It was a little after 11,  November 11th.   

Veterans Day.

I was in the lobby of the Demay Living Center.

Demay is a very special place for me and my family.

It’s where my mom and dad spent the end of their lives, and I was always confident they were safe.

It was where we spent our last moments with mom and dad, where we said good-bye.

A very special place.

But this isn’t about Demay,  or mom or dad.

It’s about Veterans Day.

More importantly,  about a friend and her grandfather, a veteran.

My friend’s grandfather lives in Demay.  

His eyes are bad,  his memory is fading, his voice is weak,  but he is still her grandpa,  and she loves him.

And he loves here too.   

My friend wanted to do something special for him on Veterans Day,  so she arranged for him to get a Quilt of Valor.

QOV is an organization that honors veterans by giving them hand made quilts to thank them for their service.

My friend had set up for her grandfather to get one.

On Veterans Day.

It came up in a conversion we were having last week.   She invited me to be there for the presentation.

I had to be there.

I’ve shared a rule I like to follow.  “If an old person wants to talk to you,  you should listen”

I guess another could be “When a friend asks you to attend an event to honor their veteran grandfather on Veterans Day,  you should show up.

So I did.

I met my friend and her son, and another friend of hers who is also a veteran.

And a little after 11, on November 11,  the representative from Quilts of Honor got there.

As we all walked down the hall to her grandfather,  I could tell my friend was nervous.

Would her grandpa know her?

Would he be happy to see her?

I know the feeling, going through my mom’s struggle with dementia.

I was nervous for her.

We got to where her grandpa was and she gave him a hug.

He said he couldn’t see,   she told him that was ok.

She told him who she was, and he didn’t know her at first.

But after a few moments,  his face kinda lit up,  and he knew her.

And she smiled.

While they were talking,  the QOV lady asked the other guy with us what time it was.

He said a little after 11.

That’s when it hit me,  we were going to be there at 11:11 on November 11.

Veterans Day.

After a few minutes,  they presented him with his quilt.

The lady explained it to him,  and gave him a certificate in a frame.

She thanked him for his service and told him that we were all grateful.

He liked the quilt,  and said it was warm.

He liked the certificate,  seemed to be proud of it,  and wanted to keep it with him.

They visited for a while and then he was tired.

My friend kissed him good bye,  so did her son.

My friend let the staff know about the quilt and certificate,  they were very happy for him and said they would make sure it got to his room.

I could tell how happy my friend was that she got to do this, and a little bit sad.

We walked out together,  thanked the lady from QOV,  I shook the other guy’s hand,  and thanked him for his service too.

My friend thanked me for being there,   I told her it was my honor,  and I wouldn’t have missed it.

I thought a lot about it on my drive home.

Glad I got to be there,  for my friend, for her grandpa,  for a veteran.

We need to remember all of our country’s veterans.

If you know a one,  thank them,  introduce your kids to them.

If you are related to an older veteran,  let them know how much you appreciate their service.

Have your kids ask them questions, teach them to listen and learn.

And if given the chance to be part of a ceremony,  no matter how small,   take that chance, and be there for them.

I’m glad I did.

A little after 11,  November 11.

Veterans Day.