Life Lesson #95 ~ The Daughter of a Soldier
“May we think of
freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what
is right.” ~ Peter Marshall
I am the daughter of a soldier. I was born into a family of
those who serve. My life from the very beginning was one of love for country. From
the time I could sit up my heart was wrapped in the red, white and blue. On
this day, November 11, 2016 I wanted to say thank you to my dad and acknowledge
the great man that he is. My dad was born and raised into the military. His dad was
a pilot in the Air Force and served in the Navy during WW2. My dad being the rebel he was decided it wasn’t
enough to fly those birds, no; he had to jump out of them. And jump he did. At
the age of 17 my dad enlisted in the Army and never fully looked back. He was a soldier,
and his life as a GI was carved into his dog tags. He trained hard, sending all
his money home to take care of his younger brothers and sister living as
modestly as possible. By the time he met my mom in 1968, he had been to Vietnam
and back again.
Growing up my dad was my hero. He was not only a green berret;
he was part of the Special Forces, the 1st CAV and 82nd Airborne. My mom
sacrificed a lot being married to a soldier, but in loving him, my dad showed
my mom the world. He was gone a lot, and that was hard. I watched my mom pack
us up time and time again; making our house a home every time we resettled. Home
was pretty much wherever the Army sent us. I’m proud of my dad, his service and the way
he raised me. I am the woman I am today in part because of his devotion to our
country. My boys, they are who they are today because of the man my dad is. His
example of sacrifice, loyalty, devotion and honor has shaped my children into men
of honor themselves. His example is a constant reminder of valor and
unconditional love for both his family and his country. My dad, well “he is the
reason I have so much patience, so much courage and so much strength. He is my
hero.”
I can tell you growing up an army brat, traveling the world
and back again by the age of 7 molded me, shaped me and prepared me for
responsibility. I leaned early on about self-sacrifice and commitment while
watching my dad serve his beloved country. He came home every evening in his
uniform tossing his cover right on my tiny little head. I looked up to him,
wanted to be like him and slept tight knowing he had our six. His blood, his
sweat and his tears paved the way for my personal freedom. Because of my dad, I have never taken my
freedom nor my rights as an American for granted. I look at his
accomplishments, and I know my dad is a true hero. No, he never wore a cape but
he did wear dog tags. My dad was a bad dude and by that I mean he was just fierce as he is amazing.
It takes a special kind of bravery to jump out of a plane and my dad; well he has
always been that kind of brave.
When I think of my dad, Joshua 1:9 comes to
mind, “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will be with you wherever you
go.”
My dad’s legacy has been built in his example. He gave up
what most could not. You see “a soldier doesn’t fight because he hates what’s
in front of him. He fights because he loves what he left behind.” So this
Veteran’s Day I want to thank my dad for all he’s given up, sacrificed and forfeited
for our freedom. It is because of our military and their self-sacrifice and
willingness to do without we have the rights we do today. It is because of
their commitment to defend our freedom of speech and our ability to vote we can
even disagree with one another without fear of persecution. So today I urge all of us to reflect on the freedom we have. To take a moment and genuinely thank those serving
you, in our military, both past and present this Veteran’s Day. For truly at
the cost of their own freedom and the possible loss of their lives they put on their boots,
take up our flag and defend you. So again I urge you to take the time and appreciate
these gifts we’ve all been given, the rights we take for granted every day here
in America. Remember your right to vote, to cast a ballet and even to raise an
angry fist in opposition sits squarely on the backs of those who have and do serve
in our military. Just ask a service
member or their family how much they have given up for your rights, whether
they agree with you or not. See what many of those in uniform understand is
brilliantly quoted by George S. Patton, “If I do my full duty, the rest will
take care of itself.” And so in times of turmoil discord or even harmony and
peace our military serve without a second thought of their own personal peril.
Tonight as the sun sets and the moon rises, I am thankful to
be the daughter of a soldier and for the perspective it has given me. True, Life
Lesson #95 ~ being the daughter of an airborne soldier I was taught to
keep calm and stand in the door. And
yes, I believed whole-heartedly that on the 8th day God created the
Paratrooper and yelled, “Airborne!” But in all seriousness, personally I’m
humbled to call myself an American, the daughter of an airborne soldier and the
great granddaughter of immigrants. Daddy, thank you for your service and for
paving the way for the generations who follow me. What you’ve taught me and my children will be
passed down you can be certain of that. We will not forget. And daddy I want
you to know I’m proud of you, of being your daughter and the ability to truly
call myself an Army brat. What I learned growing up the daughter of a soldier
is nothing about Army life is ever easy. The truth however is it's truly eye opening. I’ve
found in my dad’s example that while, “part of military life is about leaving,
it’s also about finding your strengths, your courage and where you belong.” (@jomygosh.com) Because of my dad, his
service and his sacrifice I really do know where I belong.
Happy Veteran’s day daddy, you’re my hero. And to ALL who
protect and serve, thank you for your sacrifice.
~Christina
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