On June 14th, 2018, the United States Army officially turns 243 years old. And what a history it has.
This year’s theme is “Over There: A celebration of Army heroes from World War I to present day.” Since the beginning of WWI in 1914, the Army has deployed soldiers to support missions in multiple wars and conflicts in numerous countries across multiple continents.
Remember that saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words?” Well, I think it’s true. I was recently privileged to attend The National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., and today, I want to share some of the most photogenic moments.
It’s no secret that military spouse life is full of surprises: the constant changing of the no-plan plans, PCSes that end up a little bit backward, and even small day-to-day experiences we encounter. One thing I’ve learned through the years is that all milspouse experiences can change us, usually for the better, be they big or small.
And recently, I had one of those very life-changing experiences: I attended The National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C.
Last month, I was faced with a life-changing decision. Many of you reading this have likely experienced something very similar, and it gives me some comfort to know that you may share in my feelings.
Very unexpectedly, my cat Madison became critically ill. For a week prior to this I noticed she seemed a little lethargic and was lying around quite a bit. I didn’t think much of it. I thought perhaps it was a side effect of some medicine she’d been given for ulcers—a problem she had fairly frequently.
I’ve long held a deep respect and gratitude for our military and their service to our country even before becoming a military spouse. Our service members are willing to lay their lives on the line so that others don’t have to experience how war touches their lives. Since joining the ranks of military spouse several years ago, I’ve also grown to greatly appreciate the sacrifices of the families of our service members as well.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month, as declared in a proclamation signed each year by the president as a way of honoring and celebrating military families and recognizing their sacrifices and dedication to our nation.
A blog post for the man who has relentlessly proclaimed he “only wants socks for Christmas.”
As part of a military family, the POW (Prisoner of War) and KIA (Killed in Action) bracelets are something I easily recognize.
A couple years ago, I realized that not everyone knows what they are. One morning, a college professor visiting Germany for a class asked me if I had been to the club the night before. Apparently, the clubs near his university use black bands to identify those old enough to drink. I was caught off guard, and once I showed him the three names that were engraved on it, you could tell he was caught off guard
When I was asked to write a blog for Memorial Day, was excited and jumped on it. Then, ten minutes later it hit me—I had no idea what I was going to write about.
What is Memorial Day, anyway? I talked to my husband, and he wasn’t even 100% sure.
I went to Google and typed in “what is M-E-” and the first suggestion was, “What is Memorial Day.”
Really.
I remember asking my friends that question while we were walking home. We were scared and confused, but we truly had no grasp on the gravity of the situation.
Sept. 11, 2001, wasn’t a typical school day from the start. At the time, I was a senior in high school. I attended Cathedral High School, an all-girl prep school, in mid-town Manhattan, approximately four miles from the World Trade Center.
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