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Message started by Callico on Jul 5th, 2011 at 10:51pm

Title: how we spent our Fourth
Post by Callico on Jul 5th, 2011 at 10:51pm
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They tried to get my good side, but didn't get quite behind me.  That is my daughter Sarah and my wife Linda with me.  The gentleman to our left served in the armoured cavalry (3/'4) in Pleiku and the gentleman to his left served in the Navy aboard the Kitty Hawk.

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Sarah is taking a picture of the placard of a young man our son Mike was to have stood up with in another Marines wedding.  He was to have been married on July 2. 

It was a bittersweet time.  To see 171 flags and signs representing the 171 young men who willingly sacrificed themselves in the defense and winning of freedom of people they did not know.  I was honored to spend a little bit of time honoring them.  It was really interesting meeting some of the others in the memorial who had served in Viet Nam and we know the reception they got.  May I once again say thank you to all of you who have served, and to those who did not return.  God bless you all.

Jerry

Title: Re: how we spent our Fourth
Post by QnHeartMM on Jul 5th, 2011 at 11:08pm
What a nice tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Title: Re: how we spent our Fourth
Post by Guiseppi on Jul 6th, 2011 at 12:14am
Damn. :'(

Joe

Title: Re: how we spent our Fourth
Post by catlind on Jul 6th, 2011 at 3:20pm
Damn  :'(  Perhaps that young hero's fiance might find comfort from this - they may not have made the alter, but they made the commitment, and the ultimate sacrifice.


Quote:
LETTER TO A MILITARY SPOUSE

While I have never had the pleasure of meeting you or your husband, I felt the need to write you and express a very deep feeling that I have in my heart.

I, as a person, am not brave. I do not tackle things head on, as I hate confrontation. I will travel 100 miles out of my way jut to avoid a conflict. I am an American woman that has no idea what is going on in the military other than what I hear on the news.

I have never had to let go of someone so that they could go fight for people that they didn’t know, people that sometimes do not appreciate or understand what they are fighting for.

I have never had a sleepless night of worry because of a report that another bomb has exploded and I still haven’t heard from my husband.

I have never had to wait for months on end to hold the one that I loved so.
I have never had to tell my children that daddy wasn’t coming home tonight because he was so far away fighting for something that they aren’t yet old enough to understand.

I have never had to hold my head high and suppress the tears as I hear that it will be at least another 6 months of separation before my loved one gets to come home.

I have never had to deal with a holiday away from the one that I thought I would share every day of my life with.

And I have never had to feel the panic rising in my heart at the sound of a ringing phone or knock at the door for fear that it is the news that everyone is terrified of getting.

For the reasons listed above, I can not tell you that I understand how you feel. I can not tell you that you must be strong. I can not say that you shouldn’t be angry, because you “knew what you were getting into when you married a military man”. I can not say these things because I have never had to walk in your shoes.

What I can say for certain is that because of your unselfish acts of bravery and your husband’s willingness to stand up for those who see him as “just another soldier” – I will never have to walk in your shoes.

I do understand that as a military wife you are expected to uphold a certain amount of control, but I never understood how you could do it, until now. I have figured out that you are not like other women. You are of a special breed. You have a strength within you that holds life together in the darkest of hours, a strength of which I will never possess. The faith you have is what makes you stand out in a crowd; it makes you glow with emotion and swell with pride at the mention of The United States of America.
You are a special lady, a wonderful partner and a glorious American.

I have more respect for your husband than I could ever tell you, but until recently I never thought much about those that the soldier leaves at home during deployment.

Until this moment I could never put into words exactly what America meant to me.

Until this moment, I had no real reason to…Until I heard of you.

Your husband and his military family hold this nation close, safe from those who wish to hurt us…but you and those like you are the backbone of the American family. You keep the wheels in motion and the hearts alive while most would just break completely down.

Military families make this nation what it is today.
You give us all hope and you emit a warming light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Because of you and your family…I am able to be me. I am able to have my family. I am able to walk free in this great land. Because of you and your family, I can look ahead to the future with the knowledge that life is going to be okay. Because of you and your family, I can awake to a new day, everyday.
I realize that you are a stronger person that I will ever be because of these things and I just wanted to take the time today to say thank you to you and your family for allowing me that freedom.

I will never be able to repay this debt to you, as it is unmatchable. However, I hope that you know that no matter where you are…what you are doing…what has happened today…or what will happen tomorrow…Your husband will NEVER be “just another soldier” to me…And you, dear sweet lady, will never be forgotten.
You are all in my prayer’s everyday and I pray that God will bring you back together with your loved one safely.

May God Bless You!
-Author Unknown


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Please tell your sons this MilSpouse says Thank You

Cat

Title: Re: how we spent our Fourth
Post by Callico on Jul 6th, 2011 at 8:12pm
Thanks Cat.  I know only a portion whereof you speak.

jC

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