I am grateful for the men and women who have given their lives in the service of our great country. Memorial Day is often misunderstood and some folks think the day is to honor all the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Memorial Day is specifically set aside to honor the “fallen”, and those who have literally given everything in service to the United States.

However, I am closely connected to those who have a hearing loss since I “hear again” with the technology of a cochlear implant. I’m also keenly aware and thankful for the men and women who serve our country and as a result … lose their hearing.

A man I have come to respect for his fair and straight-forward approach to dissimulating stories and news about hearing loss is Larry Sivertson of Hearing Loss Web. He has an excellent list of recent stories about hearing loss and our military. If you have time, please check out the stories from his website. Many men and women come home after serving our country in active military zones with a hearing loss. Thankfully, many are able to be implanted with a cochlear implant.

I thank God for those who have given their lives in service to our country. I am grateful for those who have served and as a result lost their hearing or suffered some other acquired disability. There are sacrifices made that we can never understand or fully appreciate. Many come home with invisible disabilities like hearing loss, but others come home internally wounded by what they have seen, heard, and experienced. Today I pray for all the men and women who serve our country and gratefully pray for them.

Denise Portis

© 2010 Personal Hearing Loss Journal