Veteran’s Day

It’s November 11th…November 11th means it’s Veteran’s Day. Every year!

Veteran’s Day is such a special holiday to me. Mainly because it’s a holiday not centered around gifts, or food, or bunnies, or groundhogs, or candy. It’s a holiday centered around something honorable; a different kind of honorable. Today we are to remember, honor, and respect all of those who served in the armed forces. These people have sacrificed so much for our country.

Today is the anniversary of the end of WW1…a war in which neither of these guys were part of. However, my grandpas were both in WW2. And my dad went to Afghanistan. I mean, these are some honorable guys right here. And i’m sure you all know some as well.

 

This memorial sits in a town close to grandpa’s. His name is on the back of it. I just love visiting this memorial when we go to Iowa.

This is Morgan, dad, and I in front of his dad’s grave when we buried my grandma. See that WW2 written on the front!

You might remember it here…

…when dad and I went to Boston in May. Here he is with his parents. Awwww 🙂

And just for fun, here’s my grandpa and me over the years.

I love asking questions, I’m always asking questions, and sometimes people get annoyed by it. But i’m kind of like #ohwell #getoverit.

I couldn’t ask my grandpa (dad’s dad) any stories about serving in a war because he passed away when I was just months old. This was our last picture that sits on my dad’s desk. My grandpa and me 🙂

I asked my dad what it was like being in war and he didn’t really say much. I don’t know if it’s because he can’t or because he didn’t want to. He said it’s miserable and not something you want to experience, but that’s about the most I got. I believe it. I feel like there’s a certain amount of secrecy military personnel keep. Probably for the better.

I gave this picture to my dad after my graduation because it’s so true. Love that guy. (And usually he smiles in pictures, but because he’s always got to be saying something he was in the middle of talking here…go figure!). To be honest, sometimes it’s difficult being a military child, but it’s the only way I grew up. It’s a totally different lifestyle than a “normal” childhood with two 9-5 parents. And i’m not saying it’s anything i’d want to change, it’s just different. I talked about it here.

And then my mom’s dad. This guy. I asked him what it was like serving in a war and all I can remember him talking about is a story in which he was shot in the butt. He was the sniper on the airplane and so he just remembers getting shot in the butt once. It’s a pretty funny story! 🙂

To these three…and to all the others, THANK YOU. You will never be appreciated enough. Happy Veteran’s Day!