Veterans Day 2020

I'm proud to be a veteran's wife.  To this day I get a lump in my throat when I hear the Air Force song, "Wild Blue Yonder", as it's affectionately called.  My hubby, Jerry, served in the U.S. Air Force during the mid to late 1960's.  His tour of duty included Strategic Aerospace AFB in Altus, Oklahoma, Offutt AFB, headquarters of Strategic Air and Combat Command in Omaha, Nebraska, and a stint at Kadena AFB in Okinawa.   He was a crew chief on KC/RC 135 airplanes.

I celebrated my first wedding anniversary as a military wife far away from home in Michigan. Oklahoma was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of suburbia Detroit, but I learned to love it and made life-long friends there.

I'm proud to be the sister of an Air Force veteran too.  My brother was stationed at Adair AFB near Corvallis, Oregon.  He is five years older than me.  The photo below was taken in 1962 when he came home on leave.

I'm also proud to be the daughter of a veteran.  My father served in the Marine Corps twice. Once in his late teens and again during WWII.  My paternal grandmother saw three of her sons go off to war in the South Pacific, and thankfully all three came back home safely.  

The US Marine Corps celebrated their 245th birthday yesterday.  Happy Birthday to this branch of our armed forces!

~ First Stint ~

~ Second Stint ~

My mom went to California to be with my dad before his tour of duty overseas.  It was a difficult time for both of them because they had two young children. Below is a photo my paternal grandma took of my brother and sister and sent it to my dad to take overseas with him. I love my dad's Marine picture sitting between them.  My wonderful grandma cared for my siblings while my mother was in California.  I wasn't even a twinkle in their eye yet!  I'm their 'baby boomer' who came along after the war was over and my dad returned home. 

 My parents in California.  The photo below is dated 1944.

Below is my dad's funeral in 2011.  God gave us 93 wonderful years with him, and I look forward to seeing him again in Heaven some day.  He was a Christian believer and loved Jesus Christ.  He is buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI.  My youngest son, Jeremy, has the American flag that was placed on his coffin.  My other son, Steve, has his military medals and ribbons and military photo album/scrapbook.  

I'm so grateful to America's Veterans past and present.  I'm thankful it became a federal holiday for our entire country in 1938, known then as Armistice Day, so honor, respect and gratitude could be given to those who have faithfully served, and continue to serve, in the U.S. Military. The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954.

A heartfelt thank you to all Veterans - past and present - for preserving the freedoms we all enjoy.  God bless you, and God Bless the U.S.A.

Raising my teacup in tribute to Veterans today and everyday!