Just want offer my sincere gratitude as zi finish up my dinner in a warm cozy house after just eat0ing dinner. We should say thank you more often given many are not home with family.
I will join you in appreciating those who sacrifice mightily for the rest of us.
I see so many of our military out and about where I am now. I hope they are able to enjoy their life being stationed here in Seoul. My family especially appreciates their protection and service and of course those stationed in other parts of the world and not able to be home for the holidays. We see you!
My dad, mom and a great uncle are all buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This is the toughest cemetery to qualify to be buried in. I have been there when they have had special occasions and fired off 21 gun salutes as they did for my dad at his burial. It sends chills up your spine because most of those at that cemetery were not support staff or serving in another country away from combat. These people were in the sh!t and saw the worst of the worst. They earned their respect.
Unfortunately the cemetery is approaching capacity and the already stringent rules to be buried there are tightening with each passing year. It’s a shame because I foresee a continued need for those whose lives were sacrificed and/or altered by armed conflict.
The flag from my dad’s coffin:
Thank you to all that have and or still serve in the military!!!
@TheFunCartel: What a nice display to have for your father. Do your mom and uncle have something similar? And thank you for your family’s service.
My father served for 25 years (we were just looking yesterday at the photos he sent me from the Middle East), and I joined the same year he retired. He swore me in.
@TheFunCartel As a veteran I salute your entire family as they too served the U.S.
@TheFunCartel Cheers to your family. My grandfather, Maj Gen, and his Brother, Col, are both buried in Arlington. My father is at Fort Sam, and his uncle is in Belgium after dying on Dec 16, Battle of the B. My mother is still alive, and is also retired AF - she’ll end up in a military cemetery as well.
Thank you to your family, and yourself for being part of a military family. ❤️
@NikkiFM I echo your sentiments back at you. Thank you to your family. It is interesting when I meet someone who has a multigenerational military family. My cousin recently retired after putting in 30 years, all but four in Special Forces. My grandfather who was born in 1898 served in WW1 and before that I had ancestors in the Civil War, and before immigrating to the US I had a an ancestor who served under Napoleon.
I think what goes unnoticed is the sacrifices the spouses make when war does break out. Hearing the stories are heartbreaking.
@TheFunCartel I think about it often too. If my uncle didn’t die in his 20s in combat, my grandmother could have not been an only child. She could have had nieces and nephews, she could have not felt so alone and suicidal once her parents died early on. She would’ve had her big brother, and I know she thought about that daily. I have a pretty small family so even an extra cousin or two would’ve meant the world.
I think about how my mom was affected when her dad shipped out to Okinawa, and how during his last days of dementia he thought he was in combat as well. Trying to dodge bullets. My other grandfather who I mentioned earlier was a pilot. While in hospice at the very end he was flying his plane - legit right before he died, giving commands.
❤️❤️❤️
@TheFunCartel That's an incredible history of your family's service. I retired after 20 years in the military and have handed numerous flags to family members at funerals.
@Ihavenoidea2 Thank you for that service you do for the families. At the end of the day, while we all remember their service, they are loved ones like everybody else and that gesture makes the family feel seen. Thank you.
@NikkiFM Yeah my family is small as well so any loss is huge. I feel for your grandmother. My mom died in a plane crash and when you lose someone suddenly it takes your world away suddenly as well. No good-byes, no hugs—just gone.
And definitely thank you to all who served that are on the CC site. Your service is invaluable.