Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Have you thanked a Freedom Defender lately?

I know it's been blogged about a thousand times and in a thousand different ways. But it bears repeating. We owe the dedicated men and women of our armed forces, both past and present, an enormous debt of gratitude.


My husband served in the United States Air Force for almost ten years.  Now it seems like a lifetime ago. We were a "lucky" military family. Yes, we relocated every two years. And no, not a single member of our family met our youngest daughter until she was eighteen months old because she was born overseas. But I considered us lucky since my husband served during a time of peace. I didn't spend months or years of my life wondering if I would soon be widowed and left alone with two children.

Sometimes, we were seperated for months at a time while he attended training. But thankfully, he was never sent to any hellish places filled with enemies plotting the most effective means of torture or battlefields exploding with action. Even though we were apart, I always knew he was safe.

I might not always agree with where they're sent or what our brave service members are required to do. But I am eternally grateful to them. Because of them, I'm free to post my opinions on this blog without fear someone is going to burst into my house and drag me off to some dank, cold prison. Thanks to them, I sleep a little easier at night because I know they're doing their best to keep our country safe.

So, even though the "thank you's" have been said a thousand times, I feel it's never said often enough. Too many of these courageous souls return to their families in a flag-draped box, or worse yet - they never return at all. I appreciate the sacrifices each of them have made and I also extend that gratitude to their families. Remember them. Honor them. They've more than deserved it. This post is for the defenders of our freedom.

19 comments:

  1. It never gets old, and I'm sure those who serve our country never stop appreciating the praise. We owe them much.

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  2. Maeve, beautifully written and I agree 100%. A HUGE thanks to our military and veterans.

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  3. Maeve, thank you for taking the time to post this. I agree. Being a mother of three boys, my heart goes out to all the mother's who wait for their sons to come home.

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  4. My dad is a Viet Nam vet. Almost two years ago, he became suddenly ill and was in and out of the hospital and doctor offices for months. Turns out he has a form of heart disease caused by Agent Orange, which is what his unit was hauling for the military.

    I admire any man or woman married to a military spouse as well the person in the military. I couldn't bear being away from my husband for long periods of time.

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  5. Very nice blog! We can never thank them enough.
    Liz

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  6. MAEVE--thanks. I agree. My husband was in the Army, stationed in France, and his group came under the title "Peace-keeping Mission" after the Korean War. There was little to do in France by the time he got there, as the war had been over for a while. But that's what the Army did. The place he was stationed in France is not longer there.
    God bless our soldiers, male and female. Celia

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  7. Well said, Celia! Thank you for taking the time to drop by. :-)

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  8. Thank you for your kind words, Liz. I appreciate you stopping in. :-)

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  9. I hope your father receives the best care possible, Faith. Heaven knows, he's earned it. Take care!

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  10. You're so right, Ciara. I can't imagine what those mothers go through while their babies are in so much danger. I think the "not knowing" would be terrible.

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  11. Thank you so very much for the kind words, Nicole. :-)

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  12. Amen, and amen again, Maeve. Thank you for your post. We all need reminding, not just once a year, but every day.

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  13. We are so incredibly blessed to have men and women who are so unselfish, who sacrifice their time, comfort, and their lives so we can be free. We are so indebted to them.

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  14. Thanks for taking the time to write this very thoughtful post Maeve.
    It conveys the gratitude almost all of us feel.

    Rita

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  15. Leah, Anita, and Rita: Thank you all so much for stopping by. :-)

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