Supporting Our Military

My beautiful daughter, Kayla, leaves for basic training Tuesday for the United States Air Force.  Obviously, I'm extremely proud of her dedication to serving this country, and my heart is full of sadness at letting her go at the same time.  She decided a few years ago that nursing wasn't the line of work she wanted to go into, and began working as a Pharmacy Technician.  I wasn't shocked at her decision to join the military as my baby sister is an Army Veteran.  To me serving in the military is the most selfless thing a person can do, and that fits right in with the beautiful young woman I was privileged to raise.

Until you've had a family member serve, I don't think you fully understand the sacrifice of watching your child, husband, or relative leave everything they know behind to serve a greater purpose.  To me, respecting our flag and National Anthem have always been important.  Now?  That respect has grown tenfold and I'm not sure I can hold my tongue toward anyone that doesn't respect the sacrifice these wonderful people make so we can have all these freedoms.

I grew up as a military brat myself, and spent years overseas, and at other bases so I know what it means to be away from family too.  When you look at our flag, or hear the National Anthem, I hope you'll remember not only my daughter's face, but every single Veteran that has fought to give you those rights we sometimes take for granted.  Everything you do in this life is because someone in the military has fought to make sure you had that ability.

My baby sister just started receiving her VA benefits, after fifteen years of separation after a medical discharge.  There are many other's who've given their lives in service to you and it's a complete disrespect of those lost lives when you don't honor the flag and this beautiful country we are fortunate enough to live in.  There are mother's, father's, wives, sister's, brother's, and other loved ones that will never get the opportunity to watch their solider stand for that flag again or sing the National Anthem with pride.  It's our job as an American to do that for them. 

Above everything else we should be American's.  So the next time you see someone taking a knee, burning a flag, or making jokes about the military, kindly remind them that some people died for that freedom, while other's are out there, sometimes thousands of miles away from family to give them that luxury.  Freedom is never free, even if you feel that it is for you.  God Bless, from a mother in Alabama watching her daughter prepare to go fight for those freedoms!

Michelle Hughes