"Father"
The snow fell silently, just as it did every single year he came. The feelings of loss no matter how old he was remained the same, just as the snow did.
Softly he fingered the engraved letters of his father's name, lost so many years ago over North Vietnam on Christmas Eve. How many fathers were there on the Wall; how many sons?
Since he was going to be a father, he had to re-think his future. No more taking risks, no more throwing himself recklessly into battle. He had to remember that his child and his wife needed him.