My father was a veteran of the Korean conflict.
I grew up seeing his army jacket in the closet of our home...
I loved all of the patches, awards, recognitions affixed to it.
All of that made him even bigger to me than I thought he was. More superhuman...
At some point in my early adulthood he gave me that jacket. It meant more to me than any gift he could have given...
I wore it everywhere. I explained to people that it was not mine but my fathers... There were even people who admonished me for wearing it.
Some time later, my daughter decided to wear it herself. Out of love for the man she loved...
I received a call from mom.
"Why can't you give this jacket to her cousin" ... a boy.
"She's a girl. It might mean more to him."
