Here are a few of my favorite vets that I was honored to serve alongside…
Mustang, my first Platoon Sergeant... this man taught me how to be an officer.
My crew... Bags and Bourlier. They put up with me for sure. Yes, that's me with the cheesy grin.
CPT J, my first commander... Instead of go home he'd say, "Piss off, Alyssa." Love it.
Mike, a most loyal friend.
My S1 peeps, oh the stories!
A few from my Company, good troops. Again, I'm in the middle with the cheesy grin.
1SG Red... took a lot of convincing to get him in that hat.
My big brothers, Daryl and Travis.
Last but not least... the Colonel or Dad.
There are so many more that I just don’t have pictures of, so to all of you amazing veterans, God bless you!
September 11th, 2001: I was frustrated that morning that my car battery was dead and I didn’t have a way to get to work that afternoon. Haus and I had only gotten married a few months before and were living in a townhouse in Caldwell, Idaho. We had very little to our name and no television.
Despite just graduating from college, I was a waitress at the Olive Garden waiting for a school date to start my Army career and Haus was a framer for construction company waiting for us to be in a more permanent place to finish his engineering degree. We were so young. I called my parents to borrow a car as they only lived a half-hour away and it was my mom that told me the shocking news. I spent the rest of the morning standing in front of their big screen watching the events unfold.
Later that afternoon, I idled in the lobby of the restaurant with the other waiters at work discussing the implications of the terrorist attacks… not a soul came in to eat. I can remember thinking, I’m going to be in the Army and my Army is going to war.
That night at dinner Haus and I sat silently in our tiny kitchen knowing that this day would forever change the course of our lives.
Exactly eight years ago, I returned home safely from my first deployment. Today the boys and I remembered those that never returned. We visit the same memorial every year with flowers for the fallen. It’s not much, but I’m hoping it’s enough to ensure the boys never forget.
If you’re interested in the history of Memorial Day, please see this post.
This guy is the BEST military spouse and my partner for life. Thanks Haus for supporting me no matter what. Read this to learn more about my amazing guy.
Can I vent for a bit?
Sunday night was the first time in a long time that I watched the news. My first reaction? Relief. I’ve been acquainted with Osama bin Laden’s attacks more than once in my life. He claimed responsibility for the Kenyan Embassy bombing only a few weeks before I traveled to Kenya for a mission trip. I commissioned into the Army a few months before 9/11 and served two deployments in its wake. During my second deployment, I found myself immersed in propaganda and intelligence reports detailing his absolute hatred of Americans and our leadership. The images associated with his ideals will never leave me and remind me of exactly why he was wanted by our government.
So why am I disappointed? I’m a bit frustrated by Sunday night’s giant frat party outside of the White House grounds. Most of the revelers were probably only 9 or 10 years old when 9/11 occurred and I wouldn’t doubt if many of them were the same anti-war demonstrators I saw a few months ago during the D.C. rallies. I wasn’t proud of that, for sure.
I’m more disappointed in the condemning remarks I’ve seen across Facebook the last few days. I don’t really approve of the celebration over some one’s death, but at the same time is it my place to judge the victims of 9/11 that gathered to praise justice for their family members taken from them? Is this the time, hours after the news, to boast a Martin Luther King Jr. quote or condescending biblical verses to those that may be feeling some joy after almost ten years of suffering their loved one’s loss?
I’m not joyful over the death of Osama bin Laden, but I am relieved and proud of the efficiency of our military. I believe, however, that those that may never have had a chance to say goodbye on September 11th, 2001 or families that lost loved ones to the war on terror have earned the right to be joyful or relieved or any number of emotions. I can’t imagine the extent of their suffering the last ten years due in some part to the maniacal schemes of Osama bin Laden. I may not agree with joy over a person’s death, but I refuse to be judgmental. I can only pray now for blessings upon those that have suffered losses due to terrorism and protection for their families.
Thanks, friends. Couldn’t sleep and had to get that off of my chest.
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