Veterans Day: Bless You!
Cats: Heart of a Military Woman|
Veterans Day: Bless You!
Today is Veterans Day.
A day we most reverently thank those who have served our country with their time, their energy, and their lives. Fighting for our freedoms, and often at high cost, and life.
Even though we have different words for the diagnosis, and different treatments for the symptoms, the ailments are the same as a hundred years ago. Multiple deployments are causing an all-time high rate of failed marriages, divorce, anti-depressant prescriptions and suicide.
Even more solemn for this year, following the Fort Hood shooting last week. One of our own, shooting our own, on our own homeland, on our own military base.
Co-author Eldonna Lewis Fernandez and I were interviewed on "Mornings with Lorri and Larry" during prime-time driving yesterday morning, and asked our thoughts about the horrific incident. Eldonna, having experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder during her military service, related her personal experiences. For myself, being an ex-Navy wife, and experiencing the direct effects of my ex-husband’s abuse, control and alcoholism, from the Persian Gulf crisis, could also relate.
We never know — and may ever know — what goes on in the mind of another being. We never truly understand their motives, religious beliefs, hidden agendas or secret societies. Yes, we need to handle the Fort Hood shooting, and put protocols into place. Yes, we can learn from it. No, we cannot discriminate against one another, and hold an entire culture responsible for an individual’s actions.
We do need to continue to believe in each other.
We do need to continue to believe in America.
We do need to continue to believe in God.
We do need to continue to be THANKFUL for those who have served our country with every ounce of pride, dignity, respect, service above self, honor, integrity, trust, accountability, and love they have in their bones. For the thousands upon thousands who have served–how long or how brief–fighting for to ensure our continued freedoms — THANK YOU!
This year, I changed by greetings of "Happy Veterans Day" to what I really mean: "Bless You" and "Thank You for everything you have endured that I can breathe and live free, here and now, today. It’s because of YOU. So, BLESS YOU."
May we honor not only today – or one day each year–but EVERY DAY!
Blessings to You Veterans!
Sheryl Roush is a female motivational and inspirational speaker, 13-time published author, releasing Heart of a Military Woman today on Veterans Day. Her father was an Army Corps of Engineers, her mother, a Rosie the Riveter, with a long line of military service members in her family tree. She is an internationally top-rated presenter in 106 countries, and is a proud American, grateful every day for our freedoms.
