This is my brother, Sean. This is my younger brother, he hasn’t been my little brother since he was 13.
This June he saw his 18th anniversary of the day he enlisted in the Air Force.
That is my son’s entire lifetime.
I don’t really care how many birthdays he claims to have had, he will always be my ‘little brother’ in my mind. He will always be the brother that followed me to college and I will always be the sister that felt the need to pave his way.
For 18 years I haven’t been able to pave his way. Well, let’s be honest, it’s been much longer than 18 years, but for 18 years he’s gone to places I have only read about in history books, or hear about on the evening news. For 18 years he’s been places, done things, seen sights he will never be able to tell us about, and probably wouldn’t even if he could. For 18 years it’s been his job to keep us safe, to do his part in defending this country so that his family, his sisters, his parents, his nieces and nephews and cousins and friends and family continue to have the freedoms that make our country unique in this world.
Today is Veteran’s Day. Megan’s school had a breakfast today to honor all the Veterans and the kids were allowed to invite any of their family who are Veterans. Every year when they do this Megan dies a little inside because she would give anything to have her Uncle Sean there beside her, but he’s either ‘on a trip’ or because he lives in another state he can’t come. Either way, she is fiercely proud of her Uncle. I’m not sure he even knows how proud she is of him.
To Sean, to all the guys on his crew, to his commanding officers, to all the members of our Military, to all who are serving and who have served, there are not Thank You’s big enough, or sincere enough to convey my gratitude for all you have given.
And Bud? The girls and I love you with hearts bigger than words can say, and we are proud beyond measure of you.
