It's Independence Day

I can't think that phrase without thinking of the song by Faith Hill. But that's not what I want to talk about today. My blog posts, at least right now, seem to have two themes: my writing and my husband.

As it is the 4th of July, today's blog post centers around my husband. I can't help it. He's very close to my heart and very far from my home.

Something about hearing the stirring music to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” coupled with multitudes of people standing in reverent attention with their hands on their hearts, always brings a warm fervor of pride to my soul. I have always been so proud to be an American. As a child, I would shout the lyrics to songs at the top of my lungs during patriotic activities: “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.”

And yet in the past year, the patriotic fervor I feel has magnified to an almost religious observance, to a passionate devotion and gratitude that I feel in the depth of my being. Now when I sing, “And I won’t forget the men who died and gave the right to me,” I can’t restrain the tears that flow down my face. There are still men today that fight for not only our freedoms, but the freedoms of repressed people across the globe.

My husband is one of them. At the command of our country, he left his life behind to sacrifice at least a year of his life and help bring equality and justice for all to a war-torn nation and the suffocated, deprived people of Afghanistan. We cried when he got the call; my husband was leaving behind not only the house we had only hours ago moved into, not just the job he received a promotion at two months ago, but also two children and a pregnant wife. Yet he never questioned his duty. He never tried to shirk the responsibility he accepted when he joined the armed forces.

I am grateful to the families who support their husbands, wives, sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers, allowing them to serve in the military. I also honor you on this day. I am grateful to the civilians who remember our military with every prayer, who put out our nation’s flag and let it wave in front of their houses. I am grateful to the church groups who post signs in front of the buildings asking us to pray for our military. I am grateful to the radio stations who take time out of their normal scheduled programs to play music that celebrates our freedoms and sparks emotion in our hearts.

But especially, I am grateful to the Americans like my husband. The normal men and women that have the desire to be something greater, to accomplish something more. I do not have the strength, emotionally or physically, to serve my country as you do. But my thoughts are with you, not just today, but every day. Happy Independence Day.

Find someone you know, either a veteran, the family member of a veteran, or the family member of someone who is serving, and take the time to thank them today. Whether you agree with our government's political agenda or not, you certainly enjoy your freedom. It means so much to me every time someone does this.