I don't know if there is a "Not Me Monday" today, but either way I'm not playing, not this week.
Today is special to my heart. I'm an Army wife who's husband has been deployed 5 times in our marriage of 12 years, 3 of those deployment have been to Iraq. We've lost some VERY closer friends throughout the last 6 years. I've shed many tears today thinking of our friends who've died. I know some were Christians, yet am not sure of a couple of them and that truly grieves my heart.
I can only speak from my experience over the last 12 years as an Army wife, but here's what I've discovered...
The men and women who serve in the military (my experience is ARMY) some are the most amazing people you'll ever meet. Some are the most undesirable people you'd ever not want to meet. Some are kind, loving, funny, gentle, humble, caring, devoted. Some are ignorant, cruel, harsh, egotistical, and slanderous. Some see the Army as an opportunity to make the world a better place, to give something back to our Country and to GOD, to make something out of their lives, to be proud of. Some well lets just say not so much.
You see, I've seen all types. The men (and women) who can truly be called Hero's and the ones who WANT to be called Hero's. The ones who believe in what they're fighting for and the ones who could care less.
Here's the thing though....when tragedy strikes so much of it just does not matter. So much of it becomes petty and silly. Because, they've given the ultimate price no matter what they believed. They are the ones who this day becomes all about.
Memorial Day is not about BBQ's and family reunions. It's not about the unofficial 1st day of summer, when the pools across the country open up. It's not about all those silly things that truly don't mean a thing. It's about sacrifice of lives. It's about the sacrifice of the soldier. It's about the sacrifice of his fami (please understand I do not want this to be about me). It's about the families left behind to mourn. It's about never forgetting how blessed we all are. It's about little girls and boys growing up without Daddy and sometimes Mommy. It's about the wife trying to figure out, how she's going to do this all on her own. It's about the parents living their worst nightmare (out living their child). It's about those who are left behind, while remembering those who left us in the ultimate sacrifice.

You may or may not agree with our soldiers in Iraq, and some of you may even not agree with us being in Afghanistan (although I seriously don't understand why and if you even Attempt to argue your point, it'll be deleted so do not bother). Here's the facts though. We ARE in both
of those countries. We ARE making a difference in those countries and their peoples lives, and there are casualties with war. We can never forget. We can never forget who gave us the rights we have now as Americans. When one turns their back on the ones defending our country, they're turning their back on their country.


With that I'll leave you with one of my favorite poems. I have this on a long board (painted as an American Flag with the poem on top of it) hanging on my wall.

by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien United States Marine Corps]
"It is the Soldier, not the reporter,Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,Who has given us the right to a fair trial.It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,Who allows the protestor to burn the flag."