm me. But I knew things had changed. We were at war. And the pictures forming in my mind were ones put there by
Mom. Of blood drives (she was a gallon
donor), bond drives, rationing…you get the picture. I was ready…and then…we were told…to go…shopping//?
Shopping? Ok…the
economy…don’t let the terrorists change our way of life. But the sad fact is…they have changed our
lives. This is a post 9/11 world. Just as my mother’s world changed after
12/7.
We are fighting this war with an all volunteer force. Most of us have not been touched by
it…unlike Mom’s generation. No
discomfort, no sacrifice, no inconvenience…unless you count taking off your
shoes at the airport.
After 12/7 my Mom and millions of other women went to
work…building…for the war effort…for victory…to save their way of life. When they
were done with a day’s work at the factory, they went home to meals without meat or butter or
other rationed items. They painted
stocking seams down their legs with eyebrow pencil because
there were no stockings.
Considering all that I don't think any of us have a darn thing to complain about. We can shop till we drop for anything we can afford...and the only reason we go home without what we came for is the peghook was empty because the item sold out. Not much of a hardship in a time of war. One of the saddest photos I've seen recently, was this one.
A
merica has gone to the mall. We've forgotten our history...12/7 after all was sixty five years ago. 9/11 only five years ago...but I often get the feeling that it has been forgotten. We need to do better. I think of my Mom and I wonder how I can ever measure up to her. I don't think I can. But there are things I can do...in my time...
prayerfully...this fast...Soldiers' Angels...for those that have taken up the fight...for me. I can keep myself informed....
......and to remember...always remember... NEVER FORGET.
Thanks for the lessons Mom.
