Happy Veterans Day

To My Veteran, My Hero, My Love…

You often tell me that true heros are silent and unwilling to accept praise for a job well done.  It’s all part of the job, you say.  It’s a part of you, I say.

Occasionally I glance your way and catch a glimpse of the haunted look hidden deep in your eyes.  You catch my stare and immediately your face changes, the laugh lines appear and love comes flooding out of those baby blues.  Your eyes have seen unspeakable acts of horror and unfathomable acts of gentleness in the same war.

I’m often asked how I can pick you out of a crowd when desert camouflaged men come flooding out of C-130s at a welcome home rally.  It’s your walk.  You’re always on a mission.  When at work, your mission is to be the best crew chief the Air Force has ever seen.  You work hard, pushing to the max so the mission can go on.  When at school, your mission is to study with an never ending thirst for knowledge.  I’m convinced you want to design, build and fly the next super-sonic aircraft.  You want to do it all.  When being a husband, your mission is to love with a passion that can’t be compared.

For seven years I’ve stood by your side.  I knew marrying into the military was going to be difficult.  I’ve tried, so many times I’ve tried to tell you how wonderful and difficult it is.  You make it easy for me to stay strong.  You make it hard to live without you.

Your passion for this country has weaved its way into my life, making my own passion take off and soar above the clouds.  In my moments of weakness and irritation I say to you, “I wish I could pick the people you fight for.”  Your calm response, “I fight for the other people’s constitutional right to annoy you.”  We laugh, you relieve the tention in an instant.

Four times I’ve helped fill your bag with enough necessities to sustain life without me.  Four times, I’ve felt useless as a woman, as your wife… I won’t be there to take care of you!  Four times I’ve watched you walk out of my life to fight for our country.  Four times, I’ve thought, ‘I can’t do it.  Not again.’ only for you to kiss my forehead, tell me how strong I am…

I believe you are the strong one.  You hold everything inside not to let any weakness show.  Your only weakness is me.  You hold me on a pedestal and worry about my disappointment.  You say you won’t share your war stories with me because you’re afraid I’ll look at you differently.  I’ll only love you more for trusting me with your sorrow.  There’s nothing in this world that would diminish my pride in you and your service.  I’m so very proud of you.

You say heroes don’t look for recognition.  I agree.  You’re too humble to accept recognition anyway.  Today is your day though.  Today I will celebrate your life as a patriot and warrior for this country.  I hope, for one day… you accept the gratitude this nation extends you for your service.

I love you.  You will always be my hero.  Happy Veterans Day love.