I apologize for being a day late in saying “Thank You!” to our Veterans of the US Armed Forces for all they have done to protect our freedoms and country. However, I didn’t want to just move on and not acknowledge them without a hearty “THANK YOU!”
When I was younger, the draft had just ended and the volunteer service began. I was happy because I was a scrawny kid who was an introverted nerd (still am), and I wasn’t into hanging out with the guys so that would have been unnerving for me. Later, I learned that the military wouldn’t have accepted me because of the deformity Charcot-Marie-Tooth was starting to do in my feet.
Growing up, I had a few or so of friends who went into the military service after graduation. One of them was killed in Beirut. Also, I lived in an area where quite a few neighbors served the US Armed Forces in one way or another, civilian, or enlisted. I gained quite a bit of respect for these people willing to do their work in protecting freedom and the USA.
When I got married, my bride’s side of the family had quite a few family members enlisted in the various branches of the military. With that, I learned quite a bit about what those who served did, what it was like serving, and what it’s like to be a family member of someone who is actively serving. The family part of it was quite interesting as I never gave much thought to a parent being away overseas somewhere serving while the family went through life often without them. Talk about gaining a whole new respect for people- this truly did it!
I can’t say “THANK YOU” loud enough or with enough enthusiasm to our US Armed Forces Veterans and their families for everything they have done, and that they have given up, to protect the USA and our freedom. “THANK YOU!”