My Serious Side

Today being Veterans Day I decided to show my almost non existent "serious side" :)

I think I should start of by saying Thank You to all of our soldiers.  Those who have served before us and those who are serving now. 

Soldiers have always held a very special place in my heart.  Long before I was married to one my mother instilled in me the importance of being patriotic and supporting those who put their life on the line daily for our freedoms.  I am very thankful for that up bringing and very thankful for those brave men and women who stand on an invisible wall and say "nothings going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch".  I had two brothers who served in the Marine Corps.  May my oldest brother John rest in peace as he stands guard at the gates of heaven.  Kenny who has been out of the Corps for years may not be as "mean" or as "lean" but he's still a Marine... and always will be.  I love them both dearly and am very proud of their service.

Now I want to take a moment to say Thank You to the spouses and families of our service members.  I think sometimes we all forget what the soldiers families go through so that we can have the freedoms that we have.  A lot of times the soldier leaves behind a husband or a wife and their kids for a year at a time to do their duty for our country.  Families are left behind to take care of everything and to continue to raise their children in some sort of normalcy all the while knowing that there is a possibility that their spouse won't be coming back home.  But that's what they do.  They stand behind their soldier and do what they have to in order to make it all work.  So thank you.... to all the families that are left behind.  I know the sacrifice you make.

I am now an Army wife.  It was a little late in the game for us as we have lived a civilian life and we are older than the majority of the men and women joining the service now.  However, it is something that my husband has always wanted to do.  It has been a lot of sacrificing but it has also been very rewarding.  Even though my husband is not home every night, gone days or weeks at a time, I know he is extremely happy with his decision and that makes me happy.  We are all still adjusting to the lifestyle, but it's an adventure!  This life has come with a lot of responsibility and a lot of adapting to a whole new way of living, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

We are asked time and time again, "Why did you choose to join the Army now, especially during a war?" my husbands response is "I'm choosing to serve because of all of those before me.  For my freedom that is stained by the blood of the soldiers before me.  It's the least I can do." 

So thank you to all of the soldiers past and present.  Thank you to the ones who came home safe and thank you and may you rest in peace to the ones who paid the ultimate price.  Happy Veterans Day everyone!