Veteran's Day 2010

To all Veterans: Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice of holidays, comfort, & safety. You are the heroes of this country and for that, I am thankful.

Today is a special Veteran's Day for my Papaw, Grady Holland. Since he has come home from the service, he has celebrated 64 Veteran's Days, yet, today's Veteran's Day was different. Daddy brought Papaw & Mamaw to town for the Veteran's Parade & Ceremony, which is special all in its own as it is difficult for Papaw to go anywhere. This year, Papaw was taking part in a special portion of the ceremony.

Lucas & I stood on the sidewalk of Main Street and watched the parade of Veterans pass by. We clapped & waved as the men & women proudly walked toward the gathering place of the ceremony. Once everyone had assembled, the ceremony began.
There, Town Alderman, Bob Scott, presented Papaw with something he had waited for a long time to have. He was presented with the medals he had earned in service.

After WW2, Papaw had the option of staying longer to receive his medals or to go home. As many others, he opted to go home, see his family and live a civilian life. Today, 64 years later and at the age of 95, he was presented with the 5 medals. Boyce Deitz presented the flag that had flown over the State Capitol on behalf of the North Carolina State Congressman, Heath Shuler.

Several of our family were able to make it and watch on as Papaw accepted his medals and flag. It was a proud moment to be able to watch the man who has invested into all of us in so many ways receive something that is to be valued, appreciated, and respected.

As a family, we are so proud of Papaw, regardless to what he is to each of us: Husband, Daddy, Papaw.