The Quiet Veterans
My gratitude and thanks goes to every single person who has sacrificed to serve our country. The Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen.
And the families that are left behind ....
Last year I thanked my own personal veteran. This year I want to thank the quiet heros. And it's only fitting since November is Military Family Month. I want to thank the families of those that are deployed. The spouses and the kids. Especially now when we're getting into an age where multiple deployments is becoming the norm. And actually, it's not just the deployments... there are schools and training that take away the soldier for months at a time.
So this is to the spouses, men and women, that hold everything together back home while their Soldier, Airman, Sailor or Marine is serving so far away. To the spouses left behind that play mom and dad to the kids. That try to keep their own sanity through the hectic days and lonely nights. They try to keep up with the never ending battle of making up for a parent and partner being gone, keeping the home fires burning and just taking care of all the little details alone. All along trying to put it all on with a brave face and a smile.
So many of you have kept in touch with me via email telling me how strong I am and giving me support. I know you won't believe it, but I have it easy this time. Really. I've been on the other side, too, so I know. I have experience behind me now. My boys are at least somewhat self-sufficient this time. They are at an age where I can leave them for a couple of hours to run errands and go on a little mini vacation to the commissary alone. And I'm older. Let's face it, things are a little easier when you have a few years behind you. I also have it easier because Dan has been in a while (19 years in March) so the money is better. I can take the boys on trips to see where Harry Potter was filmed and go on a weekend trip to Athens to run a 10K race for an hour. I realize that I'm lucky in those ways and am very grateful for it.
I remember what our first deployment was like when the budget was thinner and I was younger. Daniel was two when Dan went to Bosnia and I was in my early thirties. Daniel was seven and Joe a toddler when he went to Afghanistan the last time. That was hard enough. I can't imagine having three little ones and holding it together like Erica. Go thank her. She's serving her country just as much as her husband is being down in Iraq for the 2nd time with only a little over a year between deployments. It's kind of ironic because her most recent post as I type this is titled, "Superheros". Erica, *you* are the superhero. And let's not forget the fact that she's a heck of a knitter too! :-)
My good friend, Pam. What a woman. She has brought me so high after a serious blow to my confidence and self-esteem right after Dan left. She has three kids and a full-time job. Her husband was home for eight months before leaving for another year in Iraq at about the same time Dan left again for Afghanistan (we had 2 1/2 years between deployments). Her kids are in 6th grade, 1st and Kindergarten. Her youngest barely knows his dad. We just ran in the Athens 10K together this past Sunday. It was awesome and she's the one that got me to do it. I never would have done that for myself without her. Over this deployment we have built a solid friendship that will last the rest of our lives. We know that we are there for each other no matter what.
For the woman that cries herself to sleep at night from the stress of being alone and wondering if their husband is okay. For the man that puts his little girl's hair up in a crooked ponytail because his wife is off in a desert somewhere. And let's not forget the little Patriots. Through their courage they have a parent missing their birth, first steps, first words, Tooth Fairy visits, first day of school, soccer games, birthdays, Christmas, sledding in the new snow, trick or treating and Saturday morning Playstation games.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
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