I cannot remember a single moment in time when I haven't had identified with the military. I have no idea how old I was when I got my first actual id card--twelve maybe?--but even before that day, I knew that I was a part of the military. My father had spent 20 years in the Air Force, and even as a child, I was pretty proud of that. Once he retired, and we had moved to Louisiana, not many of my friends had parents who had served in the military, so I always felt that it was a pretty unique defining characteristic.
Then, in high school, I decided to take a couple of years of JROTC so that I wouldn't have to take a phys ed course, and four years later, I was accepting an Air Force ROTC scholarship and signing a contract to commission upon graduation. I traded in my dependent id for a reserve id. Another four years down the road, I was once more signing on the dotted line as I accepted my commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and began active duty as a personnel officer at Little Rock AFB.
While I was proud to serve my country, being on active duty never felt like the right fit for me, so when I got the opportunity to separate and join the inactive ready reserves, I once again traded for a reserve id. Not too long after that, I came full circle when I was issued the dependent id card that came with marrying into the military.
I'm incredibly proud of my family's military tradition. Three of my four grandparents moved to America from other countries, in search of the American dream. But in that short time since we were established in the United States, each generation of my family has served in the military. My grandfather as a part of the Army Air Corps in WWII. My father in Vietnam. Me in Operation Push Papers. And now my husband in Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.
I'm celebrating Veteran's Day by giving thanks for all of the men and women who get up every morning and protect our country. And I'm also giving thanks for the life that the military has afforded me. It is far from perfect, and at times it can be downright miserable. But it has given me a sense of pride and honor. It has given me the opportunity to travel and to call so many places home. It has brought so many wonderful people into my life.
And I'm shipping this off to my veteran who is far from home on this day that honors him. I'd rather have him here, but if we have to be apart, I'm so proud that this is the work he's doing. Thank you, Colby. Thank you, daddy. And thank you to anyone else who serves or has served. America is a better place for having you.
Thank YOU, Angela, for your service and for the sacrifices you and Colby are making.
Posted by: Kristina | November 11, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Agreed.... thank you! Are you still a reservist? and Thanks to your husband too!
Posted by: erin | November 11, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Yes! My commitment is up next May. It's going to feel very strange to turn in that id card... At least I'll still have my dependent id ;)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | November 11, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Very well said!!! Thanks to you too for your sacrifices. :)
Posted by: Solange | November 11, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Thank you for your service and also that of your family!
Posted by: erin - heart in ireland | November 12, 2011 at 02:11 AM
I'm so grateful for the families who share their loved ones with us all--thank you for doing that, as well as for serving!
Posted by: Elizabeth | November 12, 2011 at 06:16 AM
My dad served in Vietnam. My late grandfathers & my great uncle all served in WW2. And i have a couple of cousins serving now. Very proud. Love military families. Thank you for your service & Thanks to Colby, too! :)
Posted by: Melissa | November 12, 2011 at 07:20 AM
Great post! Thank you to Colby and all our servicemen and -women, past and present!
Posted by: Kate P | November 13, 2011 at 03:16 AM