Veteran's Day

When I reflect on what Veteran's Day means to me, I honestly struggle to find words. Okay, I don't really struggle to find words exactly. I can communicate adequate sentences which convey how much I adore and am amazed by my soldier. In fact, that's the easiest aspect of Veteran's Day emotion for me to explain. The lobster really is, in every way my hero. I have an incredible amount of respect for his love, loyalty, passion, and honor in regards to the job that he has. This life has never been "just a job" to him. He has faithfully, and dutifully, served his country. I am humbled to help support him in that endeavor. I am honored that I get to play a small part in this wonderful world of the Army.

What I struggle with communicating, are my words in regards to the other aspects of this day. The soldiers who have died. I don't have words to explain how I feel. I can't put into words what the sacrifices of some of my best friends mean to me. How those gifts of life grieve me. How those spouses have managed to carry on have inspired me. What words could I possibly say? My heart loves the gold star families. My spirit is permanently linked to one special gold star wife. When I think of her, my whole being is encouraged and inspired. Of all the women I have ever known, she has given me the most strength, the greatest comfort, and the highest encouragement. I know that she knows how deeply I love her. I also know that she knows how much the lobster and I talk about, cherish, and remember her beautiful husband. I know we're not supposed to call dudes "beautiful", but to have known Yoe is to understand that beautiful defines the soul, and his soul is crazy beautiful.

What do I say about the most amazing company of spouses, parents and siblings that I have had the pleasure of being the FRG leader for? This company that we are currently serving with... I don't have words to say. I wish I did. I love these families. I grieve when they're grieving. I get excited when they have babies. I worry about them. I want to encourage them. I fight for them. I will keep on fighting for them. How could I not? We are in this crazy experience together! We have pried our fingers off of our soldiers and watched them walk away, together. We have laughed, bickered, teased, coffee'd, been frustrated, questioned, and waited, together. I love each of these families in ways I can't describe.

What can I say about our unit's "extended" family? I have been so blessed to meet some of the most amazing women within the unit's leadership team. These women are who keep everything going back here. Honestly. People gripe a lot of about what FRG's are not doing right, but they rarely sit and think about how incredibly time consuming it is TO do it "right", especially when you factor in that ALL of it is done voluntarily. It takes an incredible amount of passion, love, and dedication to spend the hours that are required, every day, to support and maintain an FRG. Not to mention, that all of these women are doing this with their soldiers deployed too, and their children needing attention too, and their worries and fears about their soldier too, and their job/time constraints as well. I literally love these people!

What can I say about the men who have led my soldier safely through five deployments? I mean, seriously, what can I possibly say about them? That I love them? Um, yup! That I will always love them? Um, yup! Even the ones who were douche bags, I still love them for being a part of the group that my soldier was deployed and returned home safely with. How can I possibly say what they have given to me? Seriously? Where could I even slightly begin?

What can I say about all of the soldiers we have known? Our amazing friends and family members, who have been (or still are) fighting the fight and defending the country flabbergast me. I am honored and humbled to have known so many of you. I am thankful for all you have done.

So Veteran's Day is emotional. It's powerful and sentimental and beautiful. It isn't about BBQ's, or "sleeping in" or going to a party. It is the day when I sit down and genuinely think about the people who have largely impacted me, many of whom have no idea the degree to which they have. It's the day when I sit here and think to myself Wow. I am really lucky that I get to share in such a tiny part of this amazing experience. I am incredibly blessed that I get to live among so many heroes. I am so thankful that I get to love so many who have freely chosen to give so much of themselves to this country. Wow.