Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
I come from a military family. My Dad served in Vietnam. I have uncles and cousins that have served, all during war time. I have a nephew that served in the 10th Mountain Division during war time. Two of my brothers were in the US Army. My husband served in both the Army and Air Force. I served in the US Air Force. We know sacrifice. All veterans know the sacrifices that come with signing that blank check to serve in the military. It’s tough, but so rewarding.
You go to basic training or boot camp and enter a whole new world. You’re trained to work as a team. You learn a whole new language of military terms. The wife of an airman, after he told her he’d talked to his first shirt that day, asked if he talked to all of his clothes! A first shirt is your first sergeant. Haha! You learn how to fire a weapon and take it apart, clean it and put it back together, you learn military history, ranks, etc. Then you go to a technical school to learn your specialty. Then you deploy, go TDY (Temporary Duty), more school as you make rank (get promoted). A lot of times, you have to go away from your family. Sometimes, you have to go to war zones. It’s hard. Sometimes, it’s very hard. But, we go. We signed up for it and we do our duty with a lot of intestinal fortitude.
Look at the service mottos below:
Air Force: Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win
Air Force Pararescue: These Things We Do, That Others May Live
Army: This We’ll Defend
Army Special Forces: De Oppresso Liber- To Liberate the Oppressed
Coast Guard: Semper Paratus- Always Ready
Marine Corps: Semper Fidelis- Always Faithful
Marine Forces Special Operations Command: Always Faithful, Always Forward
Navy: Honor, Courage, Commitment and Non Sibi Sed Patriae – Not Self, But Country
Navy Seals: The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, It Pays To Be A Winner, Never Out Of The Fight
Space Force: Semper Supra – Always Above
These are not all inclusive, but you get the heart of the service through these mottos. All who chose to join the military knew the cost, but with huge, courageous hearts signed on the dotted line and took the oath. You’re heroes in my eyes.
Thank you veterans from my whole heart. Thank you for your courage, your bravery, and for doing the hard things. Thank you for going to distant lands to help fight for freedom. Thank you for not giving up, but pressing on, even when you were exhausted. Thank you for kicking fear to the curb and facing it with boldness. You’re super heroes.
The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. Amen.
