Usually when I write my postings it comes from a source of inspiration. Sometimes I get my inspiration from news articles or stories I have heard from my friends in the military. But today my source of inspiration comes from a novel. I hardly read for leisure anymore. But when I do, I loose track of time and the next thing I know it is 2am in the morning, and I just finished a book. This is exactly what happened to me yesterday.
Though this book is non-fiction I feel the message of this book is worth reading for those interested in my blog. The book is called Dream When You’re Feeling Blue, by Elizabeth Berg. I will admit it probably will be more appealing to the females than to the males.
The book takes place during World War II in Chicago. Although the novel tells a story about an Irish family during the war, it has an underlying message about supporting the troops. It appears to me, in my opinion, that America has lost tradition. Back then people were more patriotic, not just expressing their love for the country but they supported the troops. People sold war bonds, recycled cans so they could be made into guns for the military. But most of all the support for the troops was much greater than it is today.
Back then the United Service Organization (USO) held Saturday night dances at their centers for the servicemen. In the USO centers they had places where they could write letters, enjoy a cup of coffee, socialized with the people who volunteered from the community, and provided a game room for the men. Today we hardly see any support to that extent. Instead we see people with their yellow ribbons on their cars and houses. Although they are making a statement that they support the troops, could they do more? A ribbon to me is just an easy way supporting a cause. Anyone can buy a ribbon and claim they are supportive. But what actions are they taking? In addition, for the people who do not support the troops, why not?
After reading the book I realized that with time there will always be change. We can never go back to the way things were, when soldiers who arrived back from war were greeted with smiles, handshakes and fresh baked cookies. Today they come back to society and it has completely changed. Some people are supportive and others look down on these men and women. But the underlying message is—the soldiers need our support. They have gone out into the world and seen things we could never imagine. The least we can do is lend a hand to support them. Whether it is baking them cookies, writing letters, or buying a phone card so they can call their loved ones from overseas. It is the simple things that matter.
Though this book is non-fiction I feel the message of this book is worth reading for those interested in my blog. The book is called Dream When You’re Feeling Blue, by Elizabeth Berg. I will admit it probably will be more appealing to the females than to the males.
The book takes place during World War II in Chicago. Although the novel tells a story about an Irish family during the war, it has an underlying message about supporting the troops. It appears to me, in my opinion, that America has lost tradition. Back then people were more patriotic, not just expressing their love for the country but they supported the troops. People sold war bonds, recycled cans so they could be made into guns for the military. But most of all the support for the troops was much greater than it is today.
Back then the United Service Organization (USO) held Saturday night dances at their centers for the servicemen. In the USO centers they had places where they could write letters, enjoy a cup of coffee, socialized with the people who volunteered from the community, and provided a game room for the men. Today we hardly see any support to that extent. Instead we see people with their yellow ribbons on their cars and houses. Although they are making a statement that they support the troops, could they do more? A ribbon to me is just an easy way supporting a cause. Anyone can buy a ribbon and claim they are supportive. But what actions are they taking? In addition, for the people who do not support the troops, why not?
After reading the book I realized that with time there will always be change. We can never go back to the way things were, when soldiers who arrived back from war were greeted with smiles, handshakes and fresh baked cookies. Today they come back to society and it has completely changed. Some people are supportive and others look down on these men and women. But the underlying message is—the soldiers need our support. They have gone out into the world and seen things we could never imagine. The least we can do is lend a hand to support them. Whether it is baking them cookies, writing letters, or buying a phone card so they can call their loved ones from overseas. It is the simple things that matter.
I’d like to leave with a few quotes from the book that made me realize where the heart is to supporting our troops. “We must support them fully in every way we can, and we must wait patiently for them to come home…When you tell a soldier how proud you are of him, he is prouder of himself, Whenever those boys get a letter, they are for a few precious moments taken far way from the hellish place—sure you know they call letters from ten-minute furloughs! Soldiers need to believe with all his heart in his commander and his mission, and he needs for us to believe in him.”
Maybe if we just gave a little more time and support to the troops their transaction of coming home would be a bit easier into society.
The Troop's Advocator
The Troop's Advocator
1 comment:
I just read this book this past summer! I remember thinking, as you did, how little the public does today for the troops in comparison to what they did in that era. They were so involved. Great reference!
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