Be Careful What You Wish For

20 years ago, 1989, Berlin, Germany. As a young second lieutenant, I saw the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. It did not come from governments but  with a crowd of people tearing down one of the most hated symbols of the two Germanys. Yes, I was there the night the Berlin wall ceased to serve its purpose. Since that time, the Soviet Union collapsed and with it, the Warsaw Pact. I look back now twenty years later and it's still hard for me to believe that we were so close to utter stupidity and yet, even now, all you have to look to other areas and the same arrogance still exists. I wish for all to also remember the men and women who served so there was not war but an uneasy peace. The Cold War lasted for so long but it's already forgotten by most. To my fellow Cold War veterans, thank you, we all won.