Veterans and the Military

I took a vacation day on Veterans' Day so I could go to the parade in Albany to see my grandaughter march with her Brownie troop. As I watched the parade and the groups of veterans and current military pass by, I thought first of my father and how proud he was on Veterans' Day. He fought in Korea and had some horrendous experiences. He often felt we didn't give our veterans enough help and respect.

I also thought about my husband's and my ancestors who served their country whether it was in the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Texas War from Mexico, WWII, etc. I thought how much their families sacrificed. John Wilson and Nathan Bryan (Bryant) fought in the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin Bryant fought at the Battle of San Jacinto which ended Texas's War with Mexico. My husband and I both had several ancestors who fought in the Civil War, most for the Confederacy but some on the Union side.

One of David's ancestor cousins, Elijah Shettles, in his book "Recollections of a Long Life" wrote much about the life in Pontotoc County Mississippi during the War. Some family members were killed, all suffered. His grandfather, David Shettles (Shettlesworth) took care of a large number of women and children during the war. He was too old to go to war but he organized the women and children to make clothing and grow cotton. Elijah describes going with his brother past Confederate lines to get to New Orleans to sell cotton to the Union Army for gold because his grandfather knew that the Confederate money was going to be worthless.

We know life is difficult right now, with the recession, etc. but we have a lot to be grateful for. We need to be grateful for those of our ancestry who fought to create this nation so we could all have freedom. We were recently able to vote for who we wanted because of their sacrifices. We need to remember all these veterans have given us.