Veterans Day

Today is Veterans day. The day we honor the soldiers that served past and present. This day has made me think today about alot. As you know i don't like to think to much. I was thinking about my life before the military, and now.
        I remember before the army veterans day meant we thank the people that gave there lives and those who worked hard to have freedom of speech and the right to live the way we live and that we could live relatively safe with laws and things in place protecting us and our country as a whole. My grandpa served as a Marine in WW2, my uncles : John Othoudt, Doug Othoudt, Stacy Othoudt, and Mavin Othoudt were also in the marines during  and after Vietnam. My uncles :Ken Johnson and Leroy Johnson served in the navy during and after Vietnam. So i guess you could say I would have a strong military background. My dad wanted to join but was unable to so now he lives through me and my brother (sorta). My cousins: Phillip Meyer, Allen Screwmahorn, and Ted Harwood  all joined the navy during the 1990's and longer. My other cousin and brother: Mathrew Othoudt and Jason Johnson joined the Army right after high school and both deployed multiple times. And my friends Sherre Andrade, Jason Johnson and Andre Bodle all joined the Navy, Marines and Army after high school.  There is nothing like watching your friends and family deploy and you are watching the news and wondering if they are OK. Letting your little brother go and you cant protect him. So veterans day meant that my friends and family would get recognition for what they did and give thanks for what they gave up to serve our country. Most of these people joined the Military before 9/11/2001, so deployment was not on there minds. They joined for job security, help pay for college ect. But when our country went to war, they just went. None of them whined about it they just did there job. I have always had a strong want to join the military but they actually did it and I am so proud of them.
                 Veterans day now means even more since i joined. It doesn't really matter what I have done but what I see others do. My military family means a lot to me and I wouldn't change this experience for the world. I do not regret it. I have friends that have gave up time with there family for multiple deployments and what there family goes threw and what they go threw. I have experienced what its like being deployed and how close you get to those you deploy with and the memories you share and that no other person will possibly understand regardless of the situation. I have now realized what you give up when you raise your right hand to serve this country. In a way you give up freedom of speech and the freedom to do what you want, and go where you want. I now fill out a form to ask to go home or not go to work. Not only do I have to ask for that time off but I have to say where I am going and get permission to go home to visit my family. I had to get permission to go home and get married. When your deployed you may or may not have a lot of communication home. You miss your friends and family and me i miss my pets. You have your friends and family that support which is great and that is how you get threw the bad times. With another deployment for me around not all that far off, I will get to experience another country and another experience that I wouldn't have gotten sitting at home.