This past Saturday, we celebrated Independence Day as a Nation. Everywhere you went, was covered in Red, White, and Blue, bands playing patriotic music, barbeques and beer and the fireworks.
My husband and I took our toddler to the zoo to watch the firework show. Like many other places, the city Orchestra played music until dusk. During their concert, they played the U.S. Military Medley. They had service men and women stand when they herd their branch's song. On Sunday at church, they had a special July 4th program (even though it was the 5th). They played the same song and like at the zoo, all former and current service men and women were asked to stand when they heard their branch's song. This recognition was also extended to civil servants as well.
With all of the celebration and Military recognition they forgot to recognize one group of people. I am fairly certain that this group of people was not recognized at all on the 4th, nor are they celebrated any other 4th of July ever. The husbands and wives of those in uniform.
I am not taking away from the huge sacrifice that the men and women in uniform make or have made by serving our country, but why doesn't anyone think about their spouses? While families across the nation are having barbeques and lighting off and watching fireworks, drinking an ice cold beer (sometimes one too many) in celebration of our nation's freedom, their wives are alone.
Their wives get up and try to make holidays special for their children alone. The family photo is missing a face. They raise children like a single parent even though they are married. The big moments happen without their spouse next to them. Every waking moment they worry for the safety of the love of their life from behind a smile. They witness milestones in their child's life wishing daddy could be there too. Every night the crawl into an empty bed, arm too far away to be held by.
The Military Spouses make just as big of a sacrifice. They never get recognition. So to you who have a spouse serving or have served, THANK YOU! Thank you for giving up the love of your life and putting your family second, so that my family can sleep safe and free in our beds.
I am not taking away from the huge sacrifice that the men and women in uniform make or have made by serving our country, but why doesn't anyone think about their spouses? While families across the nation are having barbeques and lighting off and watching fireworks, drinking an ice cold beer (sometimes one too many) in celebration of our nation's freedom, their wives are alone.
Their wives get up and try to make holidays special for their children alone. The family photo is missing a face. They raise children like a single parent even though they are married. The big moments happen without their spouse next to them. Every waking moment they worry for the safety of the love of their life from behind a smile. They witness milestones in their child's life wishing daddy could be there too. Every night the crawl into an empty bed, arm too far away to be held by.
The Military Spouses make just as big of a sacrifice. They never get recognition. So to you who have a spouse serving or have served, THANK YOU! Thank you for giving up the love of your life and putting your family second, so that my family can sleep safe and free in our beds.
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