06/18/2026
Independence Day changed for me over the years. I grew up with family bbqs and homemade vanilla ice cream, followed by a fireworks display at the local school fields. Fantastic!
But the meaning grew deeper when my husband became a Marine. We started his time with one child. He left two children to train in Okinawa for months, and came home to three. He left four children to serve in Kuwait and Iraq for months, and came home to five. We were always with him, he even carried five flags for our five children on his march to Baghdad.
In total, we gave nine years of service, from him and from our family. You see, when one member serves active duty, the whole family serves and sacrifices behind the scenes. We all gave to our country, and have a deep sense of reverence and gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy. 250 years of freedomšŗšø
#250
