The Sounds of Freedom...

Image@gizmodo.com.au

"Oath of Enlistment: I (name) do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Saturday morning, my husband, brother-in-law, niece and I went to the Wings Over Wayne Air Show. It's been almost four years since I attended an Air Show after almost twenty-four years of going to every one that was put on at whatever base we happened to be stationed at the time. I didn't know what to expect, nor did I realize just how deeply affected I would be. During the early part of the jet demonstrations four F-15 Strike Eagles came screaming overhead and my brother-in-law turned to me and asked, "Do you miss that sound?" "Every damn day," I replied, showing him the goosebumps on my arms from the fly-by. My husband wholeheartedly agreed.

Here's the thing...when my husband was active duty, I knew what my role was. I knew where my place was, even when it was really difficult to carry so many burdens alone because of his frequent deployments and long hours when he was in country. I even understood the part my girls and I played in supporting the "mission". My tasks were straight forward...care for our household, raise our girls "right", and keep things running smooth that my husband couldn't tend to due to the nature of his job. Many nights I slept alone, cried alone. As I sat in the shade beneath the wing of a B-1 Bomber (the very first plane my husband ever worked on), I thought, "It's not supposed to be easy. Freedom should come with a price tag you can FEEL, one that hurts at least a little, to remind us of just how important it is to attain and maintain. The sounds of freedom are not just jet noise or gun fire or tank engines or helicopter blades...they also include post-deployment fights, crying family members (happy tears when all is well, and sorrowful ones when it gets lonely), our National Anthem, 21-gun salutes, fireworks on the 4th of July, cadence calls in formation, and many other patriotic sounds that remind us of just why being free is so very precious.

I didn't take the above oath, directly, but I certainly considered myself a part of it. Those that have taken the oath, their commitment to its spirit doesn't end when they retire or separate from their active duty service. For many it is never null and void, or just "finished". And even though Memorial Day is a week away, I want to say thank you to all of our service members and the families that support them. *insert crisp salute here*

I have this bumper sticker! Image@hatnpatch.com