Veterans Day 2023
This year is a first.
My grandfather served in the Navy. My Dad served in the Navy. Father-in-Law was in the Navy. Stepfather was/is a Marine. Sister in the Air Force. Sister in the Coast Guard. Brothers-in-Law wore the Army and Navy. I myself wore the uniform of the United States Air Force proudly for 6 years.
But this year is different.
My daughter is now a veteran. This is her 1st Veteran's Day.
While in the United States Marine Corps she spent 13 weeks on Parris Island and a month at Camp Pendleton learning how to be a Marine. She spent time at New River learning her job and then had to "suffer" while stationed at Miramar in San Diego for a few years.
But her unit did get caught up a little bit in the Afghanistan withdrawal. She deployed to the Middle East on a carrier. And being in an aviation unit in the Corps she did have some friends who died without warning. One day they are there, the next they are not. She understands the lose.
But she is out. She has that magical DD-214. She is a Veteran. And I am thankful. The #1 goal is to get home, and she did.
But right now there are thousands of Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Guardians and Coasties in harms way right now as you are reading this. They signed up for it. They know what to expect and what price they may pay. And even when they make it home they may still have an unknown "price to pay." The military isn't easy and it's not for everyone. Everyone who goes into harms way takes something back with them they don't want, and leaves a little bit of themselves behind.
Meanwhile those thousands that are in harms way all have families back home worried about them. And having been in harms way, it's was easier on me to be in harms way than to have my daughter in harms way. I truly, truly feel for each and every family going through that right now.
So this weekend she & I will raise a glass to those who came before us, those in the mix right now, and those who sign up next.
Here's to Veteran's Day 2023.
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1 年Don, thank you, and your family, for yours and their service to our country. I continue to pray for those that serve in harms way, and raise them up in esteem and gratitude for their willingness to guard the gates of freedom around the world. Thank you for your service.