To Make Every Day Memorial Day

Being the parent of a Soldier, I spend a portion of every day considering the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces. I realized this is probably not normal last night when I reflected on an entire day of Memorial Day fanfare and the hoopla and thought, "This is a one time a year event for some of these people."

I know this might be hard to understand if you don't have a loved one in the military, but a lot of Military family members live Memorial Day everyday. We don't have speeches and stories and 21-gun salutes daily, but we ride the emotional roller coaster every day. We consider the horrors of war and the possibilities our loved ones face daily. We try to keep our enthusiasm for our Armed Forces in check when talking to them because we know that our loved ones feel like they are just doing their job, doing what is right, and don't understand why it's not what everyone would do. We can appreciate what our Soldiers can't see...what it costs them emotionally, what it costs their families. We can feel the overwhelming joy in every homecoming we read about. Our hearts break when we read about a Soldier that won't be coming home. We pray that the wounded warriors will heal and wonder if we could ever be as strong as their families appear to be. We are grateful for every Military family that came before us. We know the sacrifices that they have made, and we know the fear they have endured, the pain that can't be shared...except with another military family member.

Memorial day to me is not another holiday, it's not a reason to BBQ...it's a day to share what I live every day. It's a chance to show those tears of gratitude when addressing a retired Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Coast Guard...it's a chance to let my heart overflow with gratitude and not worry who sees me crying this time because 1/2 of the crowd is also walking around with tears in their eyes. It's a day to let my kids know we aren't the only ones who worry and love someone who values our country and it's freedom more than their own life.

While I don't wish the moments of being scared upon anyone...I do wish that everyone could take a moment of their day, every day, to be grateful for our Armed Forces and everything they have done for us. When you pass an American Flag flying...pause and think of what it took to keep her flying and what she stands for. When you pass a car with an Army, Marine or other bumpersticker or decal...remember that they are part of the sacrifice, whether they are the Soldier, the parent, the wife, the child...and say a "thank you" even if they can't hear you. When you see a Soldier, say "Thanks". If they are in line at the checkout, pay for their coffee, their dinner, their book...it's the least we can do for the freedoms we enjoy.

Operation Gratitude

***Please join Soldiers Angels on Facebook

Soldiers' Angels is PROUD to support Operation Gratitude in their efforts to gain the most funding possible in this fan competition sponsored by Target. All funds they receive will be used to pay the $11 postage and shipping costs on the 100,000+ Care Packages they are sending this year ($1.1 Million).

But even more important than the dollars, this is an opportunity for all of us in the Military Support community to make a loud statement to the entire nation, and especially to our men and women in uniform, that we appreciate and respect our Military and will stand up and be counted for them!

The link on Facebook

You do not have to be a FAN of Target to vote--- so VOTE OPERATION GRATITUDE today (and tomorrow, and the next....until May 25.) Like Soldiers' Angels- Operation Gratitude does not rely on paid advertising, mailing lists or hired staff--They count on YOU--dedicated and patriotic supporters--to get the job done.

For more information on Soldiers' Angels please see our website
For more information on Operation Gratitude please see their website

Here's how to vote:*
1. Click on this link: Bullseye Gives
(If you receive this email at work and are unable to access Facebook, please forward this email to your personal email account.)

2. If you are already a member of Facebook, you will be prompted to log-in. Once logged in, VOTE for Operation Gratitude!

3. If you are not yet a member of Facebook:
a. Click on the green sign-up button in the upper left corner and complete the sign up form with your name, email address,** a birthdate and a secret password.
b. Once your account is created, click again on this link: Bullseye Gives -VOTE

4. Return to the Bullseye Gives page every day through May 25 to vote each day!

Remember: Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day to preserve our freedom TO VOTE! You can thank them right now with YOUR VOTE!

Am I a superstitious Army Mom?

I think I might be getting a little tense lately. Hubby went to take our truck to get his business info put on the back window with vinyl letters...well, Mike had put a "Terrorist Hunting Permit" on the back window after we went shopping at US Cavalry by Fort Knox during family weekend, when he was in OSUT...and I remembered at the last second that it was on the window they were putting lettering on.

I called and said "DO NOT let them take that off!" and he said he was actually already planning on taking it off because one line wouldn't be centered with it on there. CENTERED??? Who the HELL cares about CENTERED LETTERS???

My kid, that is currently suffering in HELL to make sure we can enjoy such things as vinyl freaking letters on our cars, put that sticker on the truck himself and thought it was funny as can be and it's not coming off until that boy is in my driveway removing it himself. Maybe it's not superstition but just that I see it every day and every single day I remember being in the parking lot of US Cavalry with him and him laughing and grabbing the sticker out of his bag (it was originally intended for his own truck) and saying, "Dad will love this!!" and sticking it on the window.

That silly sticker prompts a memory I like having and I'm not giving it up without a fight. It's like one of the few delicate threads that makes me feel like I'm connected to him still...even if he's 7000 miles away.

My husband can think I'm nuts if he wants but I'm sticking to my guns on this one.