Our Liberty

Today is Memorial Day.  It isn't just a day to remember our Military members who are deceased, but a day to reflect on the cost of freedom for all Americans. 


There is something special about our country.  It was founded by those who were tired of tyrants running the show. During the Revolutionary War, the hope of freedom was a burning desire for those who lay down their hoes and cycles and left their loved ones to fight for something they knew in their hearts was achievable.  They wanted a better life for their children, and for us.


Most of us take our way of life for granted.  We are comfortable living in a country that has always stood for liberty and justice, for all.  Sometimes we become so complacent we fail to think about the lives lost to purchase our liberty. 


Our service members fought for us all over the world.  They continue to do so.  Today, I'm sure some of them fight in places we don't even know about.  If you were raised in the military, as I was, and as were my children, you know there are things we can't know or speak of.  There are secrets.  Those secrets serve to ensure our freedom.  There are untold millions who would love nothing more than to destroy our country.  Those people shout out their hatred for the United States of America.  Why?  Are they afraid there are too many people in their own countries who dream of being free?  They must surely believe the word "freedom" should be wiped from the earth. 


I hate that we still have fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters who are in harms way every single day.  There would be nothing better than to have them all safely here, at home.  But if we don't fight the fight away from home, we will, inevitably, be fighting it here, at home, in our own state, city or neighborhood. 

I was born loving a military man, my Dad, William Wilkerson.  He served 3 years in the Indiana National Guard before enlisting in the Air Force where he served another 20 years. He never had to kill a man, thank God.  But he served during the Korean war and Viet Nam war.  He hunted down and secured parts for airplanes. Without him, many planes would have been grounded. 

When Lynda and I started writing "Guam Adventures - The Darkened Light", we spent countless hours doing research on the history of our military on Guam. The above picture was taken the day the United States liberated Guam from the Japanese, July 21, 1944. The mysterious hero in our book was on Guam the day the Japanese invaded that tiny island.  He was also there on Liberation Day.

Respect and awe of our military members run deep in the blood of our family.  Their selflessness and determination made us who we are, free Americans.

I, for one, am eternally grateful.

The Lifting Fog

  After getting my department open and up for business yesterday morning, I got on the computer, as usual.  I kept thinking, "It's the 21st.  What is significant about this day?"  I usually get this feeling and realize it's a family member or friend's birthday or anniversary and I've just now remembered.


It suddenly struck me that it was 2 months ago that Lynda, my sister, friend and co-author, passed away.  An unexpected lump filled my throat and tears sprang to my eyes.  I prayed nobody would come by to talk to me until I had composed myself.


This morning, I have been hearing this small voice saying, "It's time to get busy, Terry.  At least start thinking about what you need to do to get back into the book." 


I've been so incredibly busy at work the book has been pushed to the back of my mind.  When I have thought about it, it's been with dread.  Writing a book is a lot of work.  When Lynda and I started working on Guam Adventures - Mystery of the Cave, we were clueless about the amount of dedication and sweat involved in writing, re-writing, editing, gathering a design team, and pulling the finished product together.  How in the world am I going to do this by myself?  Holy Cow!


At this point, what I really need is prayer.  I need to pray and I ask all of you to pray for me, as well.  I can't let Guam Adventures - The Darkened Light, turn into dust.  That regret can't haunt me for the rest of my days.  I owe it to Lynda to finish telling Jo and Susan's awesome new adventure. 


So, I do feel like I'm beginning to come out of the fog.  Your prayers and support will help to lift my spirits.  I am determined this will be a labor of love, not one borne of grief and duty.   My writing partner will be with me. I pray the voice I've been hearing this morning will inspire me with some of Lynda's creative, quirky ideas.