MyMilitaryMedals.com Blog
Gratitude Will Supersede Military Ribbons Every Time
December 26th 2011 - 12:26 pm
The holiday season is just that a season, it is not just one day and then back to work. I know it is the day after Christmas, and most of us are back at work doing what we do, without a second thought. There are those that have vacation built up, and are enjoying a week or two of rest and relaxation. From past experiences with friends and family it is not always feasible to get time off for the holidays, and it usually depends upon your seniority at your place of employment. I am home on winter break from school, and I have had three weeks off, with two more to come so I am fortunate to have some time off. The flip side to my time off is that I am not getting paid to relax as if I had paid time off. The fact is, in today’s economy it is tough for one to take time off and not earn money to stay afloat. There are a lot of folks that get themselves in a tough situation during the holidays, and cause undue stress upon them. It would be so nice if the tradition of Christmas was not to run out and max out your credit cards to get gifts, but if you had to make all gifts that were given during this time. I know that Christmas is not supposed to be about giving and receiving gifts, but you have to admit it has become a big part of this season. So if it is that way, and we probably can’t change it, maybe we can alter how we handle it. If we can just appreciate time spent with each other, and focus on our relationships this time of year would be so much more rewarding, not to mention less stressful. We actually have a perfect opportunity to do this with the kids out of school, and most have a day or two off. What about those that are not afforded this luxury, how can we reach out to them during this holiday season?
My heart always goes out to those that are less fortunate, and may not even have family and friends to be with and love. What about their holidays, shouldn’t they have a joyous season as well? Maybe we could reach out and help those that are less fortunate than we are, and let the true spirit of the holidays shine through. In my estimation the best gift you can give someone is your time, and I am referring to quality time from the heart. Sometimes it is as simple as taking the time say to a few kind words, or even just extending a smile. There are all levels of commitment to helping others, this range from volunteer programs to doing good deeds on the spot when the need arises. There are many citizens that take it upon themselves to help others, and make it a part of their daily walk. I like to think of the golden rule in these times and try to put myself in others shoes. I for one have been down and out, and have had people that I knew, and total strangers reach out a hand to help me back on my feet. Because I am a veteran, my thoughts are on the men and women of the military on a regular basis and what they go through during this time of year.
Our US military members spend more time away from their loved ones than in any other occupation. Think about this statement for a second, and you will be hard pressed to find another group of individuals that volunteer to do whatever is best to defend your freedom. If it requires being away from loved ones for months or years, this is what they do. The fact that they dedicate themselves to a greater cause, does not mean that they do not miss their loved ones and also wish they could be home. What if we dedicate ourselves to thanking these warriors for their commitment? Send a letter or a gift to a random soldier, and you will see how good it feels, and I am sure it will be well received from them as well. If in some way we can share the holiday spirit with these men and woman it will be returned tenfold. These protectors of freedom do not go overseas for the military ribbons and medals that they receive; they do it because they believe in the American dream, and they are protecting it. Don’t get me wrong we should honor these military members with these military awards, but that is not why they do what they do.
Warriors protecting our Freedoms
December 24th 2011 - 5:21 pm
So it is Christmas Eve, and I have been enjoying time with friends that came to stay with us last night. I think we take our time for granted, and don’t appreciate the little things like being able kick back and watch football and eat our favorite appetizers. Most games my wife gets the half-time goodies all ready and we sit back in our comfortable living room and watch our favorite teams. So what about that soldier on post watching for insurgents, or that naval officer commanding a submarine in the Indian Ocean? We are so blessed that we have men and women that are willing to protect our country day and night. You have to also think of the husbands and wives of these deployed service members and the time they spend waiting and praying for their loved ones to come home safely. When I was a young child I used to look forward to my dad coming home from work every day, but I never had to wait nine months or a year to see my dad. Our soldiers volunteer their time to our country, and sometimes it is at the expense of time with the ones that are closest to them. For a minute put yourself in their shoes, and try to imagine the holidays in this situation.
Sure we are in the middle of the Christmas and New Year holidays, but what about all the other important days. As a father I never want to miss a birthday of one of my children, or to be deployed for my wedding anniversary. We deploy our service members to destinations across the globe, and we don’t take their personal lives into account. We receive the benefit of their protection and more than likely do not give it a second thought. I personally am very thankful for the freedoms afforded to me the United States Government, and truly am thankful for the many sacrifices made each and every day by the best warriors in the world, our US service men and women. There are also many service workers that defend our country, and they also deserve our gratitude and respect for their service.
Some of the men and women that keep this country safe are our border patrol, and the men and women of TSA. We travel to and from our desired destinations, and usually complain about the inconveniences that we deal with in boarding and departing a plane. Do we ever think about the long days performing these duties, and the many times they pull these duties during the holidays? No one wants to work during holidays but security does not take a day off and much of the time neither do these security officers. These men and women may not be in the US armed forces, but they provide security for our country just the same. These men and women perform a vital role in our security, and are not awarded military ribbons or military medals, but they should be acknowledged and shown our appreciation just the same. We can look around our neighborhoods and see men and women in service all around us; policeman, firemen, DEA, correctional officers, and many more. So in place of the traditional military award find it in you to express how thankful you are for the protection we enjoy, and sometimes take for granted.
