Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Importance Of Voting

It has been a long Summer and Fall in many ways, but very brief in others. I have lots of recipes to post, but for today that will have to wait. I had to make an emergency trip to Tennessee to help care for my parents. Dad is currently in ICU and is awaiting surgery and then radiation. Last week he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx. I will be adding posts about that later, but for now I want to post what I put on Facebook last night. Please feel free to share this with everyone you know. It's Election Day ... Perhaps we can make a difference.
This photo is of me and my precious daddy, Mercer Cotton.

***UPDATE*** on my dad ...
Early this year my dad got a letter notifying him that he had to have a photo ID to vote. He asked me to take him to the DVM to have his photo added to his drivers license. We didn't make it over there during that trip, but Conrad and I made a point to take him when we were here in September. That was quite an experience. Took about an hour with a crowded room of people ...

getting their license, etc., but it was well worth our time. The gentleman who took dad's photo asked me if he served in the military. I said yes, he was at Normandy in Patton's command. He was in awe. I told him dad received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, among several other medals. He asked my dad to come over to his counter. He saluted my dad, shook his hand, and thanked him for all he has done and for all he has sacrificed for our country. That guy has no idea how much my dad sacrificed. He was seriously injured by mortar. He suffered permanent nerve damage from frostbite. Shell shock. Depression. Anxiety. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I included this in my posts about my dad because its relevant to what we are dealing with currently. He never applied for Benefits or pensions. He never asked the VA for help in any way. He never received his medals. He never talks about his time in the military. Conrad has asked him questions about it and he answers, but he never gives more information than what is asked.
I post this on the Eve of the election because it is important to remember those who have given much to protect our country. Our freedom. Our home. Remember that a veteran who has served in a foreign conflict has given a huge part of their lives that they can never get back. Many have lost their lives protecting this great country. Many have lost limbs, or senses. All of them, dead or alive, have given more than most of us will ever imagine to make sure we are all safe at night when we sleep. Our children are safe as they attend school. We live in a free country. Don't forget their spouses, children, siblings and parents. They are all effected.
Tomorrow is Election Day. Go vote. Please vote. Do the right thing. I gave up my ability to vote in this election by flying to Tennessee to take care of one elderly veteran. Am I upset my voting voice won't count this time? Absolutely! Would I do it again for my dad? Absolutely! He fought to protect this country so his unborn children, grandchildren and great grandson would have a safe place to live. My dad is my hero.
Everything has been decided about the plan of attack for his surgery and his treatment that follows. Tomorrow we do last minute errands to ready ourselves for dad's surgery. We will rest. We will eat properly. We will sleep. We will pray singly. We will pray as a family. We will be ready Wednesday for what God has in store for our family. Please continue to pray. Pray for dad's strength to make it through surgery. Pray for clear minds, strong eyes, and steady hands of the surgeons who will work their magic/miracles on dad. Pray for us to stay strong and have faith as we wait.