My Veterans’

We are not a military family, but our family has served this country for over 60 years and we’re proud of each and every Veteran in our family.

Both of my grandfathers served in WWII and the Korea War. Both were in the Navy. One served ice cream on the ships. He is very proud of his contribution to keeping the moral up for the men on his ship. One was part of the platoon who would parachute into enemy lines and fight. While very different in their jobs, each served with all their heart and souls and both came home to their wives in tact and with all their body parts. For that, we’re thankful.

My much younger brother (just turned 26) has served two tours in Iraq with the Marines. He is one of the few men to participate in urban warfare when their platoon took the city of Fallujah in 2003. He has seen a side of war that no one should experience. He was back in Falljuah in 2005 as a truck driver. Every single day he drove men and supplies to outposts in the region. His truck did hit an IED, but thankfully he and his men were safe with few injuries. Some aren’t so lucky.

My brother-in-law is currently a Navy pilot training to one day fly F-18’s. He is the modern day Maverick . He gave up his Canadian citizenship to serve in the US military. We are very proud of him.

My step-brother serves in the elite division of the Coast Guard. He has protected US ships in the Middle East. He has protected our boarders in Alaska, the Gulf and now in San Diego.

I still cry when I see troops arriving home in the airport. I will never forget the 9 weeks when my brother couldn’t contact us because he was sleeping in a tent in the middle of Iraq. I worry every time my BIL gets into a plane.

On this day, I say a great big Thank You to the men in our life who have risked their lives for this country. YOU are my hero’s!