Dog Tags

As I sit here and listen to “Winter” by Bayside I realize that everytime I hear it I look at the dogtags hanging on the wall above the table with Pokey’s things.  We seat aside a corner in the livingroom for Pokey.. The flag the General handed to me at the funeral is there.. along with each one of the medals.  He recieved 5. There is the blue cord his father put on him when he graduated bootcamp. Pictures of his smiling face… His Pokey toy that went everywhere with him.  The walls are filled with plaques and awards he earned.  And hung over the Gold Star flag above the table are the dogtags he was wearing that day… they were one of the last of his things we recieved.. they didn’t come off him until Dover.  They hung around his neck next to his heart.  We’ve had other dogtags made for us and we wear them.  But these are special and hung in honor. I think I’m the only one who touches them. I’m not sure the kids realize they are the ones he was wearing that day.

On another wall we have David’s awards.. His All American medal for track.. pictures… awards.. I get to keep adding to that wall. More medals and awards will be earned. New pictures add. Some day wedding and baby pictures.  Barbara and Tony will add things to the walls in my livingroom over the years too.  And I will place each with joy and happiness and pride.

But Micheal’s wall is complete.. no more to add.. the  dogtags he wore that day were the last thing to put up for him.