I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001. I was sitting on the couch holding my six month old son, wondering what the hell was going to happen next. I sat transfixed for hours, watching the shocked aftermath as the traumas kept piling up.
I knew we were heading to war. I just didn't realize how long and drawn out it would be, or how many servicemen and women would be impacted.
4,483 troops were killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2012.
I can't even begin to imagine how many family members, spouses, children will be forever impacted by their deaths.
Every citizen in the country should be thanking them for risking their safety for our freedom.
I'll be honest. Before I had my son, I considered Veteran's an extra day off. But the older I get I realize the sacrifice they've made for us, and I appreciate it so much more.
I don't have a serviceman close in my family close anymore to tell them thank you, but for any of you reading this that DO, please tell them thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Part of my thank you is writing the Lost and Found series. I want every service man and woman to realize that no matter what condition they come home in, they will find a home, and love. If I could take every one of them into my home and hug them personally, I absolutely would.
My books are my version of a hug.
This Veteran's Day, do something for the people that have protected your way of life. Make a donation to Wounded Warrior Project (I'm an Advanced Guard and make automatic monthly contributions) or take a load of books or movies into your local VA. Shop at a site that donates part of their proceeds to veterans services, like The Veterans Site. There are many ways you can make an impact on those that have protected us for years.
We have an anthology coming out tomorrow. Uniform Desires. Part of my proceeds from that will be going to Wounded Warrior.
It's the hardest job men and women can volunteer to do and I am humbled by the thousands who have chosen to serve in our Armed Services. Let us honor them by ensuring they have everything they need to be successful, their families are well taken care of when they are deployed and they have the best medical and psychiatric care for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDelete~Michelle
Very well said! Yes!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michelle. We need to be reminded not only of the ones we have lost, but the ones who are still suffering and are lost to us in the here and now. So many mental health issues we don't deal with, and, unfortunately we are learning the hard way.
ReplyDeleteWonderful tribute today, Jennifer. So glad we are friends and share this together.