Mother`s Day

Happy Mother's Day! The biggest surprise I ever got for Mother's Day came two years ago in 2010. It was a day early, but it was sooo wonderful.

Tyler had been in Haiti for more than three months with the 82nd Airborne following the earthquake that hit in January. I remember him calling in the middle of the afternoon on the Monday following. "Hey, Mom..." in his usual nothing's-happening-here voice. I took the bait and asked him if he was on his way somewhere. "Just sittin' on my duffel bag with the guys."

After that, we had very limited contact. Cell phone coverage was limited, and letters or packages took a very long time to make the journey. Though it wasn't exactly a war zone, it looked like one. Aftershocks, rubble and filthy conditions made the situation difficult.

As the deployment was winding down, contact again became almost nonexistent as they prepared to come home. We kept waiting for word, wondering when the call would come.

So on Saturday before Mother's Day, my husband got the coffee started first thing. Before we had a cup, he asked me if I had seen what he did in Tyler's room. He fibbed and said he'd hung some pictures. I thought to myself, of all the things he could do around the house, picture hanging wouldn't be the top of my list. Up the stairs I went to see my husband's version of home decorating.

I flipped open the door expecting to see pictures hung far too high on the wall. What I found was a tall, lanky man-boy, just back from a third world disaster zone, sound asleep in his bed. "Tyler, oh Tyler. You're here!" 

"Mornin', Mom." Just like that. Just as though he had never been more than a stone's throw from home. 

To all moms, happy Mother's Day. Whether your kids are near or far, enjoy them today and every day.

Airman's Creed, Air Force Values

Still celebrating Armed Forces week… Today I’m thinking about the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force was spun from the Army. Originally called the Army Air Corps, the Air Force is a relatively new fighting force. Remember, planes and flight only came into being in the 1900`s. (Thank you, Wright Brothers!)

At around 1940, the Army Air Corps had about 26,000 personnel and less than 2,000 planes. It wasn’t until 1941 that the Department of War created the Army Air Forces. In 1947, the Air Force officially became its own entity, and thus became a partner of the Army and Navy, as opposed to a division of the Army.

Thank you to Airmen everywhere for standing ready to protect us. Thank you for your service.

The Airman’s Creed

I am an American Airman.

I am a Warrior.

I have answered my Nation’s call.

I am an American Airman.

My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.

I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,

A Tradition of Honor,

And a Legacy of Valor.

I am an American Airman.

Guardian of Freedom and Justice,

My Nation’s Sword and Shield,

Its Sentry and Avenger.

I defend my Country with my Life.

I am an American Airman.

Wingman, Leader, Warrior.

I will never leave an Airman behind,

I will never falter,

And I will not fail.

Air Force Core Values

Integrity First

Service Before Self

Excellence In All We Do


When you read these words, and consider what our service people commit to, it's huge. The values they live by are a good lesson for us all.

Sailor's Creed, Navy Ethos

The mission of the United States Navy is to protect and defend the right of the United States and our allies to move freely on the oceans and to protect our country against her enemies. Created originally by the Continental Congress, the Navy stands ready to defend our Nation by sea.

Thank you, sailors, for your service.

The Sailor’s Creed

I am a United States Sailor.
 

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.
 

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.
 

I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment.
 

I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.

THE NAVY ETHOS

We are the United States Navy, our Nation's sea power - ready guardians of peace, victorious in war.

We are professional Sailors and Civilians - a diverse and agile force exemplifying the highest standards of service to our Nation, at home and abroad, at sea and ashore.

Integrity is the foundation of our conduct; respect for others is fundamental to our character; decisive leadership is crucial to our success.

We are a team, disciplined and well-prepared, committed to mission accomplishment. We do not waver in our dedication and accountability to our shipmates and families.

We are patriots, forged by the Navy's core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. In times of war and peace, our actions reflect our proud heritage and tradition.

We defend our Nation and prevail in the face of adversity with strength, determination, and dignity.

We are the United States Navy.

Soldiers Creed, Warrior Ethos

In marking Armed Forces week, a look at the belief system and guiding principles behind our armed forces.

 

Today we start with the Army. The Army is the oldest of our Armed Forces, having begun as the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The Army National Guard began as a state militia, a group of volunteers who fought part time.

 

The full time/part time distinction between the Army and the National Guard continues today, but the commitment to the national and citizens is no less important and necessary. Thank you all for serving.

 

Here is the Soldiers Creed from the U.S. Army. It is absolutely leaves me with chills when I hear a group of soldiers simultaneously reciting this creed. Read these words and remember that this is a solemn promise our soldiers make. The ethos is what they live by. Quite remarkable...

 

Soldier’s Creed

I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

Warrior Ethos

I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

Armed Forces week

This week is set aside to honor all those serving in the United States Armed Forces. This includes the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. 

Thank you all for giving yourselves to serve and protect all of us. 

As we go about living our regular civilian lives, it's important to say thank you to our service men and women. It shouldn't take a date on the calendar to remember that they are there for us, standing ready, when and if we need them. All the hours of training and physical exertion keep these men and women in peak physical form so that they are prepared if and when they are pressed into action on our behalf.

They stand guard. They have our back. We are in excellent hands.

If you cross paths with a member of the Armed Services this week, thank them for their bravery, their fearlessness and the sacrifices they make so that we might live in freedom. 

Military Spouse Appreciation Day - May 6

Change of plans for today... I was going to write more about letters and share some that passed between my grandmother and my father. I'll put that on hold for now. Today is a day that I can't let pass by - Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

May 6 is set aside each year to recognize the unsung heroes that love and support our military personnel. Military spouses may not wear a uniform, and they may see the front line, but their duty is tough. They wait. They wait for their soldier, and they keep the homes fires burning. Military spouses stand behind their warrior, giving them the strength to carry on. Its knowing they have the love of a good woman or man waiting for them at home that makes active duty easier. 

I'm not a military spouse, nor have I ever been one. I can't imagine what it's like to wait and to wonder if your spouse will come home whole or if they will come home at all. It's a tremendous load and an uncertain one. Military spouses have a special place in Heaven reserved for them if you ask me.

Today, I send my love, my thanks, and my appreciation to the military spouse who waits for my son. My daughter-in-law, Dominique, is a young, beautiful college student. She and my Tyler have been married just over a year. She's amazing. 

Tyler and Dominique have had a unique experience, as their dating life began just shortly before he enlisted. They have endured much separation due to college for her and military service for him. Dominique stood behind Tyler during his deployment to Haiti and Iraq. It's not easy, I'm certain, for a young lady to deal with all the ups and downs that come with military life. As his wife, she supports him in a completely different way that a parent just can't. I love her for everything she brings to my son's life.

Thank you, Dominique, for your enduring love for my son. You are my hero.

Dominique and Tyler

If you know a military spouse, take a moment to thank them; acknowledge THEIR service.

Phone calls and letters

There's something about having a military son that hasn't changed in a century. When your boy answers the call and heads to Basic Training, you won't see him for months, and your only communication during that time will be letters and a handful of phone calls.

My father served in World War II, joining what was at that time the Army Air Corps. This was before the Air Force was created. A wiry young lad, born on a farm in West Virginia, my father had known many hardships in his young life. His father died in the flu epidemic of 1918 as did several other close relatives. His mother had to sell the farm,  move into town and take in boarders, cook and clean, while caring for two small boys. The family relocated to Buffalo, NY when his mother finally remarried.

My dad was one of many who saw joining the military as an opportunity to protect our nation and do something important. Love of country was stronger than love of self. Leaving everything familiar behind, men like my dad, headed off to a very uncertain future and possibly death. The only link to home was through letters.

It's an interesting thing about these letters. I would bet if you asked 100 military people, 99 would say they saved every note, every card, every letter they received while serving. Those letters are a delicate lifeline that can cross thousands of miles and tether a soldier to home. My dad saved the letters he received as well as the ones he wrote home. Upon his mother's death, they were found among her treasured possessions, of which there were few.

After my father's death, my mother gave each of the children some of those letters. What a treasure. Reading them gave me a better sense of the man my father was in his younger years, and they helped me get to know my grandmother. Though I never met her, I feel I know her well. We share a bond, stronger now because of her letters.

Tomorrow...letters.                                  

Healing Words

The day I learned of my son's decision to enlist was the day the bottom fell out for me as a mother. After years of being the “decider,” all seemed lost. The next weeks were filled with dread of the future, like waiting for a funeral. I felt not a scrap of joy. The fear of what could happen to my son nearly crippled me as his parent. If screaming and crying could have prevented him from going, he’d be with me still.

Graduation came and went. I planned a celebration though my heart was absolutely, utterly broken. Next I planned a farewell gathering, going through the motions of letting go. The ties that bind were being crudely severed, inflicting the worst pain I had ever experienced as a mother. A verse of scripture haunted me: “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are not.” (Matt. 2:18) There was no consoling me.

Inner Struggle

When I look back, I see that my sons had not only an inner struggle when joining the military, but a battle against conventional “wisdom” of friends, family and virtual strangers. It’s an enormous decision whether or not to give up four years of your young life – military service isn’t quite the same as living on a college campus! There is also the struggle to choose for yourself and swim against the stream.

The men and women signing up for service in the years since 9/11 feel the same burn of patriotism in their soul, they feel the same passion for their country and countrymen, they also know that it won’t be a bed of roses over there. In fact, it will be a living Hell. It takes something special to join the service when the war isn’t going well. To know that, and to still join, is extraordinary courage and patriotism.

When I learned that Tyler had declined his ROTC scholarship to enlist straight up, I was floored, scared and truly angry. I couldn’t imagine that he could care so little about his own future that he would give up what amounted to a better situation for himself. What I didn’t understand then is that in Tyler, the flame of patriotism was burning. There wasn’t a thing I could do to change it. Truthfully, I’d never want to extinguish that.

“Oh, you heard,” was all he said when I was yelling at him from the front steps of our home.