Hey America –

Do you know what today is?

And no, it’s not a great sale day at your favorite store.

Really America, do you know what today is?

It’s Veteran’s Day.

Do you know why we set aside a day to honor those who have defended our freedom?

Because in all the hustle and bustle of life, it’s an attempt to stop and realize what the cost of freedom is, what is at stake and what has been sacrificed.

So America – what are you doing today?

Did you stop to think about the Veterans that live right around you? Did you stop to thank them?  Did you do something special to honor them?  Did you ever stop to wonder what they went through while they served?

Did you notice the man without the legs who maneuvers his wheelchair, sometimes causing you to have to slow a bit in your hurrying to get to where you are going?  Yeah.  Well he’s a true-to-life friend of ours. He left his legs and a piece of his soul in a faraway place so you could have that freedom you enjoy.  Now where was that you were hurrying to?

Did you every stop to talk to him and thank him and his friends today?  Did you ever buy him a coffee and say, “Hey I appreciate you so much!”

By the way, he’s not the only one who left a piece of himself on foreign soil.  There are some things that left that aren’t seen.  But those up close know.  The sacrifices are untold. 

Cause really America, most of us have zero clue.

We love our freedom, but seldom, if ever really stop to think about all the sacrifices that were made to get it.

And if it’s just a great sale day, that’s really a slap in the face to so many.

Because frankly, unless the conscious decision is made to stop and think about it – the day breezes by with not even a glance.

A very pitiful thought to those who have sacrificed so much.

Really, no one has a clue unless you have served, fought or have a loved one who has.

I mean, truthfully, we sure didn’t a clue.

Until we became a military family.

And then we were in for a big, fat, rude awakening!!

We had absolutely no idea.  Zero.  Nada.

A friend of ours, while sitting around our Thanksgiving table many years ago once said of our precious one,  “They own him.”  His words stung and my heart raced.  That thought scared me. Guess what?  The words he spoke were truth.  They do own him.

Yes, he signed up on his own accord.  But none of us knew what that would really mean.

We tried to imagine.

But still we couldn’t prepare.

No parent can.

The middle of the night times up praying cause it feels that it’s urgent to.

Holding your breath when the news reports something has happened on the other side of the world.

The inability to talk to him, even though it’s Christmas Day, because the place faraway is just so remote.

Or there is just no communication allowed for reasons we can only attempt to comprehend.

Some might think, well at least when they are stateside they are “home.”  No.  Not really.  Cause even stateside, there’s the remote two-week-long training that keeps one treasured brother from coming home when a sister flies in after almost three years. 

Hard reality.

Difficult moments.

Tears.  Lots and lots of tears.

Proud?

Totally.  Over the moon proud.

But not without cost.

And some have paid the ultimate price. Who can even begin to grasp that?

And all those medals?

They sure as heck didn’t come without excruciating pain, unimaginable sacrifice and steadfast commitment. 

A leader of leaders.

A joy to call son.

Our family hero.

And although we’ve told him a million times over – We love him so much!!  We are so thankful for your patriotism.  And we always miss him and his family.

And to all our military friends and their families…we love you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  May you know that you are loved and appreciated by America, not just on Veteran’s Day, but every day.