Thank You!

He came into the Home Office a couple of hours ago, dressed in Army ACUs, asking where he could find one of the head honchos at the Corporate Office. My co-worker assisted him with directions on how to find the Big Cheese at the nearby office. As she gave him the information, I watched him from my office doorway as I tried to glean more information about him from the unit patch on his left arm. As luck would have it, age and the need for new glasses would inhibit me from deciphering any detail on his patch. But I swear it looked like the same patch my son, Mr. MP, wears. I know my eyes were playing tricks on me, because my son is stationed on the East Coast. I haven't talked to Mr. MP in a few days and I miss him so much. If I looked twice, I might have actually thought the man in the office was my son himself!

The gentleman thanked my co-worker for her assistance at which point I was headed to the photocopier and ended his sentence with my own..."No, thank you! Thank you for everything you do for the rest of us." He smiled and acknowledged my thanks and left the office.

Then a half hour or so ago, I was running errands at lunch and saw a large group of military personnel in Army ACU's having lunch at an outside eating area of our restaurants. As my hometown only has a nearby Air Force base...seeing such a large group of 15-20 people in Army ACUs is quite surprising.

I wanted to shout out "Thanks - you guys rock!" as I was driving by, but it wasn't safe to do so. Driving, yelling, giving a thumbs up, and making eye contact with them while maintaining control of the vehicle would have far too dangerous for others!

So as I eat my lunch and write this...I want to thank you. All of you.

I thank you, the men and women who serve your country in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Thank you for your willingness to sacrifice whatever is necessary to protect us and the freedoms we enjoy.

One of the Blue Star Moms recently told me she had spoken with some veterans of past wars, who told her the thanks she gave them was the first they had ever been given. No one had ever thanked them in the past. That seems incomprehensible to me.

I don't know who will read this, if anyone. But I must say this.

Thank you for your military service, past and present.

Thank you for the sacrifices you have endured as you spent months and quite possibly years away from your loved ones.

Thank you for the sacrifices you are preparing to make as you await deployment.

Thank you for the daily sacrifices that you as mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and friends have endured and will continue to endure as a family member of a fallen soldier.

Thank you, whoever you may be, for keeping a watchful eye over my son, my daughter-in-law, and my niece who presently serve our country. Thank you for befriending them and keeping them safe in their new surroundings.

And to everyone...thank you for supporting our men and women in the armed services.

You are all in my prayers.