Saturday's Internet Edition, September 06, 2008.
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| THIS CONCEPTUAL DRAWING shows what the Veterans Remembrance Park of Teague could look like when it is built. A groundbreaking for the park was held on the Fourth of July and volunteers soon will be taking information from families on veterans they wish to honor. |
By Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end.
He noted that the first came with the date of her birth.
And spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time isleft that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real.
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more. And love the people in our lives, like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash. Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?
I witnessed a "dash" that is still living on even after death on July 4th in Streetman. Thirteen years ago Tommy J. Bryant, a World War II Veteran, wanted to celebrate the 4th, so he decorated his lawn mower and made a few rounds in town. Mr. Bryant did this for 2 years on his own, but was joined the third year by a few of the locals. The Streetman 4th parade is still going strong. Mr. Bryant passed away in 2006 and had no children of his own.
His wife is in a nursing home around Houston. He has no family remaining in the little town of Streetman, but he left his mark in a huge way on the town of Streetman. The parade of lawn mowers pulling precious, red-faced children in little wagons proves that we all can leave something behind. We can not control the dates on either side of our dash, only what is in the middle! What do you want your dash to include? Decide and do it!