We can’t forget.
Ever.
The numbers are staggering:
2.7+ million either killed in combat or wounded.
And so it is why the tone in our home is a bit sober today.
We know the sacrifices closer than most.
We know the feeling of having a precious one so far away,
daily in harms way.
We know of the loss he has experienced.
We know what it’s like to have the days turn into weeks that turn into months
with no communication from him.
We know it well.
And we know the constant threat of danger
that he and his men endure.
For us.
For our friends.
For you and your family.
We are emotional as we read our son’s favorite quote:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who
points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs,
who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails,
at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who neither know victory nor defeat.”
And at every turn,
we want our neighborhood to remember.
We want them to stop and think.
We want our neighbors to know that the family
with the bazillion passenger van in the driveway
is not just another family in the neighborhood,
but we are a waiting family.
With yellow ribbons all over our home:
tied around our palms,
on our car
and
on our front door.
We wait, rather impatiently.
For our personal hero to come home.
Son, we are so very proud of you.
We love you so very much.
We pray for you without ceasing.
We always, always, always miss you.
And we wait.
Our family is so thankful, so thankful!
So grateful.
Tell him thank you from us. And thank YOU! I know the whole family makes a sacrifice. Hugs.
Thank you Tyler!
My mom and I watched the National Symphony Concert on PBS last night. I prayed for Tyler and his buddies the entire 90 minutes.
Such a hero! Thank you Tyler for serving our country with such bravery! Thatlast picture of him honestly looks like it could be a magazine advertisement! Praying for all those in harm's way.
Your son keeps weighing on my heart…been praying that God will protect your son in every aspect. Also, praying for all of you!
Many prayers…many thank yous!
Keeping your son in my prayers,
Lori
Praying in earnest for your precious son as he serves us all!
Grateful for your son, and others like him, who fight and protect our freedoms…offering a prayer for his safety and quick return to you!
We will pray for your son, and thank you for raising such a good and dedicated citizen!
Thank you Tyler and all the other people who help keep our country free. We love you and pray for you even though we have never met you!
janet and gang
So grateful for Tyler's service! He is so brave!
I was somber thinking of my friend and my cousin who have both lost sons (one in Iraq, one in Afganistan). It hurts my heart to think of all the people who have lost family members so that we can live in freedom. It truly humbles me to think of their sacrifice.
I will keep praying for Tyler. And Emma since she is overseas in God's Army! 🙂