Veterans Day

Today is Veterans day, 2009.

Yesterday was the fort hood memorial service, and I have a wonderful Twitter friend who actually lives on fort Hood, and wrote a firsthand account of the events of that day, and the service.

Even if I bore you ... read it! http://thisfabulousarmylife.blogspot.com/ It's amazing!

Anyway, today I was thinking about my life as an air force brat, which seems so far behind me sometimes. On the radio this morning, there was a song (this Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2EW3yBqSk ) and it made me cry.

I hardly remember dad not being there as a child, because mom was an awesome mother, and made up for it somehow. When we were in Panama, she made sure we made little audio tapes of our voices for Christmas for grandparents, so we could tell them merry Christmas, and in a way, not seem so far from them.

I remember dad telling me a touching story about the brother I almost had. When he was in Korea, he spent his spare time with the Chaplain, and quite a bit of time at a nearby orphanage. There was a cute little boy there. He'd been on the streets for a while, his mom had given him some money before vanishing, and he knew to take it and ask for his favorite treat from the vendors when he was hungry.

They brought him in, and he wouldn't really talk. He was scared, and alone. Dad grew to love this boy, and was planning on adopting him and bringing him home. However, another family fell in love with the boy, an Air Force translator, and his Korean wife. They ended up adopting him, but hearing dad tell the story, he still has a soft spot for the child that I was never able to meet.

Daddy missed the births of two of my siblings. He was in Korea for one, and new jersey for the other. He met President Bush (the first one), back when he was vice president. (And didn't recognize him until they announced him as the next speaker).

I remember that when we went to a movie theater, the star spangled banner would play before every movie.

I was only eleven when dad left the military, and sentenced us to civilian life, but deep inside, that will always be a portion of who I am, and my past. I miss those years, and I admit I have Military issued "gypsy feet", I always want to be going somewhere, but I'm grateful for the way life panned out.

My children will never know military life. They will never experience the pain of having a father overseas, or the joy of having them come home. But I will do my best to make sure my children have the same love for their country that I do. I am an American, and have always been. But true Americans don't just live here, they understand what their country means. More than just on the fourth of July.

Those friends I met during those years, have never left my heart, and some I will probably never see again. (Usually because I don't remember their last names, children have that problem).

A thank you to all those who have fought for our country, who have served our country, and the families who love them, support them, and grieve for them.