It's Major

Celebrating Veteran's Day was a major event in my household this year. Before the long weekend, my husband was promoted to the next rank. While we've known since last March that the promotion was coming, we've been anxiously waiting for his number to be called up for the month. So this day was a day for much celebration in our house!

This is the first promotion ceremony that I have been able to attend since he was commissioned after ten years of enlisted service. He's been deployed so often that his promotions have fallen when he was in the sandbox. So getting to attend the ceremony, to have E there, and also my parents, was just cool.

My husband is what I would describe as an ardent patriot. He loves this country and defends it with pride. I don't think I really understood that depth of patriotism until I met him. As a person he is demanding, infuriatingly logical, confident, intelligent, hardworking, loving and loyal.  He applies 100% of his himself to defending our country so that we can live our lives in a peaceful and stable nation.

I'm so proud of him.

He is not alone in his service to our country. According to the Census Bureau, there were 21.5 million veterans living in the United States in 2011. At the same time, there were about 311 million people in our country. This puts the percentage of people who have served in the military at about 7%. While this number varies between sources (usually between 7-9%), it at least gives you a general idea. Even this number is changing as the WWII generation leaves us.

Thanks to all of our veterans who have served. You are thought of and appreciated.

xoxo