Recently, we attended the reception for a group of WW II veterans returning from a Flight of Honor trip to Washington, D.C. For those gathered at the RDU parking lot, the patriotic music and flags flying were a true testament to our love for our country, veterans, and all military as we stood on tiptoe and craned our necks to see the parade. We greeted several men from our small town of Fuquay Varina and took pictures with them. It was so exciting but I'm sure it didn't hold a light to the actual day when America heard that the war was over. My mom says she remembers that day well. She was at the corner store in her hometown of Duncan, NC. The news came over the radio. The war is over! She rode her bike as fast as she could home to tell her parents. They were so excited because it meant that Mom's older brother, Winfred, would finally be coming home. I can't imagine the joy they must have felt. From what I understand, it was not easy for the soldiers to adjust to civilian life after looking death in the face every day. She recalls that one time, months after returning home, Uncle Winfred was walking down the street in town when a car backfired. Uncle Winfred said that before he knew what had happened he found himself getting up off the ground. An automatic reflex, diving for cover at the gunfire like sound. In that day of hand to hand combat, I'm sure quick reflexes is what brought a lot of soldiers home safe to their families. Uncle Winfred passed away in 1983 but I know he was with us in spirit celebrating the return of those WW II Vets...his buddies. Welcome home.

Kimberly Dickens Rodriguez
Fuquay Varina, NC