Better Late Than Never

The networks replay this commercial for military holidays year round, but every time it makes me tear up. No matter how we feel about the military actions around the world, we have to give thanks to those that are sacrificing their everyday lives to serve our country.

I casually watched the first season of Army Wives and I think a strong theme was that the women are married to the Army first and their husbands second. And that is the life that they choose to live.

A friend of mine, A. is an Air Force wife. Her husband B. was deployed to Iraq with the Army around two years ago and was there for a year. Right before B left A gave birth to their 2nd child. So he missed a lot, first steps, first words, first Christmas. But when B came home A got a group of friends and family together to welcome him home at the airport.

B came out in his fatigues and A hugged him and cried and cried and cried. Then they brought the kids over and B started to cry, holding his daughter for the first time in a year, while his son was wrapped around his leg. When he stepped away an older man that was coming out of the gate came over to shake B's hand and thanked him. There was even an Asian tourist that was filming the whole thing with his camera phone.

It was an honor to be a part of that.