My Husband, My Hero

Since my husband joined the military, my views on appreciation have changed. Living on a military base, I see soldiers in uniform everyday. I have the chance to tell every one of them thank you for serving our country. Thank you for risking your life. Thank you for being that special kind of person that can DO this job and DO it well. At 5:00 pm, I hear the National Anthem play. At 10:00 pm I hear TAPS, a remembrance of those that have fallen. EVERY DAY I have the opportunity to live with the constant reminder of how great my husband it, how great my serving friends are, and how great the wives I have met are. I do not know the pain of deployment, but I do know the pain of seperation. I do know the pain of fear. I DO know the pain of reality. We have yet to be an experienced military family, but we are a military family. We briefly know of the sacrifices members and families face. I am blessed to have a husband that comes home every night to me. Some women and men are not that lucky. I am blessed to have a husband that is not on the front lines. Some women and men are not that lucky. We as a family chose a life of service and a life of appreciation. Some people have told me they do not understand our choice, but we do. The military has shown me not only how great this country is, but also how great my husband is. It takes a special kind of person to do what my husband does every day. It takes a special kind of person to risk his/her life for another, most of them strangers. I am honored to be a military wife.

A Warrior

I never wore the uniform

No medals on my chest.

The band it doesn't play for me,
I am not among the best.

I do not march in cadence

I do not rate salute.

I stand among the silent ranks,

Our devotion absolute.

If you've not worn my shoes

You do not know my story.

I live a life of sacrifice,

My reward a private glory.

I've wept my silent nights away

And love kept the home fires burning.

I've worried and I've waited

As world events are churning.

I will move more times than you can fathom

Leave more people than you've known.

I will plant gardens around the world

Very few will I see grown.

I've grieved with new made widows.

I will have my share of scares

When a ship, or plane, or man is down

And all I have are prayers.

I am not asking for your sympathy

Although appreciation can be nice.

I did it quite on purpose though--

I CHOSE to sacrifice.

I'll tell you a secret now,

One you'd never guess.

About the one glory that is mine,

It's just enough no more, no less.

When you and I stand strong together

As our national anthem plays

I'll fill with reminiscenes

Of how I spent those days.

I'll know the pain and joys again,

I'll know that freedom isn't free,

I'll know I've helped to pay that price

AND THAT ANTHEM PLAYS FOR ME.