Now I Know Why ...

[Anti M]

... I served. I've thought about my years in the Navy in the past, today is another time for reflection. There was family tradition, patriotism, and practical matters such as the Navy is a darn good career choice. There were always the concepts of freedom and liberty and democracy. But today, my reasons for serving, for supporting our troops and our veterans, today it all hit home. Today is history, today is a day for all Americans to be proud, today is the reason for us all to stand tall.

The TV is on and I am trying to type and drink coffee with tears on my cheeks. Tears of emotion, tears of pride, tears of joy. I want to share with you why I am in tears on such a day as this.

I was born a Californian, a navy brat, the youngest of four and the only girl. Dad was stationed at several bases in California, and I had many friends as we moved here and there. I had no clue that there was such a thing as race, my classmates and the children at church were white and Hispanic and Asian, but I didn't grasp this mattered to anyone at all. I looked at my kindergarten picture, there was one little boy who was African-American. No wonder I never noticed him, he was a boy!

Then Dad got orders to Virginia, with a stop for a Naval C school in Tennessee. This was my first exposure to the remnants of the culture of segregation, of racism. I was finally old enough at age six to begin to see adults as real people instead of benign giants, and some of these people were black. I didn't think much of it, my parents were effectively colorblind. But the other children and adults in my life taught me I could not step over those lines of color in an era of black and white. Religion too. In a public school in Tennessee, in second grade, I was placed in a chair in the hall during Bible study because I was the wrong sort of Christian. My parents must have stepped in, because I can remember later playing alone outside with an aide watching me. It was my first taste of discrimination I can recall.

The Navy transferred Dad to Oceana, and we went along as navy families do. The drive through the south was eye-opening, I could read and I asked my mother why there were two restrooms, and could we used the colored one because colors were pretty. Segregation had been outlawed, but the evidence remained. I was still in the second grade, the move happened during the school year. I made new friends at school very quickly, even shy girls can do this when the Navy moves you around. Gwen was a good friend, and I am sad I do not remember the name of my other friends. We played house in the trees on the edge of the playground. I couldn't understand why the teacher was mean to me, why I got a bad grade for the first time. Now I know. The girls I made friends with, the girls I played with, were black. I didn't know back then, but adult hindsight has shown me the truth of it.

As with every Navy family, we kept moving. I never had a chance to keep in touch with Gwendolyn and our friends. I lived all over the US, in Iran, In Saudi, I saw many more things I understood much better as I got older. Older and sadly, wiser. Hate hurt my heart. I joined the Navy, saw the world, had the adventure not just the job. I was very proud to be a sailor, and to be defending freedom. Yet it never hit home as it has this day, watching our first African-American president take his place in history.

As watch the joyful faces on my television screen, I wonder if any of these middle-aged women is Gwen. How happy she must be, how her children and her grandchildren must be cheering and dancing. I am honored that by my service, even though it was a short nine years, how my service contributed to their joy. I am humbled by the service of my father and grandfathers and those before, by the service of every veteran, by the service of the brave young sons and daughters today And I salute all the brave civilians who stood up to hate and fear. America has come so far, so many people enjoy so much more liberty and freedom. I can only hope that all America can step up in joy and willingness to set aside petty differences, to know that all Americans can help each, rejoice with each other.

Happy Inauguration Day.

[Sherry James]

Thank you so much for sharing the ugly truth of racism and the beauty of LOVE!!

[Anti M]

We each do what we can in our own way, and sometimes we don't even understand the value of our actions until much later in life.

Thank you, every mom who has sent a child into the military.

[Sherry James]

Thank you & your family for being couragous and dedicated enough to serve and/or support those who did serve!! Blessings and Peace.