Veteran's Day 2010

Today is Veteran's Day. It's not much different here than it is back home. A day off, a hubby golfing, cooking out for dinner. But it feels different for me. I have had many experiences over the 3 months that make this day feel extra special this year.

Rewind to our long journey over here. After getting to Baltimore on commercial airlines, we checked in at AMC (Air Mobility Command) along with other active duty military members for the long journey overseas. Our flight stopped in Germany, Turkey, Kryzgystan, Iraq, and Afganistan. So, the plane was full of uniformed soldiers-most of which were heading to war.

The first thing that caught my eye was their youth. Most of them were still teenagers. I think about when I was their age-what a carefree, fun time that was for me. A college student with not a care in the world. Not these guys and girls. I also noticed that when I talked to them, they were very humble. As with normal air travel, you start a conversation with the person sitting next to you with the requisite "where are you going?" Only here, instead of answers like LA, New York, or Dallas, you hear Afganistan, Pakistani Border, or Iraq. They answered in a normal tone-like everyone travels to Iraq. They didn't see that what they were doing is that out of the ordinary or special.

I plan on saying many thank you's today. Thanking ordinary folks for stepping up to the plate and doing something I don't know that I would have the courage to do. Thanking folks for putting aside their own selfish ambitions for a more noble and higher purpose. And I plan to start with my husband, who has twice deployed in service to his country.

God Bless America!!