A Veteran’s Veteran Day Post

When my son first deployed to Iraq, a more experienced soldier kindly took me under his wing and volunteered to help walk me through all things military that I did not understand—which was pretty much all things military.

SFC Sean McGrane deciphered acronyms and explained ranks and bunkers and protocol and procedure. Tirelessly. He was patient, and articulate, and lucky for me,  he likes to write. I still have the first set of notes he ever sent to me. I was a very naive new Military Mama, and when he shared with me that some of his guys didn’t get anything but bills in the mail, I was stunned. There were boys in Iraq that did not get care packages? No cards or letters?! Wh-What?!! It was Sean’s opening my eyes that motivated me to expand our original “mission” from sending soccer balls and beanies babies to troops, to sending care packages, toiletries, space heaters, hand warmers, cookie, letters, and Christmas boxes.

My “soldier baby” Sean is now an Army vet living in Denver, Colorado, and yay for us, he is still writing! He has an important voice, and I still rely on him to “know” my soldiers, and what they go through as they come home. I could sit and tell you some of his stories—and I often do, in social circles—but today I urge you to head over and read one for yourself.

Here is a very poignant story about his taking his father, a Vietnam vet, to a Wounded Warrior Project event. It is an amazing, thoughtful read, comparing the resources our warriors have now to those that existed–or did not exist–when his father came home from Vietnam.

Click on it, click on it, click on this link and head over there to read his post!

More Blitherings: Veteran’s Day 2014

Happy Veteran’s Day to my friend Sean, and his father—and to all of our veterans that have served for us, in any capacity.

More importantly, as always, Thank you.