Coming from a few generations of soldiers, pilots, and seamen, I feel like my physical, personal, and professional existence is strangely intertwined with the military and their actions. This is not unique — many could tell similar stories, many more tragic — but I thought I would recount a few positive notes on this veteran's day.
My mom and dad met on a blind date set up by one of his pilot buddies in the Air Force. They would take the planes on the weekends (must be nice), in order to keep up their flight hours, and rocket across the country from Enid, Oklahoma to Atlanta, Georgia to see my mom and her college roomate.

My Grandmother's perserverance and grace was an immense influence on everyone in my family. This was brought on, in no small part, by her father — a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Empire — dying in battle in the Carpathian Mountains during World War I. She was an orphan at 7 years-old and sent to America to live with her Uncle. Later in life, she raised four boys while my Grandfather was fighting in the Pacific during World War II. Three of those boys went on to serve.

Her brother, who stayed in Czechoslovakia as a child, grew up to be a leader in the Prague resistance against the Nazis. He was betrayed by a colleague and was held in German concentration camps for five years during the war. His skills as an electrical engineer kept him from execution. He went on to escape five times and was recaptured four. His final escape was in Dresden during the infamous allied firebombing. I often show my children his picture and tell them, "There is a lot of talk about 'heroes' on TV and in the movies... this man... your uncle was the real thing. I knew him."

Both of my Grandfathers served during World War II. And I served in the Army Reserve for eight years during and after college. I felt an obligation to do so, but it was more of a "bucket list" thing for me. I never saw any combat, but the experience changed me for the better. I know that my mom would say that I'm not the same person I was before I was re-programmed my the United States Army. I know I didn't have the same work-ethic or perspective.
Thanks.

that's me kneeling in front at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in 1989.