A Wife's Tale

I have to admit, i have never really thought about veterans day in the past. Every now and then i would see or hear something... think of the troops and vets, say a prayer and that was all. All of this changed 2 years ago when is started dating my now husband. Most people actually don't know that he is a veteran, but he is and it has not been an easy road for him to live.

I always thought that the armed services was kinda like a job. you go, you work for x amount of time, then you move back settle down and get a "real" job. Of course some stay and that's cool but i never realized the effects being in the arm services has on people, until Kel.

Kel was in the Navy from age 18 to 21. He went straight out of high school and enlisted. He became more than the average sailor and worked his way into the field of Naval Intelligence. He did a lot of very dangerous things, in a lot of very dangerous places with a lot of very dangerous people. He had a very specific job and it was not an easy one. In fact nobody is allowed to know details, including me. Then after a few traumatic event befell his life he was able to leave the armed services a bit early in order to keep himself out of harm's way. Kel is a very strong (physically and mentally) man. What he lived through in the Navy meant that becoming a citizen again was not an easy task. in fact it took him over 6 months to realize how to live as an adult on his own. After that it took another year to get a job, learn to work not under military style management, live on his own and relieve himself of the stress and pressure that were put on him at such a young age. Years after being out of the navy Kel still has to live with medical and emotional scars from his service to the country, as well as constantly be looking to see if his friends still in the armed services are safe. I have seen the scar from where he got shot. I've heard the pain of a nightmare and memory of what he has seen. I've seen the anger of a helpless man. All so that i can live my normal life everyday. All so that we can raise our future kids safely. All so that i can go to work as a woman and have rights without persecution.

Veterans day is my new favorite holiday. It's a day i can tell my husband "Thank You" personally for risking his life to save mine, when he didn't even know me. It means so much to say that to him personally, because he is my hero!

I can not wait until my nieces and nephews and children are old enough that i can tell them about Uncle Kel and Daddy. About how he went out and fought the bad guys. About how he wore that uniform and kept us safe. Kel has been on a long journey to the man he is today and it has been a lot longer and harder because of what he has seen and done. So if you get the chance please tell him or another veteran thank you. They didn't have to do it, but they did it and they did it with Pride!