Note: Taking a little departure from the usual topics I talk about on this blog today to share a few thoughts about a personal issue.
I’ll be honest, in the past I haven’t paid a lot of attention to Veteran’s Day and what it represents. Not sure why. My Dad was in the service. Vietnam. So, it’s definitely in my family. But, it’s not front-and-center for me every day. I don’t have friends in the military. Very few other family members, other than my Dad, are vets. So I guess I just haven’t thought about it that much. It hasn’t really “hit home.”
But, if you read my post from a couple weeks back, causes and special occasions like Veteran’s Day have taken on a whole different meaning for me the last few years since I’ve become a father.
I know it’s cliche, but the day I became a father, everything about my world changed. It’s true. So for me, holidays like Veteran’s Day are now a big deal. They’re opportunities for me to educate and help my kids understand what’s important in life. To teach them values. To show them how fragile life really is. And, in this case, to help them understand that there are men and women across the world that make the freedom we take for granted each day possible.
Now, you’re probably saying, why wasn’t Veteran’s Day a big deal to you before? And, you know what? That’s a fair question and one I don’t have a great answer for. Like I said, since it hasn’t been front-and-center for me, I just haven’t paid our military and the families that sacrifice for our country the respect they are clearly due.
But, I can tell you that today I am honoring those folks. Starting with a phone call to my Dad.
Note: If you’re looking for ideas on how you can celebrate and recognize veteran’s all year round, take a peek at this post from my friend, Heather Whaling, today.
Note: Photo courtesy of Martin Burns via FlickR Creative Commons.
Really appreciate your perspective here, Arik. I can see how having kids would change the way you see things. I don’t have any family immediate family that served in a war. My dad was in the reserves and my grandfather wanted to but had an injury that kept him from doing so. Selfishly, I’m glad, because I got to spend so much time with him growing up. But I remember my dad saying how disappointed my grandfather was because he felt it was his duty to protect his country.
I think over time and generations, that “duty” idea has changed. And for me, it almost makes what our troops and vets do even more amazing because it’s something I’m not sure I could do.
Arik, I bet this is more common than you think. I know Veterans Day took on a whole new meaning for me after my brother served in the military. Thank you for sharing your story today and for teaching your kids about the sacrifices our military members make!
Heather
@prTini
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I have a son who’s a U.S. Marine–at Camp Pendleton, thank goodness. Thanks on his behalf for the respect.
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Well said my friend.
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