with gratitude on memorial day

Every year on this day I say a special prayer of thanks.  
I’m thankful more than words can really say for the men and women who have served and are serving in the armed forces. 
My dad is a purple heart awarded Vietnam veteran.  
A few years ago my dad shared his 21st birthday story with me.  I hadn’t ever realized that he turned 21 while he was serving in Vietnam.  Let that thought settle in for a minute.  He turned 21 over there.  There was no birthday cake, no candles, no family, no friends, no presents………there was just him………….and a war.  
Today and every day I’m grateful for the sacrifice a few have made for the freedom of many.  
Thank you to all who have served and are serving!  While today may be the officially designated day for us to remember those men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice, I am grateful every day.   Freedom isn’t free……………and I’ll never say thank you enough to those who paid and are currently paying for mine. 

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  • I have had the privilege to work on several Vietnam stories over the past year as part of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. I have learned so much and been humbled by those who served. They were so young, so incredibly young and what they endured … let's just say I cried more than once. Thank you to your dad for his service to our country.

  • Thanks for sharing the story Carmel. That is a story that needs to be shared, daily!! Especially with the young people today. Thank you to your dad and all who served and are serving (my brother included).

  • Carmel, this is just another reason I adore you so much. Thank you so much for every post you write about our nations veterans. Im a die hard DIYer, lover of interior design, but more importantly, I too, am a veteran. Its one of the biggest accomplishments of my life thus far and its refreshing to see others offer their genuine appreciation. Thank you pretty lady:)

  • bahahahaha! This is hilarious! How did I miss this? Spell check doesn't work on titles and I'm pretty sure I wrote this post after talking to a neighbor about her daughter's graduation party……so maybe that's how that "d" got in there – too funny!

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