I have a dear friend who now lives in assisted living. Our lives have changed quite a bit since she moved to the care center. She lost her husband a couple of years ago and had a stroke that has stopped her from driving, and walking without the aid of a walker.
If I were asked to name someone who has strong patriotic feelings, it would be my friend Virgie. Her husband was a World War II vet and made true sacrifice for all of us. Virgie has always been very interested in United States history. As an avid reader and former librarian, she has a large personal library of historical fiction and non-fiction. Patriotic celebrations are her greatest love so she has often held parties and get-togethers for family and friends where she has shared her experiences and knowledge with all attending.
On Sunday, Virgie called me and asked if I would be voting in the Primary Election on Tuesday. I am a regular voter but had been pretty busy and hadn't scheduled a time to go yet. She asked if I could take her to vote and I agreed to pick her up at 12:30.
When I arrived at her room in the center, she wanted to share with me her latest book purchases which included a fun facts about United States History, and a book that traced the lives of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence. She told me some of the things she had read, and I shared my thoughts on our common interest. We have the kind of friendship that only comes to those who feel they must have been friends in the spirit world. No matter how long we have been apart, there is never a lull in the conversation!
We arrived at the polling location, a local elementary school, and when we walked into the gym and saw the flag picture waving over the word VOTE, Virgie started to tear up. She bent her head over her walker and asked me to get closer so that she could speak in hushed tones. She whispered, "I am so grateful that you have brought me here today. It means so much to me to be able to still have this freedom. I have lost the ability to do many things in the past two years, and I struggle keeping up my spirits on occasion but I still can do some very important things. Our forefathers sacrificed their lives for me to be able to exercise my right to vote for those who represent me. I intend to do as much as I can for as long as I can!"
As I entered my electronic card that brought up my official ballot, I realized that I had taken some of my freedoms for granted. I had forgotten how hard many people worked to make these freedoms available. I am grateful for a wonderful friend like Virgie to remind me of my responsibilities!
Going forward I want to share this experience with others. I also wonder if my own children and grandchildren know how important the freedoms we have in this country are to me. May we all be encouraged to do our part to thank those who have gone before us by not taking their legacies for granted.
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