Wives of Veterans Day

I can't think of a more important thing that I could write my first blog about. Tuesday was Veterans Day. Every year on this day I think about my grandpa and the sacrifices he made during World War II. A lot of those sacrifices I don't know much about. Not because I have never talked to him about it because I have. I don't know much about what he did in the Pacific because the sacrifices he made were so painful that he does not like to talk about it today. I know that he is proud of his service, but he is a very kind-hearted man and doesn't like to share bad things with his grand kids.

I also think about my brother and the amount of joy and purpose serving his country brings him. When he starts talking about the his job (in vague terms of course) in the Air Force Intelligence he lights up. He loves talking about it, much like I enjoy talking about teaching. I also think about my brother-in-law, John, serving his second 12 month tour in Iraq. What amazes me about him is that I never hear him complain. He is not one of "Gun-ho, give me a gun" kind of soldiers mind you. He will be the first to tell you that he signed up to help pay for his college and to provide for my sister and at the time their future children. Both of these guys joined for totally different reasons, but they both serve our country faithfully with honor and courage.

That being said, I cannot of all the men and women that are away from their families or have lost their lives serving our country and not think of the wives that the men have left behind. Sorry, military husbands and parents. I will explain why I am leaving you out in just a second. The wives that are left behind serve in so many ways. Sure they are provided for in some financial ways, but they are left to continue the duties they had before their husbands left, plus all that they now have to do since he is gone. Without these women's support many of our men would not be able to serve as strongly as they do. They are left to fill both parental roles and must also deal with that knot in their stomach that they continuously carry as long as their husbands are in harms way. That knot that is tightened with every negative news story, with every death toll, and with every day that they are separated.

I have heard several of the military wives that I am around talk about how awful it feels to miss a phone call and how much they look forward to getting one. I can't imagine! Recently, my wife went to Fort Worth with some friends from church. They left in the morning and returned about 12 hours later. I had the two kids all day. There was just so much to do and the whole time it all felt weird. There was a piece missing. I put the kids to bed and I immediately started anticipating Alison calling. I wanted to know she was safe, I wanted to talk to her, I wanted to feel normal for a little. She was gone for 12 hours. Could you imagine doing that for 12 months?! Imagine craving a phone call just so you can know they are safe, to know how their day was, just to feel normal for a little bit. Waiting for those phone calls for 12 months!

I feel that because of the sacrifices these women make and for the fact they go un-noticed so often there should be a national holiday, celebrating the Wives of our Troops.

Now for some clarification. First off, husbands of women who serve in the military. I am sure it is hard on you too, but you are a guy. I am not trying to dismiss what you do, but I think the gentlemanly thing to do here is say, let the wives have their day. If that is not a good enough explanation, then fine, we will honor you too on Wives of Veterans Day. :)

Now to you, parents of our troops (mainly moms), I understand you feel that same sense of worry and dread. That you miss your kids as they serve this great country. I would never try to diminish that, but you work and responsibilities do not typically increase because you son or daughter is shipped over seas. I think you can understand this. My mom is a mom of a veteran. Her life is not turned upside down when they are sent to war. She worries, she misses them, but her life continues on the same path. My sister is the wife of a veteran. When her husband is shipped off, everything changes. It is a totally different kind of deal.

This is just my opinion. In my opinion I am right.