Our Veteran's Day 2008 and a Tribute
With all the craziness that has gone on for our little family of three lately (getting ready for deployment, trying to sell the house, etc.) we have been trying to get out and do some fun things as a family that are 1) cost effective, 2) fun for all three of us, and 3) memory makers. I have to say that this Veteran's Day we got the chance to do all three.
We started the day early and finished last minute picking up and spot cleaning for a prospective buyer walk-through and an Open House through our real estate company. After giving Jeff a quick hair cut (which I have to brag about a little because it didn't turn out badly at all!) we went over to Walgreen's. The stores were offering a free photo session with a one pose photo package for any veterans who came in in uniform. Jeff polished up quite nicely, as always, we dressed Kamden in his camo and I got into my FRG and 32nd Brigade Support gear and we got a family picture done as well as one of Jeff with Kamden in their "military garb". Jeff had really been wanting to get a photo of the two of them in greens together and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with what we got. We wound up opting for a little bigger package so that we could give some pictures away as gifts, but still paid only $9.99 for 46 pictures! Here are a few of the shots from today.
After picking up our pictures, we headed over to The Highground for the Veteran's Day ceremonies. For those who do not live around here, The Highground is a memorial park in honor of all wars up to Desert Storm. They are currently working on memorials for Operation Desert Storm, OIF and OEF. We try to make it out there as often as possible for the Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Fourth of July and other ceremonies we can. Jeff is usually the youngest vet there and it gives me great pride to stand beside him in uniform and have veterans of earlier wars thank him for continuing to fight for what they started out protecting. The ceremony today was short and sadly I didn't get to stay with Jeff for the entire thing as it started snowing and was 26 degrees. Kamden was just not having it and this Texas-born girl wasn't too thrilled with the temperatures either!
Once we finished there, we headed back into town and had dinner at Applebee's. They offered a free meal to veterans and active duty military tonight and the place was PACKED. I got a little teary when a gentleman who had been sitting behind us got up, barely able to walk, and came over to thank Jeff for "doing what" he does "for all of us". Jeff in turn thanked the gentleman who was also a veteran, but he simply shook his head, said, "That was 50 years ago...it was a different war and for different reasons. What you are doing...now that's something. We got a lot more support for what we did than you and your men do for the battle you are in. So thank YOU." I tell you my heart about jumped out of my chest. I wanted to hug that little elderly man and kiss his cheeks.
If being married to the military has taught me nothing else over the last 2 years with going to all the memorials, funerals, welcome homes, and days of rememberance that I have with Jeff it would be these two things. 1) The majority of our veterans, young and old, are incredibly humble about the time they serve "in war". Many would tell you, 'It was just the job I needed to do -- so I did it, there's no need to thank me for doing my job,' and 2) even if they tell you that you don't have to thank them for doing what they did/do...when you say "thank you" to one of these men or women...it means more to them, and to their families, than you could ever possibly imagine. So many times, they are put down for their sacrifices of time, family and sometimes even their very life or limb, simply because one disagrees with the "reasoning behind the war" or has an issue with the leader. It does my heart good to see men and women, boys and girls of all ages thanking our military men and women and giving them their support, even if they don't support the war itself. It lets me know that there is still hope for our country. It lets me know that true honor and respect are still alive and well in America.
God bless America - And THANK YOU to ALL our servicemen and servicewomen. I have to give a little special thanks to the following...
My Family
Jeff Koopman, US Army; Army National Guard; Kosovo, OIF, OEF
Glenn Koopman, US Army; Army National Guard; Vietnam
Eva Cummings, Army National Guard; Desert Storm
John Koopman, Army National Guard; Desert Storm
Gina Abbey, US Air Force; OIF
Chris Abbey, US Air Force; OIF
Eric McConnell, US Marine Corps; OIF
Jason King; US Navy; OIF
Allan Deaton; US Army; WWII; Deceased 1993
My Friends
Mark Higashimura, US Army; OIF Deceased October 2008
Marcus Anderson; US Army; OIF
David Lindsey; US Army; OIF
I thank not only each one of you, but your families as well.
