"Call of Silence"

One of my most favorite television programs is NCIS and I think we all are familiar with it. There is one episode (my all-time favorite) that really brought a tear to my eye, literally, and the title was "Call of Silence". It's the story of a WW II Medal of Honor recipient who has lived most of his life with guilt in thinking he murdered his Army buddy during the war on Iwo Jima. It's a story of a true hero who deserves the highest respect. But Cpl. Yost was a hero in more ways than one. He had also just lost his wife of almost sixty years, whom he loved deeply.

What brought the tear to my eye was when Cpl. Yost invited Special Agent Caitlyn Todd to dance, something he loved to do with his wife. As they danced, even Caitlyn had tears in her eyes because she was an empathetic type person, but I think she knew there was something very special about the gentleman she had the privilege of dancing with.

Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, colors and genders. Most times, we think of those who give the ultimate sacrifice for others and rightfully so. I just don't think we give a lot of people the honor they truly deserve when it comes to how they loved their own spouses, for those who truly do, as Cpl. Yost loved his. He loved her by honoring her. They are heroes too!

It makes me wonder what has happened to us, as a people, because we don't love like we used to. We live in a disposable world and it has trickled into our relationships. Maybe we make bad choices. Maybe not. Maybe we take chances at love and that has been a mistake I have made in my own personal life. Love should be a choice, not a chance.

There are not too many men like Cpl. Yost left any more. It's been 64 years since WWII ended. We should all honor them with all of our heart because they have left a legacy that we very seldom pay enough attention to.