Veterans. Memories. Unsung Heroes.

Nov 6 2016, 8:50 am

November 7 through November 11 was, and still is, a special time for me.  The 7th is my wedding anniversary. The 10th is the Marine Corps Birthday and the 11th is Veteran’s day.  Hubs—Ed—was a Marine. I haven’t been able to celebrate with him for 14 years. But, I remember.  I remember while in the corps he was gone for more of our special days and holidays than he was home. I remember after one of his deployments to Vietnam we didn’t have turkey or ham for years because the only hot meals he received while there was one of those. The taste and smell brought back memories of things he said he would never tell me. I remember the time we were in Madrid for our anniversary.  He and a friend, who both had consumed way to much adult beverages, convinced the little band in the bar where we were spending the evening to play a version of an anniversary song. They enjoined all the patrons to sing. He kissed me and said, for all the times I wasn’t there. It was so unlike him I cried. When our son was with the first Marines into Bagdad he said he hated him learning what war was really about. 

To honor my husband, I remember all the men and women who serve honorably around the world every day. One thing I do is check the FB page, Seal of Honor. There I can see the faces and read the names of those who have served. See daddies meet their children for the first time. See parents putting flowers on the grave of their young sons who will never have sons of their own.

I not only think about the men and women serving, I think about their families. It’s true these days families are more in touch with those serving in combat zones and in faraway places. Service men and women Skype, call frequently, and tours are a few months at a time. But listen to me very carefully. The fear, pain, and loneliness the families feel every second, of very bit of the time their loved ones are away cannot be explained to anyone who has not experienced it. The thought the person you love can be killed in a firefight or step on an IED as you are drinking a cup of coffee is breath stealing. Or, as you breathe right now, another person takes his last breath for your freedom. To survive you shut something off.  If you want to know what an unsung hero looks like look into the faces of a military family.

Please, while everyone is remembering our heroes, take time to remember and honor the silent heroes, the families.  The families who serve also, albeit by default, but serve they do.

If you are so inclined join the families in a daily prayer to bring their loves ones home safe.