Never Forget - Visitor's Story

by Jodi Jamieson
(Middletown, CT, USA)

I had pulled into the parking lot of a neighborhood grocery store, as I stepped out of the car I saw an elderly man, gray and full of lines sitting in a small chair in front of a table handing out blue posies for those that served in the war. He was a veteran. As I walked past, he brightened up and with a kind voice said "Hello! How are you?" I replied, "Very well, thank you!"

I told the man that I had no change and that on my way out of the store I promised to stop and make a donation. He smiled, and said, "Thank you."

When I completed my shopping, I indeed stopped once more outside and placed a one dollar bill in his small change jar with one hand, and with the other I handed the kind gentleman one Lotto ticket, and said "Thank you for your service and protection. May you always know that you are worth more than the millions of dollars you might win on this ticket."

He stopped and took the ticket from my hand, and placed in mine a blue posy, for which to remember those who fought in wars well before I was even born. He thanked me with a warm smile and a glow in his eyes. I walked away.

As I got my groceries in my car I looked back and saw him examining the ticket, while brushing a tear away from his face.

As I drove away, I recall myself whispering, "Thank you, thank you to all the men and women who have kept us safe."

As for the blue posy the man gave me, I placed it on the center mirror on my car so that I will NEVER FORGET.