to my veteran...

 

to my veteran, and to all of the veterans past and present...

 

i could never put into words quite how deep my gratitude is. i couldn't sufficiently express how full my heart is of thankfulness.

i can't verbalize the emotions that i feel that he and so many others have the bravery and selflessness to do what they do.

this portion of a letter he wrote his daughter (along with a flag he sent) tells you the kind of man he is:

daddy carried this flag especially for you while conducting operations in afghanistan. i carried this flag on my back while climbing the mountains in the korengal valley.  this flag represents the strength of this country. and the people in it. but more than that...it represents the love i have for you.

 

so jimmy, thank you. not only for the seven times you've served, but for the example you are. thank you. thank you for the father you are, the soldier you are, the man you are.

 

and thank you (from the bottom of my heart) to every single soldier,marine,airman,and sailor out there.

thank you for fighting. thank you for being strong enough to leave. to miss years of moments, of firsts. thank you for overcoming your fears and standing strong. thank you for continuing to deploy over and over and over. thank you for loving US enough to do what you do so that WE do not have to do it, so that we can be safe.

 

and to their families who wait at home...thank YOU.

 

and to all of you reading, if you want a  way to do something...a way to say thank you, here are some ideas.

kids thank a vet

let's say thanks

operation write home

wounded warrior project

a million thanks

anysoldier

 

happy veteran's day.

Comments

[Sherry Cartwright]

Beautiful letter from J to your daughter. Thank you to J for serving our country and to you for supporting him, other military spouses and for giving us a glimpse into your military life.

Happy Veterans Day to all those that serve and have served. Thank you!

[Kristen]

Beautiful post Stephanie. Thanks to your husband and all other veterans!

[amyellen]

well said. thank you to each and every service person at a home and abroad for keeping us free and safe. thank you to all the families that share them.

[Cynthia]

Thank you Steph for saying that so beautifully! Thank you Jimmy and all who serve and have served.

[Pam]

And don't forget www.cardsforsoldiers.blogspot.com! :)
Please thank Jimmy from me and my family for his service as well as thank you to you and your beautiful girls!

[Michelle]

Beautiful post, Steph!! Thank you to Jimmy and all the other soldiers past and present!!
I made something for all of our soldiers. I volunteered for this assignment.. this is for you, Steph, Jimmy and the rest of our military. Thank you for keeping us safe, and for you Steph for holding down the fort here at home.
http://momma-paparazzi.blogspot.com/2011/11/veterans-day.html

[Jennifer Henson]

Many thanks to J and to you-so thankful for his service and love this heartfelt post. Teary response, here. Not enough words to express thanks to our veterans, past and present.

[Mary Jo]

Beautifully, beautifully said!

[dana a.]

thank you jimmy for serving. i never truly understood what a military family goes through until i found your blog, stephanie. so my thank you goes to your husband and to you and your daughters. god bless!

[dana a.]

eta: hope you don't mind, stephanie but i added that last paragraph to my fb status. it summed up perfectly what i wanted to say but didn't have the words to do so. thanks!

[jennifer Camplin]

beautiful Post...

and thank you...

[Pat]

Thank you for the beautiful thoughts. I can only say "Amen". Thank you Jimmy and all who protect our freedom.

[Margaret McGarry]

Happy Veteran's Day, to you and Jimmy! Thank you for your service and your sacrifices and your strength. Thank you for this beautiful blog post which brought tears to my eyes. I admire your spirit, Stephanie.

[Kirsten J]

Beautiful - thank you all for the sacrifices you make. You amaze, inspire, and humble me.

[EvelynB]

Thank you for this. Beautifully written.

[Julie McD]

Lovely post! And thanks & love to you & Jimmy & your girls on this Veterans' Day! Happy Weekend!

[alicia geiss]

Thank you...thank your hubby...and thanks to all the veterans. Your post touched me, Stephanie, more than words can say. So well written!

Alicia

[sarbear]

Thank you. Lest we forget...

[Laurie LaRiviere]

that was beautiful Stephanie, the floodgates are open...I'm officially teary eyed. My dad was a colonel in the army in WW2, (yes he was a lot older than my mom, if he were alive he'd be 92...) I think of him alot, but always on Veterans day.

[Kim]

*wipes tears* wow! I opened this blog post knowing full well you were going to make me cry, I had no idea how happy it makes my heart this time!! Thank you both for your many, many daily sacrifices the rest of us take for granted that wouldn't be possible w/o you doing what you do!

[amy tangerine]

your family is amazing. big huge hugs!

[Marla]

a big "THANK-YOU" to your whole family! God bless!

[Kris10]

Thank you for another beautiful post. You had me in tears (once again) with your gift of words and expressing what is in your heart. Thank you and your precious family for the sacrifices you make and the role you play in defending this amazing country. God bless you.

[sarah]

beautiful. my thanks and love to howell family. xo

[berta]

A big thanks to Jimmy for his service, and big thanks to you and the girls for your sacrifice. A big thanks to my hubby Bill, my Viet Nam vet, and a big thanks to all who have served and defended our flag both past and present!

[Stephanie Howell]

THANK YOU to your bill. :) xoxo

[Cathy K.]

Thank you to your Jimmy and to all who have served. Thanks to ou and your girls for the sacrifices felt. Our family is forever grateful.

[Alissa]

Thank you J and God bless!!!!

[tara pollard pakosta]

thank you to J, thank you to YOU and your girls. Thank you to all the brave men/women everywhere AND their beautiful families who support them....

Love to you today, especially steph.
tara

[Julie Williams]

Enjoyed listening to you on Paperclipping Roundtable today on my way to work. You just amaze me, thanks for sharing your life with us out in cyber land. The girls are growing so fast, just love seeing them. My hat off to your husband and all of the service men and women out there. Love ya Steph!!

[Linda E]

Thank YOU!

[Tinka]

Saying "Thank you" just doesn't seem enough but I am extremely grateful for all those who are willing to serve and protect our country. And that includes my father, grandfather, numerous uncles and many cousins.

[Holly]

Thank you so much for those links. My 6-year-old daughter was just asking how to write a letter to thank a veteran for fighting for her freedom. Now we'll be able to do just that!