For weeks I had been thinking we'd go to Colonial Williamsburg to celebrate Veteran's Day. There will be a parade for all veterans, cannon volleys, speeches from historic speakers and fife and drums. I knew it would be a special treat for my husband, who retired last winter after serving 24 years in the USAF.  However he works for a private company now. Even though they are based at the Pentagon, he has to work.  I keep forgetting he doesn't necessarily get Federal holidays off anymore.  I think reality hit my husband this afternoon, when he asked if we could watch a Veteran's Day movie. I explained that we've recently watched the last of all of our WWI movies.  "Sgt York" is the traditional Veterans' Day movie for us.  I'm going to have to think of something meaningful to remember this important day for him.

     In the meantime, the significance of the day means more to the kids and me, now that we have completed our studies of World War I.  We've read about the trench warfare, the endless wait for battle that gained little, and the frightening new technology in weaponry, airplanes and chemical warfare. We've watched the utter hopelessness in "All Quiet on the Western Front." Told from the viewpoint of a German soldier, it revealed the agony of the war itself for the soldiers of every nation. Even though "Anne of Green Gables" is based on a series of Victorian books for girls, the third part of the trilogy is about WWI. The second part of the movie shows the horrors of the front lines and trenches of the Western Front, while Anne works as a Red Cross worker while looking for her husband, a Canadian doctor who has been conscripted by the German army.  Anne returns to England with an orphan baby and her best friend's husband, who lost his arm due to an infested wound from battle.  Swept up into intrigue and espionage, Anne returns to France with hidden jewels to help the Underground. We see the end of the war...the armistice.   In graphic cinematography of the movies, we experienced the horrible trenches, the exploding bombs, the wounded soldiers waiting for hope, the dead waiting to be buried.

     The most poignant of all the WWI movies, was the end of "All Quiet on the Western Front." As the war ended, the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, we see the results of the final shot, encapsulating the theme of the movie. Also in school, we've pondered the depth of meaning in the poem, "In Flanders Field."   

     In  years past, I remember my husband being called out in the middle of the night to arrive on base with his duffel bag to fly around on a plane...exercises.  Keeping that duffel bag packed, my husband placed it in a readily handy location. How many times did I stumble upon it...wondering?  How many times did I walk into the downstairs powder room and found a ghostly gas mask staring up at me from a cleaning solution in the sink, in preparation for the next exercise or deployment? How many times did we cancel family vacations, events or activities so he could be on call, available at a moments notice? How many "buckets" was he put into, waiting for deployment to the Middle East? How many times did we hold our breaths, trying to prepare for his times away?  Assignments stateside and to Korea were many. The deployments to the war zones strangely eluded him...and it made us feel guilty...fully aware of the families who sacrificed as their loved ones did go to the war zone. My husband's career field engaged him in safer zones, in support of those overseas, working long hours as needed for the mission.  Our sacrifice was easy, as compared to those who sacrificed the most.               

     To all those who did go to the war zone, thank you. You sacrificed so we could keep our freedoms at home. Your life is different because of the sacrifice. Your family's life is different because of the sacrifice. Serving wasn't easy.  Serving was dangerous. Serving gave us freedom. We salute you.

We began our fantastic 4th by everyone taking turns reading parts of the Declaration of Independence.  I wondered if this was over the top but just wait until you hear/read what happened later.  ;)  Then we watched our traditional movie, Yankee Doodle Dandee.  At the end we had gentle rain outdoors.  yea!  The ribs grilled in the rain while dh ran to the store to get 2 bags of ice so we could hand crank the ice cream.  By the time he got back the ribs were done!  I had made a pasta salad with veggies and herbs from our garden.  I got some barbeque sauce out but dh wouldn't let me put any on the meat.  He was too impressed with the rub mixture I had put on! By then the rain had stopped and we sat at the kitchen table eating the most delicious ribs we've ever had and freshest salad we can remember, while watching water drip from the eaves and birds splash in the water.  Well, after dinner clean up we hand cranked chocolate chip chocolate ice cream!  Then the moment ds had been waiting for....relay races. Guys against the girls.  We ran with spoonfuls of water from the bucket to the glass.  The guys won.  My husband suggested we select poetry to read from my books before the fireworks show!  So I got all my Country and America Ideals out and we each took turns selecting a patriotic poem to read.  DH went first and guess what he picked?  The Declaration of Independence! So that got read twice that day and once the week before at our unit celebration!  And we had studied it in depth for a week about a month before that!  We are getting to know this document rather well! ;)  At 830 dh announced it was time for us to put the books down and head for the fireworks.  The dc groaned!  As much as they wanted to see the fireworks, they wanted to squeeze in just one more poem!  I love it!  We took our yearly walk to the next neighborhood to the top of the hill.  The temperature was delightfully cool, storm clouds were billowing up in the far distance, towering prodigiously in the sky with varying shades of white and grey.  Parts of the sky showed blue.  When we got to the  top of the hill we watched the sun set and waited about 15 minutes for the professional fireworks show.  I finally walked down the hill a bit because I could hear the other professional fireworks show and wondered if I could see them at all.  But no, I could only see the glow over the rooftops.  Then the dc came running down the hill, telling me to join them in chairs provided by the sweet homeowners up the hill!  They had just come out with their chairs to sit in their driveway and view the show and saw dh and the dc.  They insisted that we have seats too!  Wasn't that sweet of them?  That is the most comfortable I have ever been watching a fantastic fireworks show.  Well no, that isn't true.  I was in Washington DC one year at the top  of the Kennedy Center restaurant where my SIL worked and surprise, there was an incredible fireworks show with the Washington Monument as the backdrop!  Nothing will ever top that!  But this came pretty close!  ;)

This year we managed to hand crank ice cream for Memorial Day.  Last year it rained for all the major summer holidays.  Although we desperately need the rain this year, we made the most of our sunshine. 

DH and I got this hand crank ice cream maker as a wedding gift from a friend from his side of the family.  His family has a tradition of making only hand crank ice cream.  It was very important to them that we have one of our own.  This friend searched high and low and found one in an antique shop.  DH found that it easily came apart.  He took it apart, sanded it, varnished it and glued it together.  Then a few months later we visited the cooper at Colonial Williamsburg and learned that these types of containers are supposed to easily come apart.  However, they are strong enough to remain put unless you purposely take a supporting ring off.   Oh well.  It still makes great ice cream!

DS takes a turn...

DD took a turn...

Success!  We got Almond Fudge Ice Cream!

Then we grilled fajitas with a spice rub and hickory smoked.  Then I squeezed lemon juice on top and let it sit while the tortillas, peppers and onions grilled.

A summer holiday grilled dinner must be enjoyed outdoors. 

The garden lizards entertained us...

Then we devoured homemade ice cream!

For a lovely floral tribute to our country, check this:

http://www.jacquielawson.com:80/viewcard.asp?code=1221321706636&source=jl999

Here's another favorite:  John Wayne as he tells the story of why he loves America. 

 http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm 

And then the story of "The Ragged Old Flag."  We've gone on family walks this weekend and dh, who is in the military, has counted the number of flags he's seen flying on our walk.  So far, he's counted...four.

 http://www.countrywhispers.com/raggedoldflag/