Seen The Elephant


Seen The Elephant

Originally shared by Rugger Ducky

Yesterday I decided to change my original plan to attend the San Jose Veterans Day Parade.

We decided as a family to go have breakfast at Bill's Cafe in Willow Glen. As I was parking and getting ready to follow my family and a visiting friend inside, I saw an elderly gentleman wearing a WWII/Korean War Veteran hat and his ribbons/medals. He was leaving the restaurant to head to the parade to be a part of it, and calling back to folks to make sure they came to watch it.

I was wearing only a digital camo pattern hat that said Army to identify myself as a veteran. It was the most I had it in me to do. I walked up to him, and said:

I want to thank you today sir, but make my apologies to you that I can't attend the parade today. I simply don't have the heart in me to salute the colors today.

I said this, having no idea how he voted, what he thought about women veterans, or anything else. I had already read the story told to me by his "salad bars", his ribbons and medals he wore so proudly upon his chest. He had bled for the country, more than once. He had served in combat as an an infantry man. He had served in the sweltering heat of the Phillipines in WWII, and the bitter cold of Korea later.

He looked up at me, and met my gaze directly. I realized he was probably of old California Mexican-American heritage. He spoke softly, words that I will carry as a balm to my wounded heart.

I've seen terrible things in my life. Evil comes and goes always. But it always goes when good people stand and fight against it.

We continued to talk, eye to eye, veteran to veteran for several more minutes. We talked about the names of places he had been as veterans are wont to do, but only the names. The names are enough to convey to one another the rest of the information. He told me about Leyte. I told him of my grandfather at Bataan. We talked a moment about Korea.

He needed to leave to make it to the parade staging area, and I needed to join my family inside. But before we separated, I asked him if I could have a hug. He responded simply by throwing his arms as wide as he could manage for his age and disabilities. We shared a long hug, and he reminded me again to simply Keep the faith.

I regret not having gotten his name, but his words will live with me after he is gone. And now with each of you who reads this.

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