Give Thanks: The Backbone of Our Country

Our country recently celebrated Veterans Day and watching the news and videos always brings tears to my eyes knowing these Veterans have fought for our country to keep it free and some have paid the ultimate price of never coming home. 

The first years of my life was spent in the military while my dad was in the Navy.  I remember living in California and 5 years in Honolulu and what fun living some where were you could go swimming at the beach anytime you wanted to.  I think back today of when my mom would be home alone with us for 6 months at a time while my dad deployed, but what a great place to be with all the other children who were in the same boat (pardon the pun) as my brother and I.  My dad spent 20 years in the Navy during the Koren War and retired in 1965.  I give thanks to all those who are left behind to keep the families going during peace and war time and to all the Koren veterans!

Out of all the military pictures of have of both my husband, his family and mine, this picture says it all.  Here is 7 members of my husbands family (including his dad far left) who all went to fight in WW II and they all came back to their families.  What a blessing that was and what an amazing bunch of fellas!!  I have only personally met a couple of them since my hubby and I married, but these men stand for what our country is built on.  Honer, pride and love of our country. I give thanks to all our WW II veterans!

I didn’t know my hubby when he spent his years in the Air Force, but he has told me some funny stories from that time.  He served during the Vietnam era, but was never called to country.  What a handsome young man he was in his uniform.  After he left the Air Force he became a firefighter for 30+ years and I told him right before we married that when my family was flying back from Hawaii to the states, I had to sit alone because there were only 3 seats in a group on the plane and my brother was just a little boy.  I was seated next to a sailor in the Navy and he was so nice to me.  I knew at that moment I was going to marry a man in uniform.  Almost 40 years later, I did.  He was in a firefighters uniform at the time, but isn’t it neat how a little girls dream can come true.  I give thanks to all our Vietnam veterans!

My little brother has served 5 years in the Navy and the last 15 in the National Guard.  He did 2 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and just retired after his 20 years of service.  While in Iraq, his son was born and as fate will have it, my brother was born while my dad was deployed.  Life does seem to repeat itself sometimes.  I give thanks to all our serving men and women in the military!

My heart breaks for every fallen soldier and their families who will have to live without their loved one.  These are our heros!  I know there is a special place in heaven for all these soldiers and I can only imagine all the stories they are sharing with each other as they watch over their loved ones who wait to return to them.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith – 2 Timothy 4:7

God bless America and our military,

Tammy

The Long Journey,  The Beat of My Life and The Backbone of Our Country are part of our Thankful Thursdays.  I hope you will join us.

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