Gpa has been weighing heavily on my mind all day.

He had just turned 18 when he was drafted into World War II. He left small town America, not even a high school graduate, never having been out of state, and found himself at basic training in Texas, followed by a long boat ride to Italy.

He was just a boy himself. Not knowing nothing about nothing, thinking that I did. Jesus Christ, how did any of us survive?

Regardless of the {political} beliefs and ideas we hold regarding war, one thing should be a given — our thanks to the men and women who do serve our country and help fight for what they think is right and best.

So today I’m giving thanks to my Old Soldier, no longer of this world, and everyone else who makes sacrifices for me; for all of us.