My favorite part of every Fourth of July is facing the flag, putting my hand on my heart and listening to the Star Spangled Banner. I know it sounds cliche, but I mean it, with every ounce of me.
I always cry.
I love where I live. Growing up, living in America was something that we were all very proud of, loving our country and appreciating the freedoms we have and appreciating the men who had fought to protect our freedoms, was something we just did.
But then this happened.
My brothers entered the military.
And the word pride some how started to mean something beyond what we could possibly fathom. I can remember attending their ceremonies for various programs and accomplishments at the age of fifteen and feeling a lump in my throat so big I thought I may throw up.
Their awards, their accomplishments, their efforts, their dedication teach me daily what it means to be a good American, but also, reminds me to always work hard. Just like my brothers.
The lump in my throat when I was fifteen was so large, but then, they went to war and that pride consumed me. (and the worry, OHMYGOD THE WORRY.) They SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES, fighting to survive, fighting for others to have the same freedoms we grew up with as children, freedoms we now enjoy as adults.
They are fathers, sons, brothers, friends, Army Majors. And I can’t believe how lucky I am that they are my brothers.
I can’t believe how lucky YOU ARE that they are United States Soldiers.
An article was written about Dan and Dave and the award they received yesterday. You should go read it.
Beth:
Great post, and great article about your brothers. We are all so proud they are United States Soldiers. Thank you Dan and Dave for all that you have done for our country, and the sacrifices you face each and every day. Beth, I love the Star Spangeld banner also. It is funny you mention that because as we were at the Silverhawks game Friday night, tears were flowing down my eyes just listening to the words. You are a lucky person. Since I went to HS with your brothers, I have to say everything you say about them are true, and they are great people.
Love this post…wish every American would GET how blessed we are to have your brothers and others like them protecting our freedom.
By the way, I am the daughter of a retired Army Colonel, daughter-in-law of a retired Army Major General, and sister-in-law to two more career officers, one Army and one Air Force. I completely understand your pride!
I love this!
Awesome!
Loved reading that article! I actually read it to my husband out loud and he was trying to remember if he knew your brothers since they were at Purdue at the same time as him…he went through ROTC there! Congrats to both of them, Beth! I love how proud you are of them!
I certainly understand your pride in your brothers. How awesome that so many of you were home for the ceremony. Please thank them for me. We all owe them so much.
Yeah, the sacrifices of our military men (and their families) is amazing to think about. Leaving their children & wives (or husbands), and putting their lives on the line, I can’t imagine. Thank your brothers for me.
I completely understand the pride you feel. Your brothers are amazing. Truly amazing, self-less, strong, talented, and inspiring men. And their families? Don’t even get me started on them, and the sacrifices all of you endure while your brothers fight for freedom.
I love the photos so much. I’m sure your entire family will cherish them forever.
I love you, and them.
What a great article – and what great brothers! As you said, you are very lucky!! But I totally agree that I am even more lucky to have them as soldiers!!! Thank you for sharing … your brothers & this post:)
Please, please thank them for me and thank you for sharing their story.
Amazing. You’re pretty awesome too!
What a wonderful, fantastic, awesome post to honor your brothers and your country. Wonderful! And wonderful again!
I love America. I am so thankful for wonderful soldiers willing to fight for my freedom. I get choked up when I see a soldier in uniform. I always want to tell them thank you but have a hard time finding the words. How do you tell someone that you don’t know, never met, and will probably never see again thank you? So, thank you to you and your family for loaning your incredible brothers to our country. It just seems too little, too insignificant, thank you. There is a lot of meaning behind those two little words.
Thank you for sharing this post and your brother’s with us. This post hit close to home for me b/c my husband is an Army Chaplain and currently deployed to Iraq. It always brings great joy to my heart to know that our American soldiers are appreciated and respected for all that they do every single day to protect us and our freedom. Blessings to you and your family!!
Loved this so much.
These photos are amazing. And so are your words.
Steph
Wow. Only wow. What a gorgeous post. We ARE so lucky.
Beth,
Since you first told me about your brothers years ago, every patriotic holiday I think of them. Everytime the war is mentioned or I pass a soldier, I think of them. It is such a great sacrifice they make everyday. I think it is so important to thank a soldier everytime you see one for what they have done. Thank you Beth for the wonderful post. Those brothers of yours sure have a lot of medals. The article was a really nice write-up. Something their children will be able oto show their children some day.
Tracy
I loved this post. Thank you for sharing. I am SO grateful to your brothers- and their families- for what they’re doing. I, too, want to say something to a soldier when I see him/her but “thank you” just doesn’t seem like enough. Please thank them for me. I do feel so lucky that two such talented men have chosen to do what they do for all of us. It’s wonderful that they were recognized.
My husband’s uncle is a chaplain for the Marines and did two tours in Iraq. He told us that the commitment, courage and selflessness of the men (there were no women in his group) he met left him in awe. They make me so proud.
Thanks for sharing your brothers with us.
I spent part of the 4th listening to a Pops in the Park type show. The orchestra was mostly made up of retired military. They played all of the songs that we learned about our country when we were young. I teared up with the Star Spangled Banner.
Land of the free… home of the brave.
Wow – thank you so much for sharing your pictures – I can understand why you would be bursting with pride over having these two brave (very cute) soldiers as your brothers. Great Post!!
I loved this story and pictures about your brothers. I am so proud to be in a free country. Give your brothers my thanks for their service, sacrifices and dedication.
coming in late but would like you and your family to know who much we appreciate the sacrifice your brothers (and their families) are doing for America, for us all. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you for sharing your brothers with America. I’m grateful for the freedoms I enjoy that they fight for.
Wow. What a great post. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to your brothers and all those who serve in the military.
Love this. Such an amazing and touching tribute.
Beth: I swelled with patriotic pride and tears of gratitude reading about your brothers. Please thank them and their families for sacrificing for my family’s rights and freedoms. We don’t take it lightly. America is a great country because of men and women like your brothers who have heeded the call on their lives. With a grateful heart, Destiny
Congratulations to your brothers and please tell them how proud and thankful my family is. Because we are.
Your bothers? AWESOME!
And that picture of the two of them? That should seal the deal for Best Eye Candy Blog!!!
OMG, tears. I, too, was always proud to be American and all that entailed. But now I cry at the Star Spangled Banner, the pledge, taps. Any of it. Because I understand that sacrifice so much more married to a soldier. And I am so stinkin proud of him and our other military members. Thanks for saying it so much more beautifully than I could.
Adore this post, Beth! Congratulations to your hero brothers from someone who knows all-too-well the sacrifices they make.
what a beautiful post!
Boy, do I know we are lucky to have such great soldiers. I have made a habit of stopping every soldier I see (usually in airports) and thanking them for their service. I am trying to teach my little men the same habit, but every time I explain it to them, I get all choked up.
Thank you for your brother’s service! Beautiful tribute to them both.
I can totally relate to that lump in the throat thing! I have experienced it a lot on my family. The biggest lumps have always been when my baby brother was deployed. The current lump is about a week old, and I finally got a message from my brother that he is safe and at his new home in Afghanistan. Only 8 months and 3 weeks to go..
Thank you for sharing your family..and their service