As a military family, Veterans Day always has a lot of meaning for us. So here's to the Veterans in my family. My husband: the top picture was taken on his last tour to Iraq in 2011. On a sobering note, I realized that this picture was taken by his friend John Crone, who committed suicide a year later, losing his battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My paternal grandfather, who served in the Navy during WWII and who was my most favorite person in the world when I was a kid. The last picture is me! I did 4 1/2 years in the National Guard to help pay for college. I didn't do anything special like fight in the biggest tank battle since WWII to free the Kuwaitis or fight the Japanese all across the Pacific. But I played my flute in band concerts and marched in parades to help recruit for the WV Army National Guard, and enjoyed every minute of it. So, while I obviously didn't take any of these pictures, I posted them any way to celebrate the day. For the Nov. word for today, remembrance.
Beautiful photos and collage. Lovely tribute to those who serve--who put lives and hearts on the line for all of us. Many thanks to you and your family.
What a magnificent collage, Lisa. Fav. So sorry about your husband's friend. My dad, who is a psychiatrist, specialized in treating vets with PTSD. It's an awful condition. that I can't imagine having to live with.
@yaorenliu@jaynspain@joansmor@lan@tonygig@annika82@paulam Thanks so much! @kareenking Most soldiers deal with combat by talking to each other. He never told anyone what happened on a deployment many years earlier. Being back in Iraq brought it all back to him and he never said a word to any of them. Totally took them all by surprise. It wasn't until they were putting his funeral together, looking back through his service record that they found out he lost a bunch of his soldiers in an ambush. It was very sad. Very hard the guys he served with. Now they are having trouble getting all his benefits for his family because he never sought out any help. Very thankful for guys like your dad who are dedicated to helping those with silent wounds.
Great tribute and your contribution was important. We had a district-wide Veteran's Day assembly today in our high school and one of the speaker's mentioned someone saying "I was only support . . . " The speaker emphasized that every role was important, no matter how small.
I was intrigued when I first saw our collage to know who was who. And when I had read your explanation I was very interested to have learnt who is who in these photos. So very sorry to hear about your husband's friend, John. What a wicked waste and evil is war.
A grand tribute to all of you and even your dear friend. I know I've said it before but my husband and I truly appreciate the sacrifice each military family makes for us.
November 16th, 2014
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@eyeamlisa I still play on occasion. I used to play at our one church, but I haven't done that in years.
@ladygator Thanks!
@kareenking Most soldiers deal with combat by talking to each other. He never told anyone what happened on a deployment many years earlier. Being back in Iraq brought it all back to him and he never said a word to any of them. Totally took them all by surprise. It wasn't until they were putting his funeral together, looking back through his service record that they found out he lost a bunch of his soldiers in an ambush. It was very sad. Very hard the guys he served with. Now they are having trouble getting all his benefits for his family because he never sought out any help. Very thankful for guys like your dad who are dedicated to helping those with silent wounds.