We celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th, because on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, at the eleventh hour, the war in Europe, WWI, ended. We rightfully give our thanks and gratitude to the brave men and women in our country who have served, died, and are still fighting for our liberties so we can continue to live as we do today.
Six years ago, Veterans Day brought even greater meaning to my life. I met my husband. He has served in the armed forces for almost 23 years. The military lifestyle was foreign to me. I have uncles and grandfathers who served our country, but I wasn’t close enough to them to truly understand what the impact of serving for our freedoms was on their families.
I learned years ago to “never say never”. However, I was pretty convinced I would never marry a man who was in the military. Maybe it was my perception that they all had rigid personalities, and a drill sergeant life style. I’m sure a lot of it was the unknown of what a future would look like as a military spouse, and the fear of being dragged all over the world. The vulnerable reason was fear of being alone, and the potential of losing the man I loved from the ultimate sacrifice so many service members have given. Whatever it was, God had other plans for me, as he usually does!
I’m madly in love with my husband. Much of it comes from my deep admiration for the incredible service he gives to our country everyday. There is a bravery, discipline and willingness to constantly move your life and family across the globe, to serve our country. The men and women in our armed forces give so much more than I think most people realize. The military dictates their lives during the time they serve, and there’s little to no compromise.
I’m proud of my husband and I’m proud to be a military spouse. I have a profound respect for military spouses. We all serve. Our families serve, and we all sacrifice. It takes an enormous amount of strength and commitment to make it work. It’s not easy to strike a balance between military life and home life, but so many people do it so they can serve our country and protect our freedoms.
My husband comes from a family with a long history of service members. My in-laws have served and my sister-in-law is an active duty service member. Combined, they’ve served our country for over 112 years.
I want to take a moment to thank them for their service and their sacrifices. I also want to recognize all veterans – those who are retired, who are currently serving, and to our service members who died for our country. THANK YOU!
Lastly, I want to say Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps. The Marines are 242 years old today!
With all the love in my heart!
–Maya