Veteran’s Day with a Whole New Understanding

It is Veteran's Day today. All day I have had an absolutely hightened understanding of the significance of Veteran's Day and all of the sacrifices that those veterans before me have made. I am grateful for their service, grateful to be able to serve myself, and I am grateful for my Angela who reminds me what is great about America and why sacrificing for her and my other loved ones is so worth it.

Angie wrote me the very sweet words below. I might have been compelled to keep them for myself, but she already shared them with the world on Facebook. Thank you for your sweet words. Reading about your pride in me reminds me of the value in the sacrifices that I make and the reasons why I serve... and it fills me with love.

Thank you, Angela. I love you!

Angie's Note:

Veteran’s Day with a Whole New Understanding

I was proud of you,
when you were so excited about applying to West Point.

I was proud of you,
when you were accepted and left early that first summer to train.

I was proud of you,
when you earned your first award- the German Proficiency Badge.

I was proud of you,
when I got to see you interact with your leaders at West Point functions.

I was proud of you,
when I got to see your face after receiving your diploma.

I was proud of you,
when I got to see you in your dress blues for the first time.

I was proud of you,
when I got to see you lead for the first time as a Lt to the saber arch soldiers.

I was proud of you,
when I saw you after you got pepper sprayed- simply to know what it feels like.

I was proud of you,
when you told me you earned a coin while training in Hawaii for your stellar work.

I was proud of you,
when you told me you got another award while training in Colorado again for your work.

I was proud of you all these times for your service, work, and dedication to the military.
But I am most proud of everything you have given up these last 5 months for the sake of the military. I have been proud of you every minute you have been deployed and every minute leading up to this deployment. You never gave into my moments of negativity about the situation. You never wished that you wouldn’t be in Afghanistan even though you have given up so much to do so.

You are my hero, my veteran, my husband. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for people like you. You have said before that I have the harder job of deployment because I am not around people in a similar situation. But YOU, dear, have the hardest job. You are the one in harms way, you are the one eating pre-packaged food, you are the one who doesn’t have the leisure of sleeping in a little longer if you choose, you are the one who has endured 113 degree weather, you are the one who deals with the most monotone environment, you are the one a long way from ALL of your family and friends. You, Marky, are the soldier who does everything that is asked of him, to the best of his ability, no matter what it takes. You are the soldier I am most proud of. You are the soldier I am fortunate enough to call my husband. You, dear, are my own personal hero.

On this Veteran’s Day, thank you- for your sacrifice, your love for your country, and your bravery to serve.

I love you- and I am so proud.

Forever and Always,
Angela