Monday is Veterans Day.

A day when all veterans are to be remembered, whether posthumously, retired, active, or reserve.   We know, we have a group of people men/women who volunteer either for a few years or a career to be a part of the world’s best defense system.  Their jobs are often politicized, criticized and optimized, for reasons taken to tables of congressman and senators and presidents.

They don’t question their assignments, and for the most part do not question the decisions of those who send them to countries all over the world.  They are often in harms way, but then again, they are often in places of the world they would have otherwise not had the opportunity.

They do not put on the uniform alone.  They have spouses and children, whom often given up quality of life, moving from pillar to post.  The children often change schools on a yearly basis and have to learn to make friends each time they change.  Inasmuch as this is anxiety for them, they are also afforded opportunities to go and see places in the world other children read about.

The years of absence upon absence endured by families and friends during uncertain times, leaves hearts filled with anxiety.  Spouses listen out for key words on the news, like a Mother’s listen for the baby crying at night.  But, the saddest of all the aspects of this high-risk career knows this particular special person, may or may not return from a battlefield alive.  Albeit, if they do, they may or may not be the same person when they do return. But, the pride they know of given in often-such austere places of their time to a country that allows every citizen a voice.  A voice each person should be able to use without retribution, insult or ostracized.  Our recent election is the prime example of :

That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. —Abraham Lincoln

These veterans who have served so eloquently and so bravely deserve this day and many more in a thank-you for their service.  So, if you can, and if you have a minute, on Monday 12, give a pittance of time for those who bravely said, ‘yes’, to an unknown.  The unknown is the most challenging of all, to all aspects of the soldier and their families.

God Bless America

Christine