Today, I always think about all the sacrifices my family members have made for our country. My brothers were in the military and served in multiple war actions. I remember at Christmas time, my mom and I would spend many days making tons of holiday treats, boxing them up and sending them overseas for, not only my brothers, but for the guys that served with them that may not have gotten any packages from home. At the time, I knew I missed my brothers and I enjoyed putting the time in to send off the gifts, but I never thought about what my mom had to have been going through – until…
When my oldest son was in high school, he began investigating the military. This was when the war in Iraq was fuming high. I remember when he told me that he was talking to the recruiters and my heart sank lower than I knew it could. Not because it was the military – but because it was war time and many soldiers were dying. Ultimately, he chose not to pursue the military, but since that time, Veteran’s Day has taken on a new meaning for me. I can’t imagine what it is like to be a mother with a child in the military – especially at a time when war is going on. I know that the soldiers have to be scared to death, but I can’t help but feel my heartbreak even more for the moms. The soldiers know what is going on where they are. The moms sit at home and think the worse minute by minute. Even worse – I can’t imagine being one of the moms that have the knock on the door to be informed their child isn’t coming home.
On days like today, I remember how life could be so much worse – not only if our freedom was taken away, but I am not one of those moms crying daily for their child. I don’t know how they do it, but I do think these moms should earn a metal for every day they sit and wait. You have my utmost respect if you are one of them. Thank you. Thank you to your family members that serve and thank you for enduring the sacrifice they have chosen for the rest of us. You should never go unnoticed or forgotten.