Today, we show respect and gratitude to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. We honor those who have given of themselves to our Armed Service. Our debt to their call of duty is large. Parades have been taking place and many businesses are offering special deals to our deserving vets. Here in my hometown, our library held an event that assisted families in writing letters to a soldier. With the holidays upon us, it would be an especially good time to remember those deployed by writing a note of encouragement and thanks. Military Missions is in need of cards and notes to be included with care packages sent to troops around the world. Military Missions desires to put at least 10 cards within every care package. They love schools, churches and clubs to have children spend a few minutes making cards. According to their website; “Dear friend” is a great way to begin your note. For $30.00, you can adopt a hero and have a care package sent. Cards can be mailed to: Military Missions Inc., 3650 Boston Rd., Suite 146, Lexington, KY 40514.
And while we honor our veterans, we think of those who worry, work and carry on while their loved ones are away. Melissa Higa is senior airman for the U.S. Air Force and has been deployed to Korea for nine months. She was very much missed by her daughter, Riley, who wished her mother home for her tenth birthday. After she was told her mother wouldn’t be able to come, she wrote to President Obama asking if he could please call her mother’s boss to let her off. The letter was never sent, but Melissa was able to surprise her daughter. Thinking she was being interviewed about her request to the President, a sad Riley had no idea her mother was going to be there. You can watch their joyful reunion here.
During War World II, while women worried and carried on, our country asked them to work in a different way. They were encouraged to leave behind their kitchens, vacuums and kids to become part of the war effort. Women could help America by taking on factory jobs traditionally held by men. Rosie The Riveter, a hit song of that era, came to symbolize these women who served their country by earning an hourly wage. While it became acceptable and patriotic for women to fill this void, they were expected to return to their homes or office jobs at war’s end. In 1942, Elinor Otto, now age 93, joined the war effort riveting wing sections of C-17 cargo planes for 65 cents an hour. Says Elinor; “We were part of this big thing. We hoped we’d win the war. We worked hard as women, and were proud to have that job.”
Elinor looked for other employment, including becoming a carhop. Not being able to roller skate soon brought an end to that. She considers it lucky that she was soon rehired due to the booming aircraft industry. For over 70 years, she has been faithful to her job. The local legend serves an inspiration to her co-workers as she arises at five every morning to arrive at the Boeing plant to begin driving in rivets. As an original Rosie, her town honored her by founding the Rosie the Riveter Park in Long Beach, CA.
A heart-felt thanks to our veterans.
Please feel free to use this thread to honor your family or friends who have served our country.
Lily Doe has written for ImperfectWomen.com since 2009. She has never been shy about sharing her opinion and enjoys writing on a variety of topics. Her life’s focus is sharing good times with family and friends.
photo by: xalamay
Wonderful article Lily in honor of our Veterans.
5 Stars and 2 Thumbs Up!
I would love to say thanks to all who have served, or are serving today! My post goes out to my Father who served in WW2, lost most of his hearing while on tour, but came home and raised a very loving family. RIP Daddy, you served your country and family proud.
Awesome post Lily!
Thank you to all who have serve, and who are currently serving today!
Beautifully written tribute to all our veterans and active service members. Today women even join the armed forces as well as hold the family together. I am so happy that that little girl got to see her Mom on her birthday.
My husband is a vet, so I am extra appreciative of their hard work, dedication and service. Thank you to everyone who has served!
Our service men and vets have put their life on the line to keep our country safe. They should be honored daily.
It’s so neat to hear Elinor’s thoughts and her obvious pride in making a difference at that time.
Thanks for such a wonderful post. I salute those who have served and are currently serving. Happy Veterans Day!
Thank you for posting,everybody who has ever served in the armed forces or is still serving deserves alot more recognition than they get.
This is a very special day for our family. I have multiple cousins who have served or currently serving, 2 nephews, Uncles, and my husband who is a vet as well!
My grandfather served many years before I was even born. I have a few friends who served. I am grateful for their service.
A big thank you to all who serve, but like Riley, there are many family members I would like to thank for the sacrifices they make too!
Thank you to everyone who has served both in the US and Canada and other allies. That is a wonderful thing that Military Missions is doing.
Thank you for a well written post, I especially enjoyed learning more about the women in the Military. All Military members deserve our gratitude
I love the surprise reunions like the one you’ve mentioned here. All respect and honor goes to our military servicemen every day. I loved your post.
Thank you for posting this! Not enough people honor our veterans or use the day as another day to drink.
Thank you for sharing, this is the first Veterans Day my husband I have have not spent together, he is away on business. He is my favorite Veteran, but I am appreciative of all of them.
Thank you, IW! You NEVER DISAPPOINT! Yes, I said NEVER!
My father and several of my uncles are veterans. I am thankful to all who have served our country!
Waving to you HB! Hope things are better for you. Many thanks to your family for their service to our country!
Thank you to all the veterans! They deserve being honor for their bravery for serving the country.
My uncle, who was a POW in Korea, passed away very recently. He was very proud of his service. My uncle was the one responsible for introducing my mom and dad. My dad was a friend of his and after meeting the sister, he was soon coming to see her instead of my uncle.
My father was a vet of Korea. He came home with tuberculosis and had a long recovery in a VA hospital. All of this was before I was born, my mother was home taking care of my infant big sister. It was quite miraculous that he survived.
Can’t say it enough.. a big thank you to our vets!
It’s amazing to think off all our ancestors have done for us – I have to admit the story today about all the people turning up for the veterans funeral who had no one really touched me. x
I loved reading the stories of the women who have served and the ones who waited at home.
That time period where women entered the workforce did change the future of women in the workplace.
Lily,
You are a special gal. 🙂
Wonderful, perfect for this day and all the vets that have served us ! Thanks for sharing
My father in law and his brother are both vet’s they live a hard life though. Thank you for showing support and thank you to all the other Vet’s & their family!
What a nice post to honor our veterans. I know many people in the military and hold them all near and dear to my heart. I have such admiration for the military.
I thanked by neighbor yesterday. Its so important to appreciate our vets.
What a great post for our veterans and soldiers. I hope a few Veterans were able to read this because this is a very good way to support them.
This is a great tribute to Veteran’s! I definitely will get some cards together for Military Missions! Thank you for sharing that information.
Such a great tribute to those who have and do serve in our military. I totally agree with you that women and families of military people definitely serve our country just as much.
What a wonderful tribute and thanks to ALL our Military and Service men …. I love that you can adopt a hero, what a wonderful thing and $30 really isn’t much to say THANKS… will have to share this, what a great cause; thanks for sharing
I appreciate your post. My uncle is the only living veteran in my family and we always have a little celebration at the nursing home where he lives on Veterans day.
Great post.many people don’t realize how much better our lives are and how much we should really thank the troops and veterans.
My Dad was an officer in the Air force, and my Mom’s second husband served in the second World War, so military service is near and dear to my family’s heart. Thanks for the salute!
I salute the military! What a great post. Thank you!!
Thank you to all of those who serve or have served. My grandfather received a purple heart in WWII
God rest his soul… thanks poppop (grandpa)
I want to thank all soldiers, veterans, and any person who supports our military past and present. Being the wife of a military man I appreciate all you go through.
Thanks to all of you who dedicate your lives to our country everyday!! My lil cousin just got back form Afghanistan and I am so proud of him.