Free Lined With Silver by Roseanne Evans Wilkins

all the research and then the crafting.” Sondra stopped
next to one of the soldiers to inspect the details.
    “Frank Gaylord must’ve felt a great deal of
passion for the subject, that’s for sure.” Zack agreed. They walked
on and stopped at the reflecting pool. Carved in a granite slab in
front of the reflecting pool was an inscription. It read “Our
nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to
defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”
Sondra thought about Zack and his service in Afghanistan. The same
thing could be said of him and those who served there.
    The granite wall behind the pool was carved
with four simple words: “Freedom is Not Free.” They spent a few
minutes in quiet contemplation at the pool and then strolled on to
the WWII Memorial. Flags from each country involved in the conflict
fluttered in the breeze.
    “When you see all the flags, it really puts
into perspective how much of the world was at war then, doesn’t
it?” Sondra indicated the flags with a slight wave.
    “It’s sobering, that’s for sure.”
    They moved to the Roosevelt Memorial, which
dwarfed the War Memorials. As they walked through the opulent
memorial, Sondra turned to Zack. “Doesn’t this seem out of
place?”
    “What do you mean?”
    With her outstretched arm, she indicated the
surrounding memorials. “Here are all these memorials dedicated to
people who died for freedom in this land, and the biggest, most
expensive memorial here celebrates socialism.”
    Zack shrugged. “It’s all based on
congressional approval. There isn’t much anyone can do.”
    Sondra stared across the mall toward the
Vietnam Wall, the names invisible from the distance but imprinted
on her heart. “It feels wrong, Zack. Maybe I shouldn’t say this,
but I hope some future generation with more guts than we have will
tear this memorial down and replace it with something that
celebrates the freedom we enjoy, not the welfare state this
monument clearly celebrates.”
    Sondra shuddered, then turned to Zack. “All
this walking has made me hungry. I’d like to go eat and then watch
the changing of the guard.”
    Zack reached for her hand as they headed to
their car. The trip to the restaurant only took a few minutes.
After they ate, they got back into the car and wound their way to
the Arlington Cemetery.
    Thousands of white crosses across the hills
blended in with the snow. Green wreaths placed at the base of each
cross were topped with a bright red bow, the crimson a reminder of
the season and the sacrifice of the veterans.
    After walking around parts of the cemetery
and stopping at the Kennedy Memorial, they worked their way to the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and sat quietly, immersed in their own
thoughts.
    When they were asked to stand, Sondra was
touched by the careful ritual performed by the soldiers. She was
glad Zack had taken some time to explain the process. She wouldn’t
have understood the significance of the ritual without his
insight.
    They sat a few minutes after the ceremony was
over. Sondra reached for Zack. “Thanks for coming with me today. It
means a lot to have you here with me.”
    “It’s been a while since I’ve come to the
monuments. I think coming here with my family was what made me
decide to serve in the military.”
    “I’m grateful there are those who feel the
way you do.” Her voice was fervent.
    He stood and led her to the car. She was
hopelessly lost and was grateful he seemed to have a built-in
compass.
    “Did you have anything else planned for your
trip?” He asked after they were settled in the car.
    “I’ve neglected my shopping. I have a few
Christmas presents to buy. Is there anything close?
    “I think I know a place you’ll like.” He
drove a few miles and then stopped at a mall. They wandered,
stopping occasionally to look at an interesting display. One stop
was for a particularly garish display of Christmas items. When a
short stuffed flannel Christmas