We started the day early and finished last minute picking up and spot cleaning for a prospective buyer walk-through and an Open House through our real estate company. After giving Jeff a quick hair cut (which I have to brag about a little because it didn't turn out badly at all!) we went over to Walgreen's. The stores were offering a free photo session with a one pose photo package for any veterans who came in in uniform. Jeff polished up quite nicely, as always, we dressed Kamden in his camo and I got into my FRG and 32nd Brigade Support gear and we got a family picture done as well as one of Jeff with Kamden in their "military garb". Jeff had really been wanting to get a photo of the two of them in greens together and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with what we got. We wound up opting for a little bigger package so that we could give some pictures away as gifts, but still paid only $9.99 for 46 pictures! Here are a few of the shots from today.
After picking up our pictures, we headed over to The Highground for the Veteran's Day ceremonies. For those who do not live around here, The Highground is a memorial park in honor of all wars up to Desert Storm. They are currently working on memorials for Operation Desert Storm, OIF and OEF. We try to make it out there as often as possible for the Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Fourth of July and other ceremonies we can. Jeff is usually the youngest vet there and it gives me great pride to stand beside him in uniform and have veterans of earlier wars thank him for continuing to fight for what they started out protecting. The ceremony today was short and sadly I didn't get to stay with Jeff for the entire thing as it started snowing and was 26 degrees. Kamden was just not having it and this Texas-born girl wasn't too thrilled with the temperatures either!
Once we finished there, we headed back into town and had dinner at Applebee's. They offered a free meal to veterans and active duty military tonight and the place was PACKED. I got a little teary when a gentleman who had been sitting behind us got up, barely able to walk, and came over to thank Jeff for "doing what" he does "for all of us". Jeff in turn thanked the gentleman who was also a veteran, but he simply shook his head, said, "That was 50 years ago...it was a different war and for different reasons. What you are doing...now that's something. We got a lot more support for what we did than you and your men do for the battle you are in. So thank YOU." I tell you my heart about jumped out of my chest. I wanted to hug that little elderly man and kiss his cheeks.
If being married to the military has taught me nothing else over the last 2 years with going to all the memorials, funerals, welcome homes, and days of rememberance that I have with Jeff it would be these two things. 1) The majority of our veterans, young and old, are incredibly humble about the time they serve "in war". Many would tell you, 'It was just the job I needed to do -- so I did it, there's no need to thank me for doing my job,' and 2) even if they tell you that you don't have to thank them for doing what they did/do...when you say "thank you" to one of these men or women...it means more to them, and to their families, than you could ever possibly imagine. So many times, they are put down for their sacrifices of time, family and sometimes even their very life or limb, simply because one disagrees with the "reasoning behind the war" or has an issue with the leader. It does my heart good to see men and women, boys and girls of all ages thanking our military men and women and giving them their support, even if they don't support the war itself. It lets me know that there is still hope for our country. It lets me know that true honor and respect are still alive and well in America.
God bless America - And THANK YOU to ALL our servicemen and servicewomen. I have to give a little special thanks to the following...
My Family
Jeff Koopman, US Army; Army National Guard; Kosovo, OIF, OEF
Glenn Koopman, US Army; Army National Guard; Vietnam
Eva Cummings, Army National Guard; Desert Storm
John Koopman, Army National Guard; Desert Storm
Gina Abbey, US Air Force; OIF
Chris Abbey, US Air Force; OIF
Eric McConnell, US Marine Corps; OIF
Jason King; US Navy; OIF
Allan Deaton; US Army; WWII; Deceased 1993
My Friends
Mark Higashimura, US Army; OIF Deceased October 2008
Marcus Anderson; US Army; OIF
David Lindsey; US Army; OIF
I thank not only each one of you, but your families as well.
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