Red, White and Blue

We're celebrating Memorial Day Weekend here in the good old USA.  This is the time where we remember those who served in our military to protect our shores, our people and our way of life.  I'm a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and I'm very patriotic, I love my country and my flag.  I've done many art projects that have our flag as the design feature, such as this beaded pin below, it's small, about 2x3 inches in size.  The 13 star design is called our "Betsy Ross" flag - our first, celebrating the 13 colonies.

I also did this fused glass platter, which is large, approx. 17 inches in diameter.  I designed it, cut the glass, cutting the stars was a challenge, I had to use a glass saw to do those, laid it out, it was fused in a kiln, then placed in a platter form and slumped in a 2nd firing.  The glass is iridescent.  I'm pretty proud of this piece!

This necklace and earrings I called my "9/11 Beads" - as I began crafting them the day after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington DC.  It was the only thing that I could do to demonstrate my patriotism to my country, so I worked on them as I worked through being devastated by what happened to the poor people who were killed and affected by the attacks.  I wear these often.

I wear a barrette to keep my hair up, so I beaded this one and I wear it every single day.  

In our family room, we have a remembrance wall.  There is a photo of my husband in his uniform from when he served in the Army during the Vietnam war.  To the right of it is a shadow box with his military medals such as the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart and others, including his dog tags, etc.  Atop that frame is a photo of him during flight school next to a Huey.  He flew as a Scout with the 1st Air Cav in a small observation helicopter.  He has no photos of his time in Vietnam as he was severely wounded in action while flying his helicopter there and lost all of his belongings when he was medically evacuated to a hospital ship. He was sent on to Japan for more surgery and then on to Madigan Army Hospital near Seattle, Washington where he was in traction for 5 months.  There is an inch and 5/8s missing from his left leg, but he does pretty well with it.

My Father served in the US Marines in WW II in the Pacific. He went in on the first wave at Iwo Jima with his company of over 200, with only 17 were not wounded or killed after the month-long battle.  He was proud of being a Marine and his service and attended several Marine reunions over the years - where he was awarded this plaque.  That's my Dad in the little photo above, I found this in his box of photos, he must have had it done and sent to my Mom.

A close up of the text on his beloved plaque.

Below are my father's medals he was awarded, he was offered a Purple Heart for a small wound, which he refused - he said the ones who REALLY deserved them were dead. 

We think a lot about our military and their dedication to our country this weekend, but as you can see, we think about them all year and appreciate our guys every day.  Tomorrow we're going to the cemetery to clean and shine up my Dad's grave marker, take him some flowers and visit. :-) Then we'll go on to our son Shawn's house for a tri-tip steak dinner.  

I just had to add this photo I took a few weeks ago of the American flag.  I hope you remember your service people where ever you live this weekend.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)