Honoring those who serve our county

This Memorial Day I am reflecting on my life as a military daughter, sister and wife. Now more than ever, it seems that people are really stopping to reflect and respect those brave men and women who serve this country we call home.
Sometimes, people get caught up in political affiliations and overlook that we are AMERICANS before we are democrats or republicans. If we would stop bickering long enough, we may even realize that the lines between the two are more narrow than we think.
Growing up in San Antonio and just a few miles from Lackland, Air Force Base, some of my fondest childhood memories include the 4th of July fireworks on base or going to the commissary on the weekends with my father. He would always let me pick out a bag of candy. If I was lucky, we would go over to the BX where I could usually get another small purchase like a cassette tape (yes, I am that old), a new pair of shoes or makeup. I loved being an Air Force daughter because I received quality medical care on base and learned that military people demonstrate hard work ethics, loyalty and compassion.
I have six brothers who have served in the military (Army, Navy and Air Force) and one brother is still in the Air Force Reserves. My husband Philip has served in the Army for more than 17 years and I am grateful for the quality of life that my daughter and I enjoy as a result.
I am slo grateful and in admiration of the other military wives that U have met along the way who make tremendous sacrifices and put in extra work when their husbands are deployed. These mothers are forced to "carry the load" while trying to maintain a healthy self balance as well.
Memorial Day is dedicated to those we lost, those who served and those among us who are the most bravest. Old soldiers don't die. They live forever in our hearts.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An Open Letter to Tory Burch

Image
 Last month, I had the extreme pleasure of attending the Embrace Ambition Summit in New York hosted by the Tory Burch Foundation. Having attended business summits before, I went in with the expectation that the same topics presented by the same "types" would be facilitated. Boy was I wrong! The summit was simply amazing and I honestly cannot think of a time I felt more empowered and inspired as a woman. Every interaction and touchpoint was thoughtful and intentional. I loved how the program included audience speakers who you may not have known but had meaningful stories and impact. As an African-American woman who was once a single mother, has battled breast cancer, was subjected to childhood traumas, fought (and won) workplace discrimination among other career and life setbacks, it was reassuring to hear stories of perseverance from other women who shared their authentic stories without shame or guilt. Their transparency made me realize that we are never truly alone in any b
Read more

No Problems with Mary Jane

I don't blog daily because I strive to be relevant. In between social media posts, I do live a real life. This week, my facebook newsfeed has been inundated with bloggers and writers upset about current media portrayals of Black women on television; specifically the fictional characters of Olivia Pope on "Scandal" and "Being Mary Jane" on BET. First let me state the obvious: These are fictional characters . Dramatic television is simply that. In order to engage an audience, you must have conflict and character flaws. Few people would tune in to watch a show where perfect people go to their perfect jobs and return home to their perfect families in their perfect communities with absolutely no conflict, turmoil or drama. Television serves as an escape. We invest our time and emotions into characters which we can relate to at some level. My biggest concern with everyone upset with these portrayals is that they don't know what the resolution will be. These ch
Read more

2021: Took a stand

Image
  I have always been a fighter. The tendency to challenge things brewed in my belly as a child. Having your favorite brother killed in a hit and run accident as a child does something to you. You constantly seek justice whether intentional or not. Life circumstances have molded me into an advocate for others. Often when others around me lack the tools or resources to advocate for themselves, I accept the challenge and forge forward. Fighting for something today will always beat falling for anything tomorrow. Do I ever get tired of fighting? Absolutely but half of the battle is knowing when to join in the ring or throw in the towel. Equip yourself with knowledge so that you can be successful in any battle. 2021 definitely tried my voice, my well-being, my abilities and my patience. It was a year of raising my voice and taking a strong stand for what is right. And luckily, it was a stand worth taking. Moving into a new year, I would like to encourage anyone reading this to always strive
Read more