11/11/11... I'm thankful that I'm a veteran.
I can recall, living in Brownwood, TX, and the weekends the national guard would be working. They'd flood into Wal Mart by the hundreds, decked out in camouflage. I can remember envying their uniform, wishing I could wear it and walk around like I was "bad ass" and owning the place! I remember too, being too scared to make the leap and live through boot camp to earn that right for myself.
This weekend, I took the time to go through and read old letters that I've saved over the years. I've got one dated March, 1998. It was a plea from my Aunt Vicki - asking me to consider the military. My life was spinning wildly out of control and I needed direction and she knew that the military held a million secrets to my success. I am glad she asked me to consider it. I did. And I went.
It was the scariest time of my life. I can remember riding around town in Dallas, the night before leaving for boot camp. I was with my best friend at the time, thinking "it's not too late to run away." I seriously considered it! I would have flown to Africa and lived in a tent in the bush until I took my last breath. . . but I was tired of running.
I can't tell you what it means to me to see my name on a pair of ABUs. There is a sense of pride I feel when I walk into a school wearing my uniform and have kids look at me like I'm a superhero. There is something special in a moment when I'm at lunch with friends and we're informed that our bill has been paid by an anonymous stranger - out of appreciation for our service. I can't tell you the tears that build inside when the grandfather of a wounded Iraqi girl tells you "thank you" for saving his little girl's life. Or the feeling you get when you return home after being gone for 4.5 months. . .
I love this way of life. It is HARD, and heartbreaking sometimes... and there are challenges and times that I want to quit - but I keep pushing through it. The military has taken me places and given me things that I never ever thought possible for myself. In return, I serve. I give to an increasingly ungrateful nation - and that is heartbreaking... I can only pray that the future reverses that trend.
Today, Veteran's Day 2011... I'm thankful to have earned this day for myself, and I'm proud to share it with everyone that I serve with - and those that served before us! Thank you!
Thank you sister, for your service. I feel inadequate even trying to express gratitude not knowing exactly what all you have been through - but I know that without your sacrifice and that of all of our service personnel, I wouldn't have the life I do. Thank you, more than you know.
ReplyDelete