I asked romance authors to share their thoughts about military life, using their input for several posts for USA Today's Happily Ever After (HEA) Blog:
Spouses share their stories: link
Veterans share Their Memories: link
Geri Krotow, Navy Veteran, gerikrotow.com,
Each Memorial Day I pause to think about my classmates from the Naval Academy who gave the ultimate sacrifice--they're no longer here to brag about being an Annapolis grad, or to meet up for a reunion. I think about the active duty men and women we've lost. As a Navy spouse I experienced the loss of one of my husband's squadron's members who had transferred to the Pentagon and who gave his life on 9-11. I am honored to have served in the same Navy as they did, and doubly honored to have served as a Navy spouse so that my husband could fulfill his duties for an entire career.
Elizabeth Langston, Air Force veteran, elizabethlangston.net,
My brother James served two tours in Iraq as a National Guardsman. In 2005, I wrote him every Friday without fail. They were funny, newsy, lighthearted letters. A regular catchup on my kids. Sports highlights from his favorite teams. The "stupid criminal joke" of the week.
When he returned, he never mentioned them, and neither did I.
Then, in 2009, he learned he'd be going on a second deployment. At his farewell party, the whole family was laughing and kidding around, asking what kind of care packages he wanted us to send. I asked him, "What would you like from me?" And he said, "The same thing you sent last time."
Finally, please enjoy the military tribute I created from readers' pictures of their loved ones who serve and continue to defend freedom at this link. My goal is 500 views, so please share with your family and friends.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
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| Sailors man the rails from the USS Nimitz in honor of the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor |
It is a beautiful tribute Kim. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI loved the tribute, that was awesome. I loved seeing my dad's picture included (and my mom & dad's wedding picture). :D
ReplyDeleteWe have just had ANZAC Day here in Australia and New Zealand. Our day to remember. April 25 - the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915.
ReplyDeleteANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps)
Aloha, Mary! We included ANZAC Day in the SOS America Military Tribute during the RT Booklovers' Convention - see this link:
Deletehttp://www.alohaonmymind.blogspot.com/2014/05/aloha-to-rt-booklovers-convention-day-7.html
Thank you for this, Kim.
ReplyDeleteThanks for including me, Kim!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your work to put all this together!
ReplyDeleteLovely tribute
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim, for creating the lovely tribute. It was cool to see my great-uncle there.
ReplyDelete