Memorial Day...Thank You

In the 12^th hour of Memorial Day, I do want to share some memories I have as a military spouse for 17 years. I did not serve in the military, nor did I wear Kevin’s rank. I was a quiet officer’s wife that just wanted to be accepted like everyone else. We were a young couple, with young children facing a military lifestyle. Deployments and separation were always imminent and I accepted that as a military spouse. I knew that I would have to face the impending fear that if my husband deployed, he was in danger. I became very quiet and solemn in these moments. Some say I was being brave, but inside my heart, I was afraid; Very afraid. I loved Kevin for a very long time and in lieu of all of our insanities and the abuses he inflicted on me, I still held onto the fact that the reason WHY I stayed with him so long was because I loved him and I loved the 4 children we shared together. Without him-I would not have Kevin, Megan, Amanda or Justin. I held onto that for a long time.

I want to write this in honor of our military. As a military wife, I loved being a part of all the families. The family support groups, the holidays, the fundraisers, the get together’s, the play groups with the children, the teas and coffees, OWC, and every other get together we had to try to bond was wonderful.  I loved every aspect of the “military family” created especially in deployments. I want to make something very clear to my readers. Kevin was a real mean man behind his uniform but that NEVER made me disrespect the men and women that served. I separate Kevin “the husband” from Kevin “the solider” I love our military. I love the troops. And most of all-I loved and still love the families that serve. I understand the fear, the freedoms and the joys when “your” soldier comes home safe and in your arms.

I was a military spouse for 17 years and it was not the military that ruined my marriage-it was me and Kevin. God Bless all the troops and their families for I know the pain and joys they live with everyday!

I am very proud to have been a part of the military and I am so much more proud to be an American! God Bless America!