Story 1

May 31, 2008

The last day, but don't let us ever forget

TO ALL OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS--PAST AND PRESENT
if you were never thanked before now, please accept our apologies.
WE THANK YOU

Today is the final day of May, the last day of Military Appreciation month...but not the last day to think of the men and women that have served, or are currently serving, in our armed forces. We should think of them daily and keep them all in our daily prayers. We have shared some of the history and information of different aspects of the military that many people, many of you, may not have known. Now how can we keep the military, the veterans, the fallen in our hearts? I don't mean now, I mean tomorrow, next week, next month, and throughout the year. How can we show our patriotism? How can we honor our military? Our wounded? Our veterans? Our fallen? How can we honor our heroes? Hopefully you can understand that the military member and their families sacrifice a lot for our benefit. So how do we show our appreciation for them providing us protection? For thanking them for doing a job that many don't wish to do? The answer is simple...by showing them we stand behind them, that we are thankful, and that we care. We can say we support them, but what do we do to show it? It doesn't matter if they are active duty, reserve, or guard...they are all still serving. In this day and age they are all active in one way or another, it is no longer just a weekend a month. The thought of deployment is always on their minds, as it is for many of their families. If they aren't thinking about it, then they are probably deployed somewhere...whether in a warzone or in another country.

Some people think the military members are just doing their job, but it is much more than just a job, it is their love for their country. They will give it all they can...they do what they are trained to do proudly, honorably, and heroically. They have held, or will hold, our country's safety in their hands. Many of our protectors, our military, give their own life to protect ours.

We should support them from day one...we can thank them. If they are married thank the family. Their family looses out when the member not with them in order for us to continue in our free world. If in a warzone they don't necessarily want to be there, but it is where they were told to go. They will continue their missions with the greatest ability they can offer. We can write letters to them, that only takes a few minutes of a day. donate items they may need or send a care package ourselves. There are plenty of organizations or community groups that can use help out at once in awhile...to show support, to show we care about them.

Other ways to show our support, many are very simple.
Here are just a few: fly the American flag, salute the flag which they guard as the National Anthem is sung, stand and salute the flag as it passes by in a parade. Attend ceremonies that are held on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. When they are gone to battle help their family, be there for support.

Once they return home don't forget them. Are they wounded in any way, physically or psychologically? We need to ensure all possible resources are available to them...do they need medical care of any type? Don't make them fight to get help they might need. Don't let the effects of war linger within them. They should not feel because they have returned home they are now forgotten, they may still need us. This goes for not only the current wars, we have many veterans that still suffer we need to show our support towards them also. What can we do for them...every single one of them from the past and the present. Do they need help being employed? Help shopping for groceries? Do they just need someone to sit with them to talk with?

As we loose our veterans due to old age, war illnesses or injuries, or any other reason we need to show our respect towards them. Do you know how to recognize a veteran has died when reading the newspaper, without actually reading it? When was the last time you participated in Memorial Day? When did you last lower your flag to half-mast until noon on Memorial Day?

All of our military members that have or are serving are heroes. They have kept us free, kept our land free. They may be at war, nobody really wants to be at war, they want to be home, at the same time they want all of us to be safe. They have done their job. We need to stand beside them and remain strong for them. We need to show we will never let them go. Our faith, hope, and love will give us the strength and power to do so.

We owe them and we always will.

Thank you for allowing us to bring all this information to you. We had a lot of fun and we learnt a lot while putting it all together and we hope you have enjoyed it. If you have missed any of the daily segments they can be located in the archives at: www.skipcares.org Please feel free to share the information we have sent...help open up someone else's eyes on what the military is really all about.

I would like to thank a dear friend, Rochel, for helping with this project that was on my mind for a year. I could never had completed it the way it shows pride in every aspect of our military history and lifestyle without her help. And I know she experienced a brand new view of the military and why we should all feel that pride.

I would also like to thank my son for putting these on a website and for allowing me to share his the videos he made.

Thank you
Nancy