In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, I wanted to share a piece of my heart and discuss something I rarely mention here on my little piece of the world wide web.
Growing up, I always felt a special sense of patriotism instilled in me at a young age from my family. My grandfather was a World War II Veteran whose home was always adorned with flags both in the front yard and in the back yard waving proudly in the breeze perched atop its pole nestled on the pier that he built by hand. He had such an infectious personality - it was impossible to be around him without being touched in some way by his wonderful spirit, which I'm sure played a key role in the sense of American pride our entire family always felt. In every memory I have of him, he always had a flag pin attached to the lapel of whatever it was he was wearing - whether he was in his coveralls working in his garden or he was dressed up in a suit. The love he had for the nation he fought so bravely for wasn't dependent upon who was in office at the time, the current state of worldly affairs, or whether or not it was even "popular" to be a proud American - his love for America was rooted in the principals that this nation was founded upon and it didn't matter whether those flags he so proudly displayed were visible or not... his patriotism always shone through.
Now that I, myself, am a military wife and proudly and humbly stand among the thousands upon thousands of other military wives and husbands out there, I have a much deeper understanding of those emotions my grandfather felt regarding this great nation and the people that serve it as well as their families. Although I was young when he passed away, I wish that I had discussed his experiences with him and asked him questions about his time serving in the Navy during World War II... and more than anything, I wish that my husband had been given the opportunity to meet him, but I know that Granddad is smiling down upon both of us as we experience the trials of military life that he and NaNa experienced way-back-when. I have been truly blessed to be able to have these discussions with NaNa, though, and she has offered me such incredible insight to their lives as young newlyweds who faced the uncertainties of war and distance. So many of these stories that she has shared with me I can now relate to, but so many make me marvel at how brave they were back then! When we take a step back and realize the blessings of technology and communication now, I am just in awe of their relentless spirit and courage back then when all they relied upon was the postal service to deliver their letters to one another. Weeks may have gone by without a single letter, and then all of a sudden a whole bundle would arrive - but they never lost hope. NaNa always knew that he would return to her... and a year later he did. What an incredible story of love, hope, and endurance!
So today, on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, I just want to take a moment to honor all of the brave men and women before us who have patiently waited for their loved ones to return - always keeping a smile on their faces, hope in their hearts, and courage to carry on. They, and their servicemembers, are such an inspiration to me and make it possible for me to "keep calm and carry on." I am so incredibly honored to walk among them and now call myself a military spouse as well. And to my incredible husband that God so graciously blessed me with: thank you for everything that you do not only for me, but for this country. I am so proud of you and honored to be your wife. Thank you for choosing me :) I love you.
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