In my room, I have Korean War medals. I got all of my grandfather's war medals after he died on October 10, 2002. But their is one medal that I hold above the rest. It is a 50th anniversary service medal. The reason that I hold it closer to me than the rest is because this one he actually gave to me about a year before he died. My grandfather;s medal sits facing me on my dresser so I am reminded of him as soon as I wake up in the morning.
My grandpa Cassidy always put me above the rest of his grandchildren. I am the last blood Cassidy and that was a big deal to him. He had three sons and only one grandson. I guess that is why he decided to give the medal to me. i was also handed his service flag at the funeral. It usually goes to the wife of the deceased, but in this case it went to me. My grandmother had died before my sister was born. It was a unanimous decision that I would get it.
I still remember coming out of band one day after school when I got into my mom's car. She didn't look so good, and then she broke the news to me. It was strange, I never shed a tear after my mom told me. I just sat there silently soaking in what had just happened. No one close to me had ever died before and i was just in disbelief. I knew my grandpa was not even close to healthy because of his years of smoking and drinking, but those aspects never seemed to cross my mind. His funeral was on my sister's birthday.
I have always remembered vivid details about him. Like his Lincoln Town Car that just reeked of cigarette smoke every time you entered. And his phlegmy laugh with his deep tone of voice. He had a best friend named Martha That would tell you everything you needed to know. We learned many extra things about my grandpa at his funeral because of her. I'd probably slap her if I ever saw her again. She didn't need to say some of the things she said.
My grandfather was a Corporal in the Army during the Korean War. Now some of my friends call me Corporal Cassidy, but i don't think they honestly know where it stems from. I have all of the patches from his uniform and his VFW cap with the I Heart Beer pin on it. All of these small items and especially that service medal help me relive all of the good times i had with him and how much I want to see and talk to him now.
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1 comment:
Wow! That's a really deep paper and I think you did a great job. I really learned a lot about your grandfather and you in turn just by learning about his service medal and other awards. You really did a good job of relating so much to that medal and i think that you wrote a great paper. Now I also know about the Coporal Cassidy and where it came from. Well again great job and great paper.
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