I’ve tolerated them, endured them. Tried my best to ignore them.
I’m referring to those convinced that the Armed Forces are engaged in a futile attempt to bring peace to the Middle East.
Hopefully, that doesn’t include you. It certainly doesn’t include me.
I wore an Army uniform in the early 1990’s. My husband, a recently-retired Navy Senior Chief, volunteered for a number of extremely dangerous, classified missions in the Persian Gulf during his 22 years of service. One of our sons is a sailor currently deployed to the Persian Gulf on the USS Nassau LHA-4.
As a family living in Norfolk, Virginia – home to the largest naval base in the world – we staunchly support the United States Armed Forces.
Those I interact with on and offline are either active-duty military members or retirees, spouses and friends of those on active duty. A substantial number of their loved ones are now deployed and serving overseas.
As a unified force, we support our troops 100 percent. We also support their mission to bring peace to the Middle East.
We knew it wouldn’t be an easy fight. We understood it would take time and many lives lost for the quality of life in the Middle East to turn around for its people.
Over the years, I’ve never known a truly-committed military member who didn’t feel his or her life was worthy of making the ultimate sacrifice for what they believed in.
For instance, the historically-rich principles our own country was founded on.
True patriots, if you think about it, will always face opposition from those intent on undermining national confidence, failing to believe that freedom and the right to live a quality, free life belongs to anyone but themselves.
True patriots will risk their lives, even sacrifice them completely if necessary, when they believe in the good of all people – striving to bring honest, productive, freedom-filled change to the world for the future.
The criticism of those who speak out against our efforts in the Middle East compel the rest of us to be that much more determined as we support his country as Americans – standing firmly behind our military members.
They’re out there fighting the good fight, after all.
I, for one, stand behind them all the way.
