Home Community Members CAN Write On the Riverbank - Dec. 1, 2001

On the Riverbank - Dec. 1, 2001
by Rebecca Ratliff

After a few unseasonably warm, rainy days, December has brought with it some dreary gray winter weather. The last of the brightly colored leaves have turned brown and fallen from the trees outside my window to lie forgotten on the street below. There is an empty house between our house and the alley. My next door neighbor has been raking all the leaves from his front yard and mine into the yard of the vacant house to make a giant leaf pile for his little daughter to jump into. I listened to their laughter all autumn. Now they have found some other things to do and the street has gone silent.

My neighbor's son Billy was lucky enough to get a leave from the Marine Corps. He was home, if not for Christmas, at least during the holiday season. We are all aware that he could be sent into harm's way any day. Although his job isn't likely to send him directly to the front lines, the rules have changed and people behind the lines are certainly vulnerable to some cowardly sneak attack, here in the States as well as overseas. Courage and honor are no longer just high-sounding words found in poetry and literature. They have become part of the job description for a lot of people, in and out of the military.

We usually think of winter in monochrome, white snow and gray skies, but this winter is different. Everybody who could snap flags up before they disappeared from the store shelves is flying them from their cars and homes. Even the Christmas lights are often red, white and blue this year. The Stars and Stripes are everywhere, to show support for Billy and all the other young men and women who could have been safe and warm with their families, but instead have volunteered to defend their families' freedom and safety. In a season when people pray for peace on earth, this year we acknowledge the solemn truth that peace comes with a high price tag. Semper fi, Billy. And keep safe.

Rebecca Ratliff
Page last updated on December 2, 2001