Indeed, some did give all.

Memorial Day, according to the US Department of Defense, honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice – that of their lives.

It’s a day of mourning, and also a day of honoring those who have fallen. Some in battle, and some as a result of their service.

Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell

Jim and I took an unplanned trip to the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell to visit the grave of his uncle. I didn’t realize this National Cemetery even existed, and Jim didn’t realize that’s where his uncle was buried.

We shed a lot of tears. To be clear, Uncle Joe served twice, but did not die in the line of duty. However, others in the family have. We celebrate them, today, too, even though we can’t visit their graves.

The Bushnell National Cemetery is beautiful and wonderfully maintained, laid out in military precision, with identical markers for everyone.

I didn’t expect the cemetery to be so large. There are more than 204,000 burials, arranged in sections, and space is still available.

I’m very grateful for whoever posted the GPS coordinates for Jim’s uncle, Joseph Bister, on FindaGrave, or we would never have found him.

The cemetery is a sea of markers. Each one honoring a veteran or their spouse who is eligible for burial.

Where is Uncle Joe?

We found the section and started our search.

Jim located the marker about half way back.

Jim placed his penny, signifying that someone has visited.

Uncle Joe’s marker. He served his country in two wars.

Plastic tubs holding small flags were being strategically placed in front of each section. Before Monday, each grave will receive a flag to honor their service and sacrifice. Every soldier sacrifices.

We decided to go ahead and place Uncle Joe’s flag.

A kind visitor took a photo of us, then I left Jim to have a few private minutes with his uncle. I suspect they had some catching up to do.

Gold Star Memorial

As we were driving through the beautiful, peaceful cemetery, observing several families visiting their loved ones, I noticed something near the exit. Of course, I had to pull over and take a look.

I was not expecting a Gold Star Memorial, although I’m incredibly glad to see it.

As you probably recall, I’m the representative family member for Robert Vernon Estes, a POW who died a torturous death in a horrific POW camp in North Korea. I’m also his namesake.

Robbie is my uncle’s son, and I still pray that one day his remains will be repatriated, identified through DNA, and that I can lay him to rest at Arlington where he deserves to be.

There’s so much raw emotion for me here. Especially combined with the knowledge of my father’s service, and that my mother’s fiancé, Frank Sadowski, was killed in Okinawa on Tombstone Ridge.

“…and those they left behind…”

My God, I’m sobbing.

The back is beautifully carved as well.

Words fail me.

In our culture, the eagle is a majestic bird that signifies strength, power, courage, wisdom, and yes, freedom.

The eagle reaches between the worlds, a soaring messenger between the earthly and the spiritual. The eagle comes to get you and transports you to the next world when your time here is finished.

I’m not leaving you, Robbie. Not until you come home or I join you, rising on the eagle’s back.

Vietnam Memorial

Nearby stood another monument, honoring those who served in Vietnam.

I thought I was out of tears, but clearly, I wasn’t.

“…wounds, seen and unseen…”

No truer words could be spoken. Or in this case, carved in granite, and in the hearts of those who suffered along with those whose lives were destroyed.

Perhaps one day I will be able to write and share with you about the husband I lost to Vietnam, and his incredibly torturous journey – but today is not that day.

Today, I will simply leave you with a final photo of Jim, a small spec behind the flag, kneeling at Uncle Joe’s marker.