They say marriage changes people. It’s true. Oh, I believe you remain the same basic person with the same passions, likes, and dislikes. If you’re a nice guy you’re likely to remain so…the same said for being a bum.
The change, I believe in marriage, is the “new” family. It’s the in-laws and relatives you count as family. The Franklin history, stories, and traditions become part of her heritage. And likewise, you are part of hers.
The 4th of July has always been a favorite holiday of mine, but in the last two years my understanding has changed. Stories of the sacrifices made by veterans were pretty much limited to my Uncle Glenn. He served in the Pacific in World War II, returning with a Japanese rifle, a medal or two, and stories of the Navy. I’m proud of him and how he started the old Ford tractor after the war and went back to farming.
As a child, though, it was tough to understand the sacrafices the family made in the war because of his absence. My dad jokes about missing his brother and that he “kept the Japanese out of White River in Anderson.” He doesn’t mention the worry, or that my grandmother was scared when telegrams would come to the house. These are stories left unsaid.
The 4th has changed for me because of my new “family.” My brother-in-law is someone you would like. Everyone likes Kyle and they entrust their husbands, fathers, and sons into his care. He, I think, represents the best and the brightest in the U.S. military.
He has spent his life traveling the world keeping the spirit of independence alive. At home, though, I’ve seen the worry in family members eyes waiting on scheduled phone calls and the sadness of an empty chair at Christmas. Care packages sent to distant lands help, but the worry remains.
Marriage certainly doesn’t change who you are, but it adjusts your perspective. On the 4th I’ll be thinking about a brother who is a living example of the spirit of sacrifice the holiday entails. When the patriotic songs play tomorrow night, people cheer, and salute the flag…remember to say a prayer for the American heros we will never meet.
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