Celebrating our Veterans

My experience with the military has been different than a lot of others. My family has been deeply impacted, but I have never served. My father served as a Marine, where he was sent home after contracting encephalitis in the same war that took the life of my mother's first husband. Understandably the experience of the Vietnam War is something that isn't openly talked about in our home. It was a war that divided our country, however both my parents have immense pride in their service and the service of their loved ones. Regardless of my feelings on that war or any war, the one constant feeling remains with me: the honor of those who have served in defense of this nation.

Each service man or woman has their own reasons for going into the military. Some are drafted, some are familial, some are financial, some choose to serve to help them find a purpose or education. The reasons notwithstanding, they are still opting to put their health and livelihood on the line to protect our way of life. The fact that I can voice my opinions about our government during this tumultuous period are a direct result of those who fought and died to give me that right.

Please try to remember that perspective this and every Veteran's Day. So many have sacrificed, some to the ultimate degree, to protect us, our rights, and our freedoms. Is the system perfect? Far from it. Even my dad would say that. But he finds pride in knowing that his time in service provided for his family and allowed us and others to continue to fight for progress. Thank you.

#SemperFi #VeteransDay

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