As I drove through a town in Iowa, I spied this painted rock. I had to stop to admire the artistry and the sentiment behind it. I choked up as I walked around the three sides of this monument in a small town, Veterans park.
Today, I’m grateful for all the veterans, those who’ve gone to their eternal rewards, the men and women still with us, but retired, and those who chose to serve us in active service now. This beautiful piece of Iowa landscape depicts the sacrifices of individuals in their area from WWII, The Vietnam War, and the war in Afghanastan.
The Sullivan brothers, George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert, died aboard the USS Juneau on Nov. 13, 1942, when the ship was torpedoed and sunk off Guadalcanal during World War II. It remains the greatest combat-related loss of life by a single family at one time in American military history.
I think of their sacrifices, the hardships their families endured, and I’m grateful.
I'm a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a sister-in-law, an aunt, an author, a part-time volunteer guitar player, a retired businesswoman, a part-time gardener who loves to talk with people. I have a passion for my faith, my family, and my friends. I love to learn and share what I discovered.
In 2004, we discovered our daughter suffered from a debilitating disease - Paranoid Schizophrenia. I knew nothing about mental illness, but we didn't have the luxury of learning at a pace we could absorb. We had to dive in and hope we learned to swim as we came up for air. Our daughter is now in recovery and I work as a volunteer for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to support others who battle mental illness.
I wrote my journey in the book: Broken Brain, Fortified Faith: Lessons of Hope Through a Child's Mental Illness. Ask for it by name at your favorite bookstore or purchase it directly from the publisher, Familius.com, from the Amazon, or Barnes and Noble website.
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Virginia Pillars, Author 