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Today, July 13, 2010, my brother
received the Malcolm Hickey Award
for Lifetime Achievement in the
for Lifetime Achievement in the
American Legion. My sister, Grace,
arranged for all the local family
to surprise him at the presentation.
to surprise him at the presentation.
Some of us were too far away to attend.
I wrote him this letter.
I wrote him this letter.
_____________________________________________
Dear Mike,
You have been our hero for so many years,
in both war and peace. You not only served our
country well, but you have continued serving
the veterans as a constant reminder to all of us
that freedom is not free. It costs somebody
something whether it is a mother her son,
a father his sanity as he waits by the television
or radio to hear word from the battlefield.
Distorted or not, it’s something to cling to.
A maybe. A perhaps. Or that daily trek to
the paper box to see for himself a bit of a map
so he can say, “Here, right here! His last letter
said he was on this road!”—always grateful for the
slightest word. We remember those days through tears.
in both war and peace. You not only served our
country well, but you have continued serving
the veterans as a constant reminder to all of us
that freedom is not free. It costs somebody
something whether it is a mother her son,
a father his sanity as he waits by the television
or radio to hear word from the battlefield.
Distorted or not, it’s something to cling to.
A maybe. A perhaps. Or that daily trek to
the paper box to see for himself a bit of a map
so he can say, “Here, right here! His last letter
said he was on this road!”—always grateful for the
slightest word. We remember those days through tears.
Years later, and with much dignity and pride
not in yourself, because that’s not who you are,
but pride in being so American that you still cry
when the flag is raised, when the National Anthem
is sung, when you see our current heroes in an
airport wearing fatigues (or is it digitals now?)
—dignity and pride because, in the midst of the
political turmoil and unpatriotic hype,
you are that American veteran-soldier
role model who knows the difference.
You are that calm but dynamic leader
in a time when reinforcing the courage and
camaraderie of the American veteran is vital.
not in yourself, because that’s not who you are,
but pride in being so American that you still cry
when the flag is raised, when the National Anthem
is sung, when you see our current heroes in an
airport wearing fatigues (or is it digitals now?)
—dignity and pride because, in the midst of the
political turmoil and unpatriotic hype,
you are that American veteran-soldier
role model who knows the difference.
You are that calm but dynamic leader
in a time when reinforcing the courage and
camaraderie of the American veteran is vital.
You are making us all proud by
“taking care of the veterans”
when they come home to New Albany
and Union County, Mississippi.
And yes, until they die.
And now you are receiving the extraordinary and
coveted award from the American Legion,
the highest honor in New Albany and Union County
—the Malcolm Hickey Award. We honor you.
“taking care of the veterans”
when they come home to New Albany
and Union County, Mississippi.
And yes, until they die.
And now you are receiving the extraordinary and
coveted award from the American Legion,
the highest honor in New Albany and Union County
—the Malcolm Hickey Award. We honor you.
Like your forebears at Gettysburg, you are a
“Mississippi Boy”
in the full sense of the word, and I am
“Mississippi Boy”
in the full sense of the word, and I am
Your very proud sister,
Wanda Jane
What a beautiful tribute. How important it is for us to recognize and acknowledge our veterans and the sacrifices they have made on our behalf. Mike sounds like a wonderful brother, gentleman, and role model for all of us.
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