Yesterday was Veterans Day. When I was younger, Veterans Day meant that I either got Friday or the next Monday off of school. I never grasped what it REALLY meant to celebrate Veterans Day. Not until I was older.
Yesterday, my kids were also off of school. Yea, a Wednesday off. Even though they went to school on Monday and Tuesday, and will go to school today and tomorrow, they were off. On a Wednesday. This does not compute.
Anyway... so I was told on Tuesday, that Wednesday was supposed to be a 12 hour shift. Normally, it's 2-8 PM. This is a problem. Obviously there was some miscommunication between the lady and my boss, because my boss, who I had spoken to that morning did not mention anything about a 12 hour shift.
So the lady sort of freaked out because if I worked the 12 hour shift, my kids would be alone. My kids have been at home alone before, and have plenty to keep them occupied. The get along well, and there are no problems. Especially since they aren't home alone for very long. I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. But she insisted that I come in at like 11:30.
Fine, whatever. I'm still getting time and a half, right?
So about an hour before I was supposed to leave yesterday telling me to just come at 12:30, because they were going to the Veterans Day luncheon. Great.
I got there at 12:30, signed in, then walked my butt down the road to the Rec Center. The scene that I walked in on was pretty awesome.
What I saw when I walked in was 4 long tables, filled to the brim with Veterans. There was a table for the Army, the Air Force, The Marines, The Navy, and the Coast Guard. Yes, I counted correctly, there were only 4 tables.
To sit there and see all those men and women, who mostly were in WWII, was pretty amazing. Later during the luncheon, each veteran stood up and gave his or name, branch of service, and rank at the time of separation. To think of all the stories in just that room, is mind boggling.
I skedaddled outta there before they played Taps. Ever since my grandfather was buried and I heard Taps played at his gravesite, I haven't been able to listen to it without crying. It's always been a song that sort of makes me sad and proud all at the same time, but now it means even more, because it was played to honor my own grandfather.
It also makes me very proud of all the other service members in my family. Which, honestly, I never realized were so numerous. At my grandfather's burial, they gave the order that while they were doing the honors, that service members should stand at attention and salute. To see all those hands go up to their heads was very moving.
Of course, Veterans Day also makes me thing of my David. To him, being a soldier was everything. I think in the beginning, he enlisted and went to BCT and passed, to prove that he could do it. Once he went Regular Army, that all sort of changed, and it just became part of who he is. We've been out of the Army for almost 4 years now, but it doesn't feel like it's been that long. We've got pictures everywhere, boxes of uniforms, uniforms hanging up in the closet.
So, to the Veterans of yesterday and today, I myself salute you, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to me, my family, our country and the world.
